Tips & Tricks For Any Situation

So it's time to buy a house. Whether you're shopping on a budget or searching for your dream home no matter what the cost, there are a few things you should keep in mind when you go to view potential properties.

The bottom line is this: Every house has its drawbacks. The trick of being a smart buyer is to know which of those drawbacks aren't so negative, to use them to your advantage when it comes to negotiating price, and then fix them later at little cost to yourself. Here are three negatives you may encounter in the housing world- that you would be doing yourself a favor to look beyond.

Paint colors. Honestly, if you're buying something as permanent as a home, what difference does it make what color the walls are? This is not a rental property where you're stuck with what you get; the house is yours, and the walls are yours to do with as you please. I have actually heard of buyers turning down a house because the burgundy walls made it too dark. A twenty-dollar gallon of paint, or the cost of a painter for a day if you'd rather not do the work, can recreate a room and rejuvenate a house. The trick is to see the house for its possibilities, not its current actualities. Turning down a house because you don't like the color of the walls is almost as bad as a woman I heard once turn down a house because she didn't like the doorknobs!

Appliances. Sure, it's a plus- a big one- if you get a house that comes complete with up-to-date appliances, already installed. But this major convenience comes with a price tag. The reason is simple: Nobody likes lugging in and installing those things. You're paying to have them there, not necessarily because they're good appliances. Buy some used ones, have them delivered or borrow a truck, and save on cost. It's that simple.

Landscaping. This one might be a surprise, since a yard is a fairly permanent thing. Potential buyers should certainly check out the property and what lies adjacent to it. But don't be overly concerned if the previous owners had dogs that tore up the grass. Planting grass is an easy project that pays off over time and can increase the value of the property tremendously as years go by.

If factors like those above are lacking from the house you're considering, you should certainly use it as a bargaining tool in lowering your final purchase price. A good seller will recognize that you will incur some out-of-pocket expense to remedy these things, and they'll adjust the price of the house accordingly. But turning down a property when the fixes are this simple is more than just a foolish move on the buyer's part. It's a lost chance to incur some valuable equity and possibly get a great home for a much lower price.

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