Buying a home, much like any business transaction, has certain rules and not just in the legal sense. Many of the homebuying rules come down to simple etiquette and are largely unwritten but often adhered to by both the buyer and the seller and their agents.
While there’s no written rulebook on how you should conduct yourself as a home buyer, there are some proper etiquette tips you should be aware of. Here are a few of the most important.
Get Pre-Qualified for Credit
One of the most disheartening parts of selling a home is going through the process only to find out that a prospective buyer either doesn’t have pre-qualification for a mortgage or can’t afford the home they want to buy. In either case, this can set back sellers, many of whom are likely using the equity from their home sale to purchase another home.
As a rule of thumb, you should start your home buying journey by getting pre-qualified for a mortgage before you begin. As a matter of fact, it may be important to be able to show your seller or their real estate agent proof of your pre-qualification. Not doing this will likely slow down your purchase of a home and will likely burn some bridges with local agents as well.
Be Honest and Forthright
If you’re not serious about buying just yet, then there’s nothing wrong with a little window shopping. It’s perfectly acceptable to visit homes and attend open houses just to get an idea of what you want in your ultimate digs, but be honest with sellers about where you are in the process.
Sellers are often eager to sell their homes as quickly as possible and may exhaust a great deal of energy on any prospective buyer. However, if you’re not really interested in buying the home right away or if you know that you’re shopping between several different homes, then make those facts known to the seller.
Be Polite and Be on Time
If you’re buying your first home, you may feel a certain desire to be a little powerful in your stance as a new buyer. Rest assured, that in most cases, there is a great deal of bargaining power from the seller as well. That said, be as polite as possible when viewing a home. After all, you are likely entering into someone’s home who still owns and maybe even lives in it.
Secondly, if you’re making appointments with sellers or agents, it’s greatly important to be on time for those appointments. Yes, you’re busy and likely on a tight schedule, but so are your sellers and so are their agents. Make sure you’re not wasting their time by being late to showings or appointments.
Start off on the Right Foot
Buying a home is a big deal, and it’s important that you start off on the right foot with your seller. Be cordial, polite, honest, and respectful and everything will fall into place and likely fall in your favor. Using the tips above will help you a great deal in making the right impression early in the process.
To get pre-qualified, consider applying online with Tidewater Mortgage Services, Inc. Tidewater has over twenty years of experience helping buyers just like yourself find the right financing options that fit you and your family!
