(finished or unfinished), dining room, staircases, where the bathrooms are located in relation to the bedrooms, etc. In other words, how was the home architecturally designed? Perhaps you’re a first-time home buyer who’s single, and you’re looking for a condo in a multi-story building where you’ll meet plenty of people. Or perhaps you and your partner have outgrown your smaller starter home, and you need to upgrade to a larger home with three bedrooms in close proximity to a bathroom, and perhaps on a second story, with the kitchen and living room on the main floor. Design matters! You need to determine the right type of home design that meets your needs and those of your family, if applicable.
Step 7: Hire an Agent
This step has been mentioned many times throughout this book so far, but it bears repeating. I’ve dedicated an entire chapter to why it’s important to have a professional buyer’s agent working alongside you throughout the entire home-search and home- buying process (Chapter 2). Sure, there are success stories of buyers who’ve managed to find a good home at a good price without the services of a professional real estate agent — more with veteran buyers than with first-time buyers — but these cases are generally considered the exception rather than the rule. FSBO (For Sale By Owner) situations can work out to your benefit, but it’s highly recommended to avoid the potential risks and pitfalls and hire an agent. Sure, there’s a commission fee involved, but you’ll save yourself a lot of stress, time, and energy with an agent — plus, there’s a good chance your agent will be able to find you an even better home than you were hoping for, at an even better deal, essentially negating the
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