Whether it was an Instagram ad or a spur of the moment purchase while shopping, we all have experienced buyer’s remorse at some point in our lives.  Sometimes products don’t live up to our expectations, the quality is lacking, or we just don’t reach for it as much as we thought we would.  Buyer’s remorse happens all the time even for homeowners.  As study by Zillow in 2022 found that seventy five percent of homebuyers with the past two years (2020-2022) experienced home buyer’s remorse.  Buying a home is a big decision that can impact lots of different aspects of your life.  Before you say yes , here are some things to consider when buying your Locust Grove, VA home.

How much exterior and interior maintenance is feasible for me to handle?

According to the Zillow study, thirty two percent of buyers expressed remorse over purchasing a home that had a higher level of maintenance than expected. Yard work and maintenance can quickly eat away at weekend plans.  A large yard at a Locust Grove, VA home means frequent mowing in the spring and summer as well as possible leaf patrol in the fall.  Living in an HOA may come with a set of expectations for how the yard appears too.  

Inside, interior maintenance on home systems is required to keep everything running smoothly.  While newer homes may not need more than air filter changes, older homes may require more maintenance.  Be realistic to the time and money that you have to put into home maintenance.  If you are busy with a full time job, travel, or don’t enjoy yard work, then consider looking at properties with smaller yards to minimize your commitment to these chores.  Likewise, know that purchasing an older home may come with additional maintenance tasks or systems that may need to be updated in the near future.

What size home and layout will fit your needs the best?

Do you love to entertain?  Then a spacious kitchen and living area may be on your list of must haves.  Do you work from home?  A separate room for an office where you can close the door to shut out the noise from others in a home is a must have.  When searching for a Locust Grove, VA home, make sure to stay focused on what your must haves are in a home even if you don’t find it right away.  You need a home that fits your lifestyle and have one that does so makes it a more enjoyable place to be.  

Many buyers have remorse for purchasing a home that is too small.  Whether “too small” is a reference to the number of bedrooms, lack of storage space, or not enough room to entertain, always keep how you would use the house in the front of your mind while touring properties.  For example, you might really appreciate the remodeled bathrooms, but does that make up for the lack of a primary bathroom in a home?

Does the location of this home work for me?

If you are thinking about buying a home in a certain neighborhood or are, then make more than one visit to it.  See what it is like in the morning, afternoon, and evening to get a better feel of what is happening around your potential home.  If moving to the home means a change in commute, then take a drive from your place of work to the home during the evening to see what traffic is really like during this time.  Many people start out thinking they can handle an extra thirty minutes tacked on to their drive time, only to realize after purchasing a home that it isn’t as ideal as they thought.

While you might love the layout of a home, you also need to make sure that you love where it is.  Maybe you a home on acreage or want to live in a neighborhood.  These are important things to think about while searching for a Locust Grove, VA home.

What mortgage programs are available to me?

Aside from the home itself, many buyers regret not doing further research into the home buying process and mortgage programs that are out there.  (You can find lots of home buying resources here.)  You want to find a REALTOR® and mortgage company that can offer you the best resources and knowledge for your home buying journey.