If you’re in the market for a new home, especially if you’ve found yourself in that situation for the first time, it may seem to you that this is an overwhelming task.
But it doesn’t have to be like that!
Just follow these five simple tips for first-time home buyers and you can be sure you will find a lovely new home every single time.
1. Look at all the options
There are plenty of houses, apartments, and all other kinds of properties for sale out there.
Therefore, your best starting point is a website where you can easily browse all the options and hone in on what interests you the most.
Terra Dalmatica has done a splendid job with that, and on their website, you can find pretty much all the best real estate on the Croatian side of the Adriatic.
You can filter everything according to price ranges, locations, and type of real estate, so in just a few clicks you will get exactly what you’ve been looking for.
2. Consider hiring an agent
Real estate agents can be of incredible help to inexperienced buyers because they know exactly what to look for or look out for and can offer invaluable advice.
Moreover, they will probably do all the paperwork for you too, so all you have to do is pick a property you like and leave the rest to them.
Sure, there will be a fee to pay, but the amount of time you save this way and the tips you get in the process is more than worth it.
3. Think about the renovation
If you’re not in a hurry, maybe you could find a piece of real estate that is in less-than-optimal condition and renovate it yourself.
That way, you can create exactly the type of home you want, plus you will probably spend much less than if you were to buy a house into which you can move in immediately.
True, it will take some time before everything is done, but at the end of the day, you will have increased the value of your property by a lot.
4. Open houses are a great opportunity
Whenever you have the chance to go and see the property you’re interested in, you should do so without hesitation.
Going through online photos of your potential new apartment or house is one thing, but seeing it in person is something very different.
You will get a clear picture of what to expect and be able to tie that all in with the neighborhood you may be living in, which can impact your decision quite dramatically.
5. Don’t be afraid to negotiate
No price is set in stone, and if you see something you like, you can often get the seller to bring the price down, especially if the property has been on the market for a while.
Try to find out if there’s a lot of interest in the house or the apartment you’re looking at – if there isn’t, you will be in a great negotiating position.
If they won’t lower the price outright, maybe you can get them to pay for the repairs that need to be done or get some other benefit from them.
It never hurts to at least ask.
