MISTAKE #5: NOT CONDUCTING A HOME INSPECTION
While this mistake is often made by first-time homebuyers, it’s also sometimes made by longtime homeowners who haven’t purchased a new home in decades simply because things have changed over the years. It’s also possible you might never have conducted a home inspection before making an offer on a home. Regardless, don’t make the mistake of blindly relying on the seller and the seller’s agent to inform you that a home inspection has already been completed on their end, and then proceed to tell you what the few issues are. Unfortunately, some sellers can be sneaky and not reveal all the home’s problems, whether minor or major. While it takes time and costs money to conduct your own home inspection, it could cost you much more if you don’t. You yourself should know absolutely everything about the home you intend to purchase, before you close on the sale. You’ll need to hire a qualified and experienced home inspector to do this, as they will be able to inspect and find any issues related to structure, systems (heating, electrical, plumbing), and damage anywhere. A home sales purchase agreement should be conditional on a satisfactory report from this home inspection.
MISTAKE #6: NOT BEING REPRESENTED BY A BUYER'S AGENT
If you haven’t been convinced before now, then I hope I can persuade you now: hire a real estate agent to represent you as a buyer. Plenty of buyers, whether they’re newbies or more seasoned, don’t bother to engage the services of a professional real estate agent. This can end up being a big mistake — a mistake that will cost you time and money. An agent can help you throughout the entire buying, selling, and overall downsizing process, but in
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