Looking to buy? We here at HER, REALTORS® want to give you a smooth experience buying a home with these tips! Whether you’re new to the market or a moving veteran, there are always just a few ways you can make your experience shopping for a home a little bit easier. Plus, things are always changing, and we keep up with the market so you don’t have to! If you’re looking to sell your home, check out our list of red flags here.

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Know what you’re wandering into

Online sales with statements like, “This house is selling for this price today only!” and “Buy now or you’ll miss it!” that create a false sense of urgency. Those are fine for the makeup you’ve had in your Sephora cart for three months (yes, you), but they aren’t for a house you may want to buy.

Unfortunately, not everyone out there has your best interests in mind, and there may be some people looking to scam you out of your bank or social security information. Never give either out online, especially if you haven’t verified anything yet. We definitely recommend actually going to a house if you’re interested in it, and doing it long before any bank information is passed around.

Another red flag to watch out for is when sellers are out of the country or unavailable in some way. Unless you’re dealing with a realtor you trust, don’t negotiate with people who you can’t get in touch with easily and verify with.

Look past the pretty

Okay, we all do it. Homes can look gorgeous in their pictures, almost too good to be true. That’s because they are. Staging homes is becoming more and more popular, and it’s for good reason: people are more willing to look past a house’s flaws when its staged to look appealing. While a lot of these add ons may look gorgeous, make sure that new rug isn’t hiding any water damage that you don’t want to discover after you’ve already closed the deal. Every house has its quirks, but they shouldn’t be hidden from you before you move in. Especially if their quirk is ghosts.

But sometimes you’ll find a diamond in the rough

I know I just said that you need to look for a house’s flaws. But even once you’ve discovered them, that isn’t necessarily the moment to walk away. Buying a fixer upper can be a good investment, especially if you’re the kind of crafty person who has a lot of follow through. Or if you’re willing to hire a good renovator.

Usually fixer uppers will be a little bit cheaper, and you can get a full renovation at the same price buying a newer house would be. Plus, then you get to add your own touch!

Do have a contractor come in before you commit, though--it can be all too easy to find yourself unexpectedly in high water with what you thought would be easy repairs (sometimes literally!).

Hopefully these tips help you find the home of your dreams, whether you’re new to the search or moving to the next stage. We here at HER, REALTORS® want the best for you in your home buying experience, so feel free to contact any of our trusted team whenever you may need them!