Getting ready to start shopping for a new home? There are a few things that your real estate broker in Germantown will want to know before you get started. Having answers to these questions will help make the process of shopping for a home easier. It will also aid your real estate broker in narrowing down the pool of potential homes and finding the one that’s right for you and your family. Here are some of the things they’ll want to know.

Questions to Answer Before You Start Shopping for a New Home

What is your budget?

This is the biggest question that you’ll need to answer before you start shopping for a home. This will prevent you from falling in love with a home that’s well outside of your price range. It’s a good idea to think about your budget before you start to even look at new homes online. It’s an even better idea to get pre-qualified with a bank. That way you’ll know exactly what you can afford and will be able to clearly communicate your budget to your broker.

What do you want in your new home?

Make a wish list of things you want to have in your new home, but be prepared to be flexible. If you have a long list, it’s going to be hard to find something that fulfills every wish, but you might find a place that you love that fulfills all of them. Think about what you must have versus what would be nice and have an open mind when looking at homes, particularly if it’s a limited market.

What do you want to avoid?

There are certain things you might absolutely want to avoid, such as particular neighborhoods or not having a yard for your dog. But there are other things that you might be able to correct over time, such as having granite countertops or mature landscaping. Know what’s an absolute deal breaker versus what you could live with if you had to in a home, and be clear with your real estate broker. They’ll be able to steer you away from properties that won’t meet your needs.

What areas do you want to live in?

Most people have a good idea of where they want to live. It’s becoming more and more important to homebuyers as they start to look for a new home. A lot of people want to be near (but not necessarily in) urban areas so they have easy access to lots of shopping, dining, and entertainment. Or maybe you need to stay within a certain school district so you don’t have to move your children from their current school. Make sure your broker knows what areas you want to be in or at least what you want in your new neighborhood. They may be able to suggest areas that you hadn’t considered but would love.

How much maintenance are you willing to do?

You can often get more for your money if you are willing to put a little elbow grease into it. Fixer-uppers can be great investments as long as you have the capital and the skill to get the work done. If you don’t, though, they can be a nightmare investment. So carefully consider how much maintenance you are willing to do and whether or not you have the cash flow to get it done. Talk to your broker about your comfort level so they know whether or not you need a move-in-ready home or one that needs a little TLC.

What’s your 5- and 10-year plan?

This might seem like a big question to answer for your real estate broker, but it can actually be really useful. If your long-term planning has you moving to another area of the city but keeping your current property as an investment, then your broker can help steer you in the direction of a property that would make a good rental in the future. If you want to use this property as a jumping off point to move up the real estate ladder in five or ten years, then you’ll want to purchase something that has a good chance of appreciating considerably in the coming decade. Talking to your broker about your future plans can help them find you a property that assists in making those dreams come true.

When do you want to move?

Some people don’t have a strict timeline for when they want to move; they can take their time finding the perfect place. Other homebuyers might be on more of a time crunch and need to move quickly. Be upfront with your broker about whether or not you need to meet a specific deadline for moving. This can help them target properties that meet your timeline or caution you away from ones that might take too long. It can make the home buying process a lot less stressful.

Looking for a great real estate broker in Germantown who can help you find the home of your dreams? We offer five-star service to our clients, and the sellers pay our fees so it all comes at no additional cost to you. Get in touch with our team today to start shopping for your next new home. You can give us a call or contact us through our website to get started. Want to get a jumpstart on the process? Check out our current home listings and tell us which homes catch your eye!