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Reduce Stress When Finding and Buying Your Dream Home

March 2, 2022

Moving can be stressful, but it does not have to be. If you prepare yourself for the experience, there is no need to fear the process. If you have not read Part 1, Tips to Reduce Stress When Becoming a Homeowner, we advise you to do so before reading this blog. Part 2 of this series is about minimizing stress while house-hunting.

1. Make a Checklist of your Wants & Needs

Do you know what you are looking for? Knowing you want to own a home is a start, but there are a variety of homes that exist. Home comes in an endless amount of shapes, sizes, neighborhoods, stories, and more. What is the best fit for you?

Sit down and make a two-column list. One column for the must-have features, and a second column for the features that would be nice to have.

Once you start searching, figure out which home checks off most of the boxes. This list will also help as you browse online. Here are a few considerations for your list:

Desired Square Footage
Number of Bedrooms or Bathrooms
Number of Stories
Distance to Shopping or Expressways
Distance to Work
How much sunlight is important to you?
Would you like to have a pool or swing set?

If you are purchasing this home with a spouse, do not forget to ask for his or her opinion! 😉

2. Envision Yourself Living There

Once you narrow down your search online, schedule a few appointments, and ask for more information about the home.

Walk inside and envision living in the space. Can you picture family over for the holidays? Can you picture friends over for a game night? Once you cannot wait to brag about the home, you know it could be the one!

While the house itself is extremely important, do not forget to take notice of the community overall. Is it the view you would like to see daily? Ask about the neighbors and community amenities. Newer neighborhoods may have a homeowner’s association fee that covers tasks like snow removal or landscaping. How nice would it be to never shovel again!

3. Sleep and Exercise

Make time for you! The right house will come along. Do not sit on your phone waiting for the next home to pop up on New Home Source or Zillow. Take some “me-time” each day to unwind and relieve some tension.

Whether your favorite thing to do is read, write, watch Netflix, or bake, do the one thing that makes you happy, and takes you away from the home search for a while. A widely known stress reliever is exercise, so try a yoga class or a new workout!

Don’t forget to get a good night’s sleep! This can help you feel more patient and less agitated. The less sleep you have, the more your stress will increase!

4. Ask for Help

Educating yourself about the buying process is a great idea. Research as much as you can on your own to feel confident in your purchase in the long run. This does not mean that you must do this on your own. Talk to family, friends, or coworkers who have bought homes for advice.

While you do not need an agent to purchase with RC Homes, there are benefits to having a real estate agent. He or she may assist with keeping you organized, scheduling showings, finding new pricing or homes you haven’t seen yet, and definitely has more experience in the buying process.

5. Don’t Get Attached

There are plenty of houses. If one does not work out, another home just as perfect will. Keep calm while touring a home. While you may be able to picture the next chapter of your life in a certain house, try not to get overly excited before it’s more set in stone! This allows you to keep your eyes open for other homes; a home that may even be better than this one!

You’re Almost Move-In Ready!

By taking these steps seriously, you will be able to pull the trigger the right home when the time is right. By preparing before the search and taking your time during it, you’re going to enjoy finding your dream home.

Once you find the home, it’s time to pack up and move!