You’re Ready For The Next Chapter.

You’ve Made The Decision To Move And You’re Confident Sherwood Park Is The Perfect Place To Call Home.

Now, All You Have To Do Is Find A House That Ticks Off All (Or At The Very Least, Most) Of The Items On Your “Must-Have” List.

Okay, it isn’t quite that easy. But finding a house that suits your preferences and lifestyle needs is definitely an excellent place to start.

Then the process of actually securing your little piece of Sherwood Park real estate truly begins. 

It’s a process that potential homebuyers often struggle to navigate. There’s financing, negotiations, paperwork, and so many other details to consider. But don’t worry— with a bit of advanced preparation you can significantly increase your chances of a smooth, successful home buying experience. 

And We’re Here To Help!

We’ve outlined my recommended strategy for buying a home in Sherwood Park below. By following these guidelines, We’re confident your home buying experience will be more enjoyable and will yield better results.

Our Home Buyer’s Guide

1. Consider The Big Picture

One of the biggest mistakes potential buyers make when choosing a home is fixating on short-term wants as opposed to long-term needs, and for this reason, considering the big picture is one of the most important parts of any guide to buying a home. 

We highly advise giving some deep thought to what you want your life to look like over the next five years (at least). Will you want to expand your family? Is it possible your employer could ask you to relocate? Do you have ageing parents who you’d like to have an in-law suite for? Answering these questions before you invest will ensure your space functions as you need it to—not just right now, but well into the future, too.

2. Crunch Your Numbers Carefully

This is another must for any home seller’s guide. You don’t want to see a dream home that’s outside of your budget range— especially if you aren’t aware of how much flexibility exists within your financial plan. Closely assessing your budget ahead of time will allow you to determine exactly how much you can borrow (comfortably, of course), how much of your own savings you can tap into, and where the absolute maximum of your price range should be set.

Also, remember that a mortgage payment isn’t the only cost associated with owning a home. You’ll need to think about property insurance, annual taxes, ongoing maintenance costs, and utilities, among other expenses. 

It’s best to have a crystal clear understanding of what you can afford before you begin viewing Sherwood Park homes. Trust us, no one likes the disappointment of falling in love with a home that just doesn’t fit into their financial plan.

3. Get Real With Your REALTOR®

Your chosen licensed REALTOR® is your greatest asset. But you need to help them help you. Be clear about your expectations, needs, and desired outcomes. The more you are upfront about what a successful home search will look like for you, the more likely it is your real estate agent will be able to deliver it.

Think about your “deal breakers” in terms of your new space. What features or design elements are least appealing to you? What are your must-haves? 

It’s also a good idea to clarify how you prefer to communicate, what your work schedule typically looks like, and how involved you plan to be in the home searching process. (Some clients are comfortable having their agent review paperwork, for example, while others want to review each agreement, contract, or document themselves.)

4. Single Out Your Terms Of Sale

Depending on the state of the Sherwood Park real estate market at the time of your home search, you may need to be more competitive with your offer if you want to secure your dream home. Sometimes, terms of sale can be just as influential as your financial offer when trying to secure a home.

Some examples of terms that make an offer more attractive include:

• Covering closing costs

• Adding an escalation clause

• Paying in cash

• Committing to a quick closing timeline

• Waiving contingencies

Identifying how you’ll make your purchase offer irresistible will give you a strong competitive edge over other interested contenders.

5. Be Prepared To Make Your Move

There is no standard timeline in terms of finalizing a home purchase. The seller may accept, counter, or reject your offer, and your plan will be forced to adjust accordingly. But regardless of how long it takes to negotiate and close the sale, you’ll want to be ready to start your next chapter.

Your kids may need to change schools. You may need to hire a moving company. Or take some time off work. Whatever the case may be, having a plan will make the entire experience less stressful. 

We highly recommend packing non-essential items in advance and organizing your boxes well. This will make unpacking in your new home far easier and allow you to avoid much of the chaos that commonly comes with getting settled in a new space.

 Thinking Of Buying A Home In Sherwood Park?

Here’s How We Can Help