| People
generally have two kinds of needs during a home purchase.
First are the transactional needs, such as searching for a
home, obtaining financing, negotiating the terms of purchase,
completing paperwork and legal documents, and arranging the
move. The second are emotional needs, which can be more
stressful than the financial ones. The following are some tips
to help ease the stress. Prepare your children
Although you may have lived in your current home for just a
few years, four years is half the lifetime of an
eight-year-old. Your home may be the only home your children
remember. It’s where they feel safe and it’s probably the
center of your son or daughter’s world.
Be sure to announce the move in a completely upbeat way.
You might talk about how beautiful the new neighborhood is and
how good the schools are. Bring your children to the new
house, if that’s possible or positively describe it to them.
Find out what your children's favorite things are in your
current home, and then try to re-create them in the new house.
Keep your children actively involved. For instance, take them
shopping for paint, bedspreads, carpets, and other items for
their new room.
Your children are bound to have worries during the move.
Help lessen these anxieties by finding ways to make parting
pleasant. For example, plan a going-away party or create a
photo album with pictures of neighbors, their house and the
neighborhood.
Gain knowledge
As you begin the process, you may start to feel out of
control, as though other parties to the purchase transaction
are running the show. Your mortgage company, the appraiser,
the inspector, and the seller all have certain powers to
approve or disapprove of your overall plan to purchase this
home and move successfully. To alleviate your feelings of
helplessness, one of the best things you can do is to
understand as much of the purchase process as possible. Work
with your real estate agent to prepare yourself for the
unknown and tie down loose ends.
Trust the process
There can be so much to do that it's easy to panic. Buying a
home may feel risky, but the truth is it’s an opportunity for
you and your family. Even though you can't predict what will
happen every step of the way, your real estate agent helps
people buy and sell homes as a profession! Your agent has been
there before and understands that this is a major upheaval in
your life. Trust that your agent is looking out for you on
your way to a successful closing and move.
Be flexible
Although your agent will do everything possible to prepare you
for your home purchase, there is no such thing as a perfect
world. The property inspection may reveal areas of concern, or
closing may be delayed for some reason. Try to take a deep
breath and be flexible in your thinking.
Seek entertainment
Whenever you feel things are spinning out of control, find a
diversion! Take a walk around your new neighborhood; go out of
town or to a movie with your family. Whatever outlet works
best for you, this is a good time to engage in it! Remember to
take one "move" at a time.
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