The Checklist for Home Shopping

A proper Checklist for Home Shopping can make the process easier
Photo by CC user Nyttend on Wikimedia Commons

Buying a house isn’t something we do every day, and for most hard working folk, it is the biggest single investment they will ever make. Home ownership is rather complex, with land titles to be acquired and property taxes to pay, and then there is the contract with the builder. If you are contemplating getting your foot on the property ladder anytime soon, here is a checklist to help you through the process.

  • Know your Budget – Before you can approach a builder, you need to know your price range. This would be the first question asked, so you need to establish two things. Firstly, you must decide on a monthly payment that you and your partner can realistically afford, as this will determine the size of your loan. Secondly, you must arrive at a budget for the purchase, and this would be a considerable amount.

  • The Right Builder – Once you have made the decision to buy, and have your loan pre-approved, the next thing is to find a reputable builder. If you happen to be in Western Australia, there are online Perth home builders with some excellent properties across a range of projects. Click here for affordable homes constructed by a master builder with many years of experience. The quality of your new home rests firmly on the shoulders of the builder, and by viewing a few display homes, you will get an idea of the quality of their homes.

  • One Stop Service – Buying a new home can become a prolonged ordeal, especially for the first time buyer, so try to find a builder who will deal with the entire process. There should be a level of transparency, and any quote should be detail all of the extra costs, allowing you to stick to your original budget. If you have to add things like legal fees and property tax, then your budget will soon become a thing of the past. There are Perth house builders that handle the whole process, keeping the customer informed every step of the way.

  • Furnishing the New Home – Whichever way you look at it, furnishing a new home isn’t going to be cheap. Some people factor in the furnishings with the home loan, while others save until they have enough to cover this. If you are a first-time buyer in Australia, the government will give you generous tax concessions, and a small grant, which can help with setting up the home. Unless you plan on living in a shell for a few months, you need to make provisions for furnishing the new property, unless of course, your existing items are well suited for the new home. Even then, you will have to buy curtains or blinds, and possibly fitted carpets.

With the right builder and a loan approval, buying a house isn’t nearly as traumatic as it used to be, and with careful budgeting, you can be the proud owner of a dream home.