40% of all homebuyers report that buying a home is one of the most stressful events in their lives. There are many sources of stress, but the more prepared you are, the better you’ll be able to handle them. Here are some tips for handling the most common stresses of buying a home:
Find the Right Real Estate Agent
The right real estate professional can make an enormous difference in your home buying experience. Let their expertise and knowledge of the market guide you and take care of some of the most stressful aspects of buying a home, such as finding the right listing. With the wealth of knowledge real estate agents possess, you’ll gain peace of mind working with one.
Keep Your Timing Flexible
Nothing is more stressful than a hard deadline. If you keep your buying and moving plans flexible, you’ll avoid a lot of unnecessary frustration and rushed decisions. Finding the perfect home can take a long time, and even after you find it, the buying process can take months or more. The more time you give yourself to complete the journey, the calmer and more comfortable you’ll be.
Get Pre-Approved for a Loan
A major source of stress in home buying is securing financing. The earlier you can get a preapproval letter from a mortgage lender, the earlier you can put that anxiety to rest. While it doesn’t cover the entire scope of expenses you’ll encounter when buying a home, making sure you have a mortgage lined up and ready will make your buying process much smoother.
Expect to Make Adjustments
Finally, accepting that the process might not go according to plan is an important step in taking the stress out of home buying. With so many steps and moving parts, careful planning will help you stay organized and on top of the current task. However, things are bound to change. Keep an open mind and remind yourself that you might have to adjust your plans in order to make everything work.
It’s no secret that home buying is a tremendous decision. While it can be stressful, remembering these tips can help make the process easier.
About the Author
Marsha Charles
Consistent top listing and selling agent receiving Chairman's Club award for superior sales achievement almost every year while associated with Preferred Properties, Inc. Consistently receive the International Presidents Premier award for sales volume since joining Coldwell Banker Realty and ranked in the top 1% of agents in Connecticut and Westchester County. In 2021 I received the International Society of Excellence award for sales volume in excess of $100,000,000. I have been named a Top Five Sales Agent for customer satisfaction since 2010 (longer than any other agent in Connecticut) and listed in Connecticut Magazine. Named one of the Top Agents in Connecticut by Real Trends since 2018.
I work with sellers and buyers and also have a strong understanding to needs of those who are relocating . Background and experience in advertising, public relations and photography offer creative and innovative marketing plans for sellers.
Realtor designations include: Graduate Real Estate Institute, Certified Residential Specialist, Certified Residential Marketing Specialist, and Pricing Strategy Advisor. Served as President of New Canaan Board of Realtors (two terms), Director (three terms) and currently serve on Professional Standards Committee. Named Realtor of the year by the New Canaan Board of Realtors in 1994and again in 2022.
Married and mother of other of four children who attended and graduated from the New Canaan School System, Member of New Canaan, Darien, Greenwich and Statewide MLS systems. Areas covered include New Canaan, Darien, Greenwich, Rowayton, Norwalk, Wilton and all of lower Fairfield County.
