Now that you’ve decided to make your move, here are some things to keep in mind when making this new and somewhat daunting experience as painless as possible:
Know what you can afford
And leave yourself some room for adjustments. There is often a big difference between what you can afford and what the bank will lend you so be realistic and lay out some ground rules for yourself. It can be easy to be lured into spending more than you probably should, which may lead to you resenting your new home down the line because all of your money is going straight towards your mortgage and your mortgage alone
Do your research
Seek advice from friends, neighbours and experts who know what they’re talking about. Don’t be shy about seeking counsel from those who have been through the same process, even if it teaches you what not to do. Research all you want but, in these situations a one on one sit down with someone you trust is often the best way to get your head around everything you need to do when purchasing your first home
Find yourself a reputable builder
Kaplan Homes have capped price build contracts in place to avoid nasty surprises down the line. You’ve heard the horror stories, you’ve seen what going over budget on your home build can do to people, it all adds up and quickly too. But have no fear, there are things you can do to make sure your home build does not go over budget and it all starts with finding a builder you can trust with a great track record
Forever home or investment?
Is this the home you are going to live in for the rest of your life or at the very least a good chunk of it? Or is it an investment property? If the latter applies to you consult your builder on popular features and items that are likely to impress buyers when it comes time to sell. An investment property needs to appeal to a wide range of people in order to achieve maximum results. If your dream is to have a purple house, maybe wait to do it in your forever home
The process whilst intimidating should be exciting not horrible so find people who will make the process easier not harder. Do your best to be prepared so that when unexpected events arise you know what to do. Staying calm is crucial in high pressure situations. They are notorious for triggering rash decisions people often regret down the line.
Kaplan Homes are a reputable home builder that will give you all the information you need when you ask for it with no tricks or hidden surprises. Kaplan work primarily with first home buyers and know what they are talking about, so you can have some piece of mind and enjoy the process.
