When you think of buying a home, especially if it’s your first home, you probably imagine unlocking the front door for the first time or unpacking your belongings in a beautiful space.
However, while it’s true that those are thrilling parts of the journey, they only make up a small piece of the picture. And that piece comes after completing a long list of other items in your buying a house timeline.
What else is included in the average timeline for buying a house? Keep reading to find out!
Choose an Agent
The first of several steps for buying a house is to choose a real estate agent. This will take 1-2 weeks and will help you start off on the right foot.
Almost 90% of new homeowners found and bought their homes with the help of an agent. Why? A real estate agent comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience and can make finding your dream home both faster and easier.
Get Pre-Approved
House hunting without first getting pre-approved is one of the biggest and most common mistakes made by home buyers.
Getting pre-approved only takes a few days and can make all the difference. You’ll have a much clearer idea of how much house you can afford and be taken more seriously by sellers and their agents.
Narrow Down Your Options
With an estimated price in mind, you can begin to narrow your options down further. Instead of looking at a generic list of homes, you can start to look here at homes that could be yours!
To do so, make two lists: wants and needs. The needs list contains your absolute must-haves in your home, while wants are negotiable if the right house comes along.
Once you’ve narrowed it down to a shortlist of homes, you can start going to viewings. This can take anywhere from a few days to a few months, depending on the market at the time.
Make an Offer
You’re nearing the end of the home buying timeline – you’ve found a house that you love and you’re ready to make an offer. You can make an offer before the inspection and appraisal, as long as you and the seller understand that it hinges on the results.
If the home inspection and appraisal look good, it’s time to close on the house!
Close on Your House
The closing meeting can be intimidating, particularly for buyers. You’re going to be faced with a small mountain of documents to go through, but don’t worry, your agent will help you, as well as the closing attorney.
After the down payments and closing costs are squared away, you can begin to bring your new home fantasies to life!
Stay Organized With a Buying a House Timeline
The key to maintaining your sanity when going through the process of buying a house is to stay organized. By creating a buying a house timeline that you can refer to along the way, you’ll feel more prepared and less stressed.
Sure, there will still be an unexpected bump or two along the way, but you’ll get much more enjoyment out of buying a home by knowing what to expect beforehand.
Interested in learning more about the home buying process? Take a look at our blog!