When deciding to buy a home, the last thing you want is slow progress. While there are aspects of it you can’t control, such as waiting for the mortgage to process through the bank or lender, there are things you can do personally to help find the perfect home quickly and efficiently.
Staying Organized
When searching for the perfect home, you’re bound to come across a few that stand out above the rest. It can help to keep track of their prices, photos of the property, and other information, and you can do this with smartphone apps designed to help keep you organized. Simple apps such as PicNotes can assist by keeping notes and images together in one place. Another more complex app is Haus, developed by an Uber cofounder that provides a lot of information on individual properties and even in some cases what offers the property has already received.
Inspections, Certifications, and Repairs
It’s always good practice while buying a home to ask questions of the buyer about the home and what repairs might be necessary to complete the homebuying process. But depending on the age of the property, it’s a good idea to get specialized inspections and certifications done as soon as possible. These might include termite, radon, and asbestos inspections, underground oil tank and water well approvals or repairs, and flood damage risk reviews. These can take a good amount of time, and inspections are necessary for the loan application process – the more comprehensive these are, the more informed you’ll be about your potential purchase, and the faster you’ll find yourself in the home of your dreams.
Along with these tips, it’s always wise to ask your lender for suggestions on how to streamline the lending process. Most lenders are willing to go the extra mile to help you find and purchase the right home right away.