Four Things Home Owners Wish They Had Done Sooner

Custom Smart Homes has built countless houses for people across the great state of Tennessee, and during our decades of business we’ve talked to a lot of families and future home owners.  When you’re planning a home it’s easy to get caught up in the big picture, but you can’t forget to plan and think about the little things that come along with planning and building a home.  Some people spend time focusing on having the right tile for the bathroom and having a big bay window in the living room, and forget about some of the fundamental aspects of planning a home.  They always say hindsight is 20/20, and there are some common things home owners wish they had done during the planning and purchasing process.

Saving sooner

The earlier you start saving for a new home, the better the home buying process will be.  If you wait till the last minute to start saving for your down payment, you could greatly under or overestimate just how much money you can afford to spend on your new home.  Don’t start saving when you decide on your dream home, you should start building your savings as soon as home buying thoughts enter your head.

Shopping around for mortgages

This ties in with the previous point.  If you spend too much time dreaming of your new home and not planning for it, you may not be able to handle the financial aspects of owning your new home.  Ideally you should shop around for everything you own, but this is especially true for people that are looking for a mortgage.  Don’t feel like you have to get a mortgage from the bank you’re currently with.  Check with different banks and even credit unions so that you can compare and contrast prices.  Saving $50 a month on your mortgage may not seem like that big of a difference, but that small savings you got from shopping around could save you thousands of dollars in the future.

Buying furniture before the move in

It may make sense for you to start doing your furniture shopping as soon as you have home to put it in, but you’ll be in a for an unpleasant experience when the only piece of furniture in your home for two weeks is a futon.  Don’t wait until the last minute to start furnishing your home.  Start buying your big items before the move, and opt to have them shipped to your home on moving day.  You’ll be much more comfortable in your new home, and you’ll be able to spend time settling and unpacking.

Thinking about the future

Your two bedroom home can be perfect for just you and your spouse, but if you decide to have kids your spacious two bedroom abode can get very cramped.  Nobody can see into the future, but you should try to anticipate what the next few years of your life will be like when you’re buying a home.   If you’re planning on having children, look for homes that have enough rooms.  If you’re going to be sending your kids to college, think about finding a home with rooms you can easily convert.