6 Tips for Staying Organized When Buying A Home

Buying a home can be a huge step, but you don't have to be intimidated by it. With proper steps, and organizational techniques you can make this a breeze, and come out with a new Lake of the Ozarks home that is perfect for you. At Gattermeir Davidson, we aim to not only help you find the right home but also help you get through the process easily and quickly! Here are a few things to keep in mind as you start buying a home to keep it easy on yourself.

Take Care of Current Bills

Now is the time to take charge of your finances and make sure that everything is in order. Pay off your credit cards and take care of any outstanding bills. Get your credit report and make sure that everything on it is accurate, and fix any mistakes. This is a critical step in securing your loan, so be sure to take a close look at your financial history and credit standing.

Get Paperwork Ready for Mortgage Approval

The first step in finding a home is actually securing your mortgage before you ever start house hunting. This will help you know what you can financially afford, and give you a good place to start. A preapproval will tell you exactly how much you can get from the home loan. You will need to have specific paperwork in order for this step to go smoothly: income, assets, debts, and credits, as well as your estimated down payment and Social Security number for a credit check.

Make a List of Priorities

It's important to know exactly what you need from a home. Sit down and make a list of the "musts," perhaps it might look something like this:

• Highest Price Permitted
• Square Footage
• Size of Property
• Number of Bedrooms/Bathrooms
• School System

Then you will list your "wants":

• Fenced In Yard
• Home Office
• Walk-In closet
• Flooring Type
• Appliances
• Home Entertainment Systems

Take Notes On Your House Hunt

You are most likely going to look at many different homes throughout the home buying process, and it's important to take notes of the homes you've seen. Keep a list of the number of bedrooms/bathrooms, style of home, details about the neighborhood, features like a pool, garage, air systems, etc. Writing these down now will help you remember exactly what you liked and didn't like without them blurring together.

Keep a Detailed Address Book

You will be shaking many hands and meeting many different people through the home buying process. Keeping a detailed list of phone numbers, email addresses, and other information about the person will assist you, not only keep everything organized but also having what you need when you need it.

Review Your Notes

This is where you'll really appreciate your organizational skills. You can compare each home to see what they each offer. Home A may have a better view of the Lake, but home B has a larger kitchen. While home C has everything you need but is a little more expensive than you were planning on. You can now make your decisions based on educated and detailed notes of what you saw and not just rely on your memory.

Buying a New Lake of the Ozarks Home

At Gattermeir Davidson, we have built our business on years of experience to help make your next home buying experience the best possible. We help you from start to finish so you never feel alone, and when you have questions, we can answer them. If you're ready to work with the best real estate agents at the lake of the Ozarks, contact us today to start the home buying journey!

2011 REALTOR Salesperson of the Year

Missouri Association of Realtors

Gattermeir Davidson Real Estate, LLC

752 Bagnell Dam Blvd., Suite A

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office | 573.365.1555

Fax | 573.365.1766