Before you begin your home search, STOP and read this list of things you absolutely SHOULD NOT do before or during the home buying process! I promise, you'll thank me for this later!
Don't quit your job
Don't change your job
Don't get a promotion
Don't buy any large ticket items (like five dollars or more!)
Don't Make David Copperfield deposits (all funds need to be traceable)
Don't talk to Sellers directly (loose lips sink ships)
Not telling me if you are allergic to animals
Not being completely honest with your lender about child support, alimony, wage garnishments or any other payroll reduction
Getting advice from a buying committee that has not purchased in the last year (the rules change almost daily)
Waiting to see everything else that is on the market
Don't "trash" the property in front of the owners
Calling the other agent on "For Sale" signs
Attending open houses and new construction without me or discussing with me
Not telling me if you have a house to sell
Delaying paperwork because you are irritated by the frequency and number of requests from the Mortgage Company
Finding a lender on the internet that offers a 0.001 interest rate
Not realizing it is possible to find what you are looking for the very first day you go out (this happens more than you think...)
Going home to sleep on it (in a hot market, if you sleep on it, you might not get to sleep in it)
80/10/10 Rule: If you find a house that has 80% of what you are looking for, 10% of things you can change and 10% of things you can live with, it's a keeper
Do not co-sign for even a candy bar!
Don't schedule a vacation before we close (especially a cruise)
Don't order Direct TV, Cable, Telephone or any utility that will pull a credit report
Don't change your name during the mortgage process
Not being up front with your loan officer (hiding Information)
Not realizing the clock starts ticking from the time the loan officer gets the contract, not the date it was written
Unreasonable expectations
Giving away your negotiation power by speaking in the house (always assume you are being recorded)
Posting your real estate thoughts on social media sites
Not getting a home inspection
Not being FULLY approved BEFORE you go looking (Nothing hurts as much as finding the house you love and then you lose it when someone else beats you to it because you were not completely ready)
Believing what you see on HGTV and reality television (The majority of that stuff is scripted)
Not telling me what is MOST important to you
Calling at the very last minute to cancel appointment
Not using an Attorney that SPECIALIZES in Real Estate
Not using the name on your drivers license for mortgage docs (use Jr. and Sr. if required)
Not telling your lender if you lose your job before you close
Do not go window shopping and let people pull your Credit
If it can't be written on the front page of the contract because it's being done "under the table", it is probably mortgage fraud
Do not look at a short sale if you need to move immediately
Do not consider a short sale if you need to be in control of the process either
Remember, it's a process and many things happen during a transaction. No two transactions are the same either. But I believe knowledge is power and the more prepared you are, the easier the process will be for you. Hopefully your agent will also share the do's and don'ts with you so you are empowered to go get the house of your dreams! Happy Hunting!
If you need real estate advice or are considering purchasing a new home, I'm always here to answer your questions. Shoot me an email at kbrechka@gmail.com.