Ripples Digital Vol. 3 Iss. 2 | Page 10

TAKE OFF THE ROSE COLOURED GLASSES AND SAVE $$$$ by JNL LYNCH S hopping for a new home is an emotional experience. It's also time consuming and comes with a myriad of details. Some buyers caught up in the excitement of buying a new home tend to overlook some items. Their home purchase turns into an expensive process. These errors generally fall into three areas: - Paying too much - Losing a dream home to another buyer - Buying the wrong home Here are some tips on making the most of your home purchase: Bidding without sufficient information What price do you offer a seller? Is the seller's asking price too high? Is it a deal? Without research on the market and comparable homes, you could lose thousands of dollars. Before you make that offer, be sure you have researched the market. A Real Estate Professional can offer an unbiased opinion on the value of a home, based on market conditions, condition of the home and neighbourhood. Without knowledge of the market, your offer could be too much. Or worse, you could miss out on a great buying opportunity. Buying a mis-matched home What do you need and want in a home? Sounds simple. Yet, clearly identifying your needs and bringing an objective view to home shopping, leaves you in a better position. Sometimes, home buyers buy a home that is too large or too small. Perhaps they didn't consider the drive to work, the distance to school, or the many repair jobs waiting for completion. Plan ahead. Use your needs list as a guideline for every