So, you’re looking into buying your first home – congratulations! Becoming a first-time home buyer is an exciting time, but it can also come with various challenges if you don’t know exactly what to expect throughout the home-buying process. That’s why our experts at Evergreen Home Buyers have compiled a list of 5 tips for first-time home buyers to help the process of getting your dream home go more smoothly!

1. Know What You Want
Although this may be challenging since this is the first home you’re going to be purchasing, knowing what you want can help tremendously during the house-hunting process. This includes not only knowing what type of home you’re looking for and its must-have features but also how much you can afford to spend as well. Knowing these parameters will help eliminate certain properties and narrow the search to find something you’re really excited about moving into.

2. Ask About Deed Restrictions
One thing we always recommend asking about is deed restrictions. In Florida, deed-restricted communities are quite common, and it essentially means that there’s a homeowner’s association (HOA) that outlines and enforces various regulations and rules. You pay a monthly, or sometimes annual, fee to live in these communities, and these regulations could include anything from exterior paint colors to lawn maintenance, rental rules, pet restrictions, and more, making it an important factor to consider before purchasing a new home.

3. Never Skip the Home Inspection
Even with a new build, you should never skip the home inspection! Why? Because no matter if a home is 5 years old or 50 years old, it could have potential issues that the home inspection can uncover. These issues could be anything, including electrical trouble, pest problems, and foundation concerns, to name a few. Something else to consider is that a general inspection may not cover things like radon testing, but home buyers can get free radon testing kits from the Florida Department of Health.

4. Don’t be Afraid to Negotiate
So, you’ve found a home you’re interested in, and now it’s time to put in an offer – how exciting! You may want to put an offer in right at their listing price, even if it’s a bit high, but we always say don’t be afraid to negotiate. Keep in mind you’ll also have other fees to pay, like closing costs, for example, so any amount you can save during the sale will be extremely helpful to you as you continue the transaction.

5. Purchase Homeowner’s Insurance
Purchasing homeowner’s insurance is always a wise decision, no matter if you’re an experienced home buyer or not. Investing in the right homeowner’s insurance plan for your needs is critical to protect your home and family in the case of an unforeseen accident or event. However, it’s important to ensure that you’re not over or under-insured with your policy, meaning it’s always a good idea to be familiar with your policy to help you understand what it does and does not cover.

Final Thoughts
Buying your first home can be thrilling, terrifying, and life-changing, all wrapped into one transaction. At Evergreen Home Buyers, we’ve had the pleasure of selling several of our renovated properties to first-time home buyers, and it’s always a magical, heart-warming experience to hand them the keys to their new home. However, what if you’re a current homeowner worried about hitting a certain closing date or just struggling to sell your home in general?

Well, At Evergreen Home Buyers, we will purchase your home for cash AS IS, making the process entirely hands-off for you with no repairs, inspections, appraisals, or contingencies necessary. Plus, we can close in as little as two weeks! So, for a completely quick and painless way to sell your home for cash faster, visit www.selltoevergreenjax.com today.