When it’s time to consider becoming a home buyer, shopping for a new home can be overwhelming. Finding a real estate agent, looking at homes online, and applying for loan approval, there is a lot to do, and it can be difficult to know where to start.

Believe it or not, there is a first step that every home buyer should take before they start interviewing real estate agents and before they look at even one home online.

Know What You Can’t Live Without

Make a home buyer list of everything you want in a home and the location your prefer. If you are part of a couple, you should each have your own list of non-negotiables. These could include suburb, lifestyle facilities, number of bedrooms, etc.

When you have completed your home buyer wish list, take a look at each item. Ask yourself, “Is this something that I really need in order to enjoy life in my new home?”

Then, get rid of anything that you know you can do without, and still be perfectly content.

The Tough Decisions

Now it is time to prioritise your home buyer wish list. The top two items should be those items on which you will not compromise, as living without them would make you miserable. For some people that might be a gourmet kitchen or space for a garden.

The bottom two items on your home buyers list should be those that you are willing to compromise on.

Now, compare your home buyers wish list with your partner’s.  Anything that is on both of your lists is a priority and should probably be moved to the top.

Inevitably, though, there will be items each of you will need to compromise on, thus the little “bargaining chips” at the bottom of the list: sort of a “I’ll give you the garage in exchange for the fireplace” type of thing.

It’s Not Set In Stone

One thing that may surprise you is that this list will change as you begin to actually view homes. You may discover a feature in a home that you didn’t consider when you wrote the original home buyer list.

It’s very common that some home buyers say they absolutely need to have a certain feature in a home yet the home they finally choose lacks that feature.

Don’t feel as if this list is set in stone, but do inform us if anything changes.

The home buyer wish list works well to help cut down your confusion when presented with an array of homes to view.

It also helps your agent to keep focused and not waste everyone’s time by
showing you homes that don’t fulfill your desires.

Congratulations future home buyer!

You’ve just taken the first step to make sure that your new home is one that fulfils at least most of your wishes. That house is out there. Count on it.

PS: If you are not from New Zealand the rules for overseas people buying or building residential property in New Zealand changed in October 2018. The New Zealand Immigration website has a helpful tool which explains who is able to buy and who needs to apply for consent.

Do you have a question on the local Real Estate market, or how many homes as a home buyer should you look at and how long will it take before you find your dream home, just call Matt Wineera on 0274 951 536 who is always on hand to answer your query.

Work with Matt Wineera who lists and sells in the Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Papamoa areas.

Matt continually achieves great results for Home Owners through his negotiation skills and vast real estate experience, knowledge and expertise.

Matt is very passionate about real estate and loves being at the coal face.