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Six Ways To Beat The
Stress Of Buying A Home:
DEATH, DIVORCE &
MOVING are the three most stressful experiences in life. There
are two very different kinds of needs that people have while
moving.
First there are the transactional needs, like finding the home
that is just right for them, finding a seller who is realistic,
negotiating the price, filling out the paperwork, handling the
escrow, and arranging for the move.
But there are also emotional needs that are involved when
moving, and this is where the biggest stress comes in. Any
competent agent will handle the transactional needs for you, but
if your emotional needs are unfulfilled, you'll be frustrated
and may not act in your own best interests.
The ideal real
estate agent is one, who is competent with paperwork and
numbers, but can also guide, direct, and counsel you through the
emotional ups and downs of moving.
Here are the
six best ways I have found to beat the stress:
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Begin with the end in mind.
Have an ultimate scenario of where you're trying to be. What
will life be like when you get there? How will it be better
than where you are now? Dwell on that picture and write it
out, fill up at least a page about how it feels in the new
place. This is imperative. Having the goal in front of you
at all times energizes you to achieve it, in spite of
setbacks and frustrations. Emotions will run high and you
need an anchor. You too must focus on that future goal when
anxiety threatens to get the better of you.
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Be flexible. In your monetary
calculations, overestimate by a thousand dollars. In this
market, anything can happen between contract acceptance and
closing. It could be the inspections reveal areas of concern
that the seller is unwilling to fix or the repair costs are
higher than the amount limited in the contract. Or the
interest rate changes which affects the necessary down
payment and closing costs you will need to come up with. As
your real estate agent, I will strive to tie up loose ends
as quickly as possible, but remember there is no perfect
world. Most buyers feel a bit overwhelmed when taking on a
new mortgage and the responsibilities of a new home. We've
seen many buyers get angry when it seems like the cost just
keeps going up. Anger is caused when reality doesn't match
up with the expectations you had in your mind. So if you
anticipate this happening in advance, you won't get angry.
In fact, it'll probably go better than you expected.
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Trust in the process. There's
just so much to do, it's easy to panic. You wonder if it
will ever work out. In fact, when my wife an I bought
our first house, I was up all night wondering if I had paid
too much, could I really afford the payments, moving,
painting & settling in. You think you're taking a big
chance, but the truth is you're giving yourself a big
chance. Even though you can't see every step of the way, as
you move towards your goals, the way opens up. I know that
you haven't moved in a long time and it's a major upheaval
in your life. But I have been there many times before, and I
will be looking out for you. Trust that I know the way to
get you there.
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Get knowledge. One thing
you'll probably feel during this transition time is being
out of control. It feels like everyone else has taken over
your life. The seller, your lender, the appraiser, the
inspectors, they all have the power to say yes or no to your
moving plans. I will try my best to let you know ahead of
time what your expenses will be, and what the unknowns are.
I will tie down the loose ends as soon as possible. I will
try to get your loan approved within a reasonable time
frame. I will educate you as best we can and let you in
"behind the scenes" so you won't ever feel stupid or out of
control.
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What is your option? When things don't go as smoothly as
you had hoped, don't let emotions take over. Always ask
yourself 'What is my option?' because there are always
options. Let's pretend the lender takes longer than
agreed upon to get your loan. He/she keeps asking you
for more and more documentation until it feels like he
also needs to know how many gold fillings you have in
your mouth! You feel upset because you wanted to feel
certain about the move and now you still have to live
with the uncertainty. You want to say 'Forget it, I'm
fed up with this!' But what is your option? Find a new
lender and start the process over again? That may take
weeks, plus you will have to provide all the paperwork
all over again. If the lender is trying his/her best, it
may be better to give him/her a few more days. Each case
is unique, but when setbacks occur I have found that
asking yourself this question helps to defuse the
situation and restore clear headed thinking.
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Seek entertainment. When
there's nothing you can do about the situation, take your
mind off of it altogether. Maybe you expected loan approval
on Friday, but now it won't come until Monday. You hate
being in limbo over the weekend and feeling powerless. So do
something else entirely, maybe something where you aren't
powerless. Take a hike, play tennis, get out of town for the
day, watch a movie, pray, or pour yourself into your work.
Whatever diversion works best for you, now would be a good
time to engage in it. Just forget the situation and refuse
to listen to those irritating thoughts when they come into
your head. Think about something else instead and just take
it one day at a time. |
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To keep
stress to a minimum, here's how I will serve you when you work
with me in buying your new home:
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I
will not take your business for granted.
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I will inform you of your
options.
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I will give you our
best-reasoned expert counsel and advice with your best
interests in mind.
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I will clarify your goals and motivation, so that you
can decide if moving is the wisest choice at this time.
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I will provide recommendations
and information to help your kids through all the changes.
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I will negotiate effectively
for you to get the lowest possible price for your new home.
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I will protect your interests
during escrow, keeping a detailed record of the transaction.
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I will be your levelheaded
sounding board or relief valve when the stress is
overwhelming.
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I will counsel you through any feelings of 'buyer's
remorse.
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I will alert you ahead of time
to every possibility so you feel more in control.
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I will contact you daily
during the last 10 days of the transaction to serve your
needs.
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I will provide guidance and
help with movers, change of address, utilities shut off,
cleaning, etc.
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I will continue to give you
information of value after the transaction... and become
your Friend and REALTOR for life! |
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