Home Selection Process – What Tulsa Home Buyers should consider
Every home buyer is different. Some Buyers will shop for months before making a selection and others will find a house within a week. My most recent Buyer purchased the 2nd home I showed her, as it was just love at first sight.
Another Buyer had 30 days to vacate her rental, so we went on a mad, three-day shopping spree. She found a beautiful home in a neighborhood where she already knew friends and neighbors – and we closed just in the nick of time. She laughingly says that “I talked her down from the ledge,” because she didn’t believe it could be done. [Smile.]
Of course it’s much more difficult for Tulsa home buyers relocating to Tulsa. It takes some time to learn the neighborhoods and prioritize criteria. Do you want to pay more to live closer to Utica Square or Brookside, or would you prefer a newer home with a longer commute?
Whether a native Tulsan or relocating to Tulsa, take time to establish your search criteria with your Realtor. After a few shopping trips, you may need to revise your search if you’re not finding the right home. Some buyers have the luxury of increasing their home purchase budget, while others may have to compromise on some aspect of their wish list.
As you’ve heard over and over, nothing is more important than location, AND you need to focus on what you can not change. If a home has everything you want, but is on a busy street, that may be a deal-breaker. Or a home may have everything you want but the yard is too small – you can’t change that. If all the bedrooms are on the 2nd level and you want a master bedroom on the 1st level, do you really want to convert the 1st floor formal dining room to a bedroom?
You CAN change the configuration of a kitchen, paint colors, flooring, etc. You can add an outdoor kitchen or swimming pool. Sometimes you can knock out a wall to create a more open space. If in doubt, get an architect and contractor over to evaluate.
Find a Realtor familiar with the area that can think outside the box. There is a gem out there waiting for you – it may just take some diligence and patience to find the perfect home for you!
