In light of National Preparedness Month, Janet Thompson and Kirsty Daviau, of Thompson Daviau Realty, list the top five tips when preparing to purchase a new home.
BOULDER – Janet Thompson and Kirsty Daviau have over 20 years’ experience between them in the local real estate market, and have both earned the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) designations. “A big part of our business, naturally, is working with buyers,” says Thompson. “We tell them that there are many things to consider when buying a home.”
No. 1: Talk to a lender. “First and foremost, it is important to talk to a local reputable lender,” says Daviau. “It’s very important to know your budget. The lender will tell you how much you can borrow to have a monthly payment with which you are comfortable.
No. 2: Determine how much space is required. “This is not just about square footage or the number of rooms, but rather how those work together,” adds Thompson. “You can probably answer how many bedrooms you are looking for fairly quickly, but is one to be used as an office and/or do you really need a guest room? How important is a private landscaped yard or neighborhood pool?”
No. 3: Decide on location. “You can look for your perfect house in the best location, but most people have a budget that can make this difficult to find,” says Daviau. “So what is your priority? Do you want to live where you can get to shops and restaurants in just a few minutes? How long of a commute to your place of business are you wanting? Are local schools important? Where is your balance between the house you want and the location you are looking for?”
No. 4: Decide if the home needs remodeling. “If you find a house that is move-in ready, perhaps you can make a larger down payment and move right in after closing,” says Thompson. “Remodeling is a lot of work and can cost a lot, but you could end up with a house that suits
you better.”
No. 5: Be somewhat price-flexible. It is necessary to have a budget and to try to stay within it. “You need to buy a house that you can live in comfortably and be happy with your monthly payment,” concludes Daviau. “That said, it is also important to not get completely fixated on a number. If you find a house that is ‘the one’ and you can afford it, don’t pass it up because the price is just over the number you set in your mind as a maximum.”
About Thompson Daviau Realty
Thompson Daviau Realty mainly services Boulder County and the surrounding areas of Broomfield, Adams, Jefferson and Weld Counties. Both are members of the Colorado Association of Realtors®, and Janet is a member of the Longmont Association of Realtors®, while Kirsty is a member of the Boulder Association of Realtors®.
For more information, call 303.564.8746 or visit ThompsonDaviauRealty.com. The office is located at 4450 Arapahoe Ave., Suite 100 in Boulder.
