There’s no denying that the homebuying process is one that can be very exciting! No matter if you’re a first-time homebuyer or someone that’s gone through this experience a few times already, it can definitely be fun. Nonetheless, it’s also an experience that can seem a little overwhelming, especially if you’re buying in the midst of a competitive housing market. In any case, there is certainly value in having an experienced realtor on your side to help you navigate through the home-buying process.
For those that may be stopping by our blog for the first time, welcome to the Small Real Estate Team. Our team of real estate professionals possesses years of experience not only helping our clients find their dream homes in the Kansas City area but also ensuring the entire process is as stress-free as possible. In this blog post, we’re going to highlight a few different things that you’ll want to take into consideration before making an offer on a particular home. Knowing what to look for ahead of time can certainly help alleviate some of the stress that can arise as you start to browse through all of the potential listings. With that being said, let’s dive right in!
New Construction vs. Resale?
One of the first questions you’ll want to ask yourself is whether you’re looking for a new construction home or a resale home. Each of these come with their own unique pros and cons, so it’s worth considering these items at the start. If you’re looking to customize different elements of the home and prefer to have little-to-no repair costs for the first few years, a new construction home will probably make the most sense, and you’ll then want to start evaluating different homebuilders around the Kansas City area. On the flip side, there are also plenty of quality resale homes on the market as well. This includes options that are move-in ready right away, as well as homes that might fall more under the “fixer-upper” category. Not to mention, as you can likely guess, resale homes are generally going to come at a less-expensive price tag in comparison to a new construction home that may be similar in overall size. All in all, deciding between these two options is a great starting point in the home-buying process!
Location, Location, Location
For anyone that’s purchased a home before, you likely know how big of a role location plays. Particularly for those homebuyers with younger children, you’ll want to take into account the school district where the home resides. Luckily, the Northland has plenty of quality schools around town! Another factor in which you’ll likely consider a house’s location is in regards to its proximity to nearby shopping, dining, and entertainment opportunities, as well as the distance from major highways. For those looking in the Kansas City area, you may think about how close it is to popular spots like Zona Rosa, Downtown KC, and so on. By the way, on the topic of location, you’ll also want to consider your commute to/from work and whether or not you’ll be able to avoid sitting in traffic every day!
All the Basics
Aside from location, there are a handful of other characteristics that you’ll use to filter through all of the listings currently on the market. And with that being said, a few to use starting out will be square footage, number of bedrooms, and number of bathrooms. To take it one step further, if you have a particular style (2-story, ranch, reverse, etc.), you’re interested in, that could be another attribute to search for. These will instantly narrow down the available listings to the ones that fit within your desired criteria.
Visual Appearance
While location and size are extremely important things to consider, it’s safe to say the home’s physical appearance will be what stands out to you first when you’re scrolling through listings, right? I think just about everyone would agree with that statement! However, it’s also worth noting that if you’re in the market for a “fixer-upper,” you may not need to put as much focus into the home’s current appearance. As long as it’s structurally intact, you may already be planning on having to apply a fresh coat of paint, replace the flooring, and any other renovation projects! This is a big reason why we love working in real estate because everyone’s homebuying experience is unique!
Outdoor Elements
Going hand-in-hand with a home’s visual appearance, wouldn’t you agree that the various outdoor living components are important too? Landscaping is obviously a big one in providing curb appeal, but it’s also worth taking a look at the backyard too. Does the home have anything, like a deck or patio, currently installed back there? How about a fire pit? There’s no doubt these features can add to the value of a home as a spot to relax after a long day or enjoy time with friends and family. On the other hand, if there is nothing back there and it’s a blank slate, this could provide you with the opportunity to design the elements as you please! In the end, outdoor living is certainly something worth considering!
Kitchen & Primary Suite
While you’ll definitely want to check out the entire house, the kitchen and primary suite are two spots that we wanted to highlight here! For the kitchen, you’ll want to ask questions like: Do the appliances stay with the house, and what’s the current state of them? How do the countertops, cabinets, and backsplash look? Is that something you’ll find yourself replacing in the next few years?
As for the primary suite, it is pretty straightforward as well. How do all of the plumbing fixtures look in the bathroom? Is the showerhead, toilet, bathtub, or any of the faucets dated and will need to be replaced soon? What about the flooring throughout the bathroom? Is it made out of a quality material? Take a peek at the closet and determine if it’s an adequate size for your needs. In addition, as is the case throughout the entire house, your realtor should be able to point out any things that you should be concerned about or blemishes that will need to be fixed sooner rather than later. This will help immensely when it comes to thinking about potential future repair costs as you decide if it will fit within your budget!
Price
As we wrap up this blog post, you can’t ignore that the price tag of a home will be something that everyone inevitably takes into consideration. We briefly mentioned this above in relation to the cost differences of purchasing a new construction home compared to a resale home. As a homebuyer, you simply need to weigh the advantages associated with each and determine which is the right move for you. Nonetheless, once you have a general price in mind that you would like to spend, you can start thinking about items like the interest rate, down payment, and so on.
Find Your Dream Home in Kansas City!
We hope you found some helpful information throughout this blog post! There’s no denying that buying a home is one of the largest (if not the most expensive) purchases you’ll make, so it’s important to find a home that you love. In order to make this a reality, it’s also key to remember that an experienced team of real estate professionals can make your life a whole lot easier, as well as eliminate some unnecessary stress along the way.
Our team at the Small Real Estate Team has years of experience in the Kansas City market and feels confident in our ability to help our clients find the perfect home! If you would like to speak with a member of our team, you’re welcome to fill out the form HERE or give us a call at (816) 407-5224.
Work With Realtors You Can Trust
Ready to get serious about your home-building journey? The Small Real Estate Team would love to help! From selling your existing property to helping you navigate the home-building process, we’re here to guide you through it all. We aren’t just in it for another sale. Our team genuinely cares about the well-being of each of our clients. In fact, we treat every transaction as if it were our own personal purchase. We believe in honesty. We believe in dependability. We believe in loyalty. We believe that our dedication to the SMALL things will make you a client for life. Click here to learn more about our awesome team. To learn more about working with The Small Team, give us a call at (816) 407-5224 or fill out the contact form on our website.
Hear From Our Happy Clients
When choosing a real estate agent, it can be a little overwhelming if you don’t know where to start! Reviews and testimonials from previous homeowners are great tools for evaluating your options. Click here to read reviews from our happy clients!
Kendra says: “The Small team helped us prepare to sell our home while also paying attention to the market to help us know exactly when to list our home and how much to list it for. They were efficient but took their time to thoroughly explain every question we had. I know that we wouldn’t have had nearly the amount of offers or sold our house for the price we did if it were not for their guidance and incredible marketing expertise of the Small Team.”
Jay says: “So easy to work with. Great communication, encouraging, and knowledgeable. Not just one person we worked with but a team of professionals who were available day and night to answer our questions. They helped walk through all the details related to paperwork, inspections, lender recommendations, etc. A fantastic team!”
We know there are a lot of realtors out there. Who you choose to work with will ultimately make or break your home-building experience. If you want to work with professionals who have your best interest at heart, and who know the Kansas City Northland like the back of their hand, click here to request more information from The Small Real Estate Team. Stay in the loop with our listings, and other behind-the-scenes fun, on Facebook and Instagram!
Hear From A 3x Repeat Customer!
Check out the video below to watch a testimonial from one of our THREE-time clients! Throughout your life, your residential needs will inevitably change. From purchasing a large home as your family grows to downsizing in retirement years, you can count on The Small Team to assist you through it all!