Comox Valley home buyers know that searching for a new home can be exciting while at the same time stressful. Having moved my family 18 times to locations across North America, I understand what buyers and sellers go through when they buy and sell their homes. My life experiences as a real estate client taught me many lessons.
After several moves it became apparent to me that it is important to have a plan when buying or selling your home. Each of us move for different reasons, some of which we have control over, and some of which we do not. For example, you may be moving to the Comox Valley because you are being relocated by your employer, you may be moving to find more space in a larger home, or you may be moving to downsize. Whatever your reason, your motivation to move should be the basis of your plan.
A plan to move should address the following basic questions: Who is moving (i.e. just you or your entire family); What are your various Comox home styles needs (and wants); Why are you moving (the motivation mentioned above); When are you planning to move (how much control do you have over the timing of the move); Where are you moving to (how well do you know the area); and How are you planning to accomplish the move (what are the costs and how will you pay for the expenses).
For many of us moving to or from the Comox Valley can be emotional as well as stressful. By moving we may be leaving good friends or family, and familiar communities. We are certainly leaving the place that we currently call our home. For most of us, our homes are not just our most important investment, they are an extension of ourselves. They are the places where we can be ourselves, and where we can decorate in the way that reflects our personal tastes. Plans provide us with a rationally derived, logical basis with which to deal with emotional situations such as these. When producing a Comox Valley home purchase plan, it is important to realize that not ever plan will play out exactly as intended. Accordingly, it is beneficial to have developed options when things that are important to us do not go exactly as we expect. For example, what happens when our current home does not sell at a specific price by a specific time. What is the fallback option?
According to the US National Association of REALTORS®, nearly one-half of all home buyers begin their search for a new home on the internet, and nearly 90% employ the internet and a REALTOR® during the home-buying process. When searching for a new home it is important to have established our needs (and wants) before starting our search, and to be able to clearly articulate them to other people. By doing so, searches will generally be more efficient, and help will generally be more effective. Concerning needs and wants, there are at least four main categories that should be addressed. These are: location; price; features; and condition.
Choosing a location within the Comox Valley may be driven by many different factors such as the schooling needs of our children, the medical needs of people within our care, the proximity to public transportation, or even our desire to live in a peaceful, quiet neighbourhood with a scenic view from our property. Price is always an important consideration. How much can we afford to pay for our home, the expenses associated with its purchase, and the subsequent upkeep. What types of features do we need to accommodate ourselves or our families (3 bedrooms, 2 baths, etc.) and what types of features would we like to have to suit our personal tastes. Finally, condition is also important. Was the home well built? Has it been well maintained? Has it been kept clean? Each of these factors could have a bearing on future expenses related to the upkeep of our new home.
This blog just scratches the surface on Comox Valley home buyer tips. Contact Brett Cairns directly or through RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty. He will be pleased to share more of his life experiences with you as you work together to search for, and find your new home in the Comox Valley.