What To Do – And Not To Do – When Buying a Home in Albuquerque

Buying a home in Albuquerque is an exciting time. The trick is to not get caught up in all that excitement and make mistakes.

Here are some common home buying mistakes and how you can avoid them.

“I Saw the House Online. It’s Perfect — Let’s Make an Offer Before It’s Gone!”

Buying a house without looking at it in person is never a good idea. Photos are merely a preview.

Consider this:

• You’re only seeing what the agent wants you to see online. You’re not seeing all the little things that you may not appreciate.
• You need all of your senses to evaluate the home. You need to walk through it and get a feel for the space and layout. There’s also your ears and nose that need to feel the place as well.
• Three words: Wide angle lens. (They make small spaces look deceptively big.)

So before you make an offer, tour the place. And the yard. And the neighborhood. It’s worth it.

“I Want to Buy This House. And Look, There’s an Agent Right Here!”

If you go to an open house, you might think it’s handy that an agent is right there. But that agent no doubt represents the seller.

When an agent represents a seller, they’re going to do what’s best for that person. You can compromise your negotiation position if you start trying to negotiate directly with that agent.

What you need is a buyer’s agent to represent you and work in your behalf. They will know what you want and need in a home and advise you accordingly.

“If a House Doesn’t Have Everything On My List, I’m Not Looking At It.”

Making a list is important to help pin down a home that has what you need. It helps you prioritize those wants and needs. Turn that list into must-haves and nice-to-haves — and also consider which of their must-haves could turn into will-dos.

For example, you can switch laminate for quartz, but you can’t move a country home next door to your city office. Skip the listings that are in the wrong location, but why not check out the ones with the wrong countertops? Maybe the one thing you’d enjoy more than quartz counters are quartz counters you picked out yourself.

Not sure what should go on your list? This worksheet can help you get your priorities straight: The Ultimate “I Wanna Buy a House” Checklist.

Search for your dream home in Albuquerque with our easy to use home search. Check back on our blog every week for more real estate advice and local articles about living in Albuquerque. And make sure to follow us on Facebook for up to date real estate news for Albuquerque and surrounding areas.