As the saying goes, mothers know best, especially when it comes to important decisions. Indeed, there’s nothing like a mother’s care and understanding. You can always trust her for the best advice when it comes to the big things in your life, such as buying a house.
Purchasing a home can be both exciting and scary. It is expensive, long-term, and involves a lot of decision-making.
Definitely, it’s one of the biggest commitments for a person in their lifetime and an area where we could certainly use the valuable insight only our moms would have. Not only because of their personal experiences or expertise, but you should also listen to what your mother says because she always wants the best for you.
If the process of purchasing a home has you feeling confused or anxious, then just ask yourself, “what would my mother do?” or “what would my mother want me to do?” Meanwhile, here are some tips from moms on the top considerations for buying a house:
[1] Are you really sure you’re ready? It’s one thing to be mentally prepared for the process of buying a home, but it’s another to be 100% ready financially. You need to ask yourself honestly–will giving the down payment still leave me enough for my savings? Is my salary stable enough to pay the mortgage? Am I prepared for all the extra costs and additional fees?
Before making the commitment to a prospect, you have to be sure you can handle the responsibility on your own. Of course, your parents would always be willing to help, but just imagine how proud they would be if you could pull this off on your own.
[2] The closer, the better. Location is one of the biggest considerations in selecting a place to live. The home you would settle in long-term should be close to the most important places–schools, workplace, hospital, marketplace, your parents’ home.
When choosing an area for your home, think about the quality of life. Select a neighborhood that’s secure and convenient for you and your family–a place that’s not too urban but still progressive, in close proximity to your relatives, and accessible via commute would be ideal.
[3] Make safety your priority. Safety doesn’t just mean finding a home in a relatively peaceful location but in the structures of the home itself. The first thing you should check out in a home is just how safe it is.
What kind of structure is it–a one-storey, a duplex, a condo unit? How old is the place? Especially if you’re going to have children in the house, it’s imperative to first look for built-in safety features.
Look for red flags–details of the property that could compromise your children’s safety. If these aren’t fixable, not even by additional measures or devices, you must keep searching for better options.
Keep in mind that you should always have your family’s safety as your priority.
[4] Want something done? Do it yourself. It’s important not to rely too much on other people when it comes to purchasing your home. To make sure you’re always in the loop at every step of the process, do extensive research and ask questions.
Don’t leave all the work to your real estate agent or broker. Collaborate with all the people involved and make sure your concerns and wishes are voiced out.
[5] You don’t just marry the person, you marry… the home. A home is a long-term, if not lifetime, commitment. Much like in a marriage, you’ll have to do your best to find your match and make compromises each time you come across problems.
If you buy a home with your spouse, you’ll actually be entering into two partnerships–your marriage to your partner and to your home. Both of these can flourish and be fortified with time through patience, hard work, and compromise.
[6] Follow your heart. As cliché as it sounds, when it comes right down to it, just as in most decisions, you have to trust yourself. Listen to your instincts and weight all your options properly. Take the time to seek advice, but know that it’s all really up to you.
For something like buying a home, be smart and learn everything you can. Your decisions aren’t always going to be what your parents would want, but they would trust you to make them regardless.
Starting and growing a family starts with a house–one where members of the family can share treasured moments with each other. This is why it’s important to be sure with the property you’ll be setting in. And if you can save up while you do, the better! Happy house hunting!
Leigh Margarrette Cabaya works as a Marketing Associate of Lamudi Philippines.
