Beginning the Home-Buying Process? Don’t Lose Out on the Home of Your Dreams!

Finding the right house can be difficult - don’t make it harder than it has to be!

Dipping your toe into the housing market can be a super exciting time . . . but the stress can also make you feel like maybe staying where you are for just a little longer might not be so bad. Especially these days. Listen — anyone who has ever bought a house (or even just started the process) gets it. Buying a house can be (and often is) one of the most stressful times in your life — but it doesn’t have to be!

It’s okay to dream big — but be realistic.

Have a list of 137 must-haves? So do most people, but it’s probably not going to happen. What do you love about where you’re at now? What is your current place lacking that’s fueling your decision to move? Not enough bedrooms? Need a bigger kitchen? The answers to these questions should make up the bulk of your must-have list (which hopefully has nowhere near 50 items, let alone 137). Anything else would just be a perk!

And remember that most things aren’t permanent. Look at the bones of the house rather than the cosmetics. Hate the wallpaper? Change it. Despise the kitchen cabinets? Give ‘em a facelift. Always dreamed of crown molding? Add it. Swore you’d never live in a yellow house? Paint it.

But more importantly… what are you missing out on?

What about houses you’re not even considering? The ones that might need some TLC before they become your dream home? Too many times homebuyers skip over these gems and miss out on a truly great opportunity. And given the state of our current housing market? These might be the homes worth taking a second-glance at! See a house in your ideal neighborhood that’s got the right amount of beds, baths, and charm but looks like it has seen better days? Don’t write it off!

There can be a lot of issues that come up during a home inspection that may make you want to run the other way (especially if the seller isn’t willing to address them or lower the price accordingly, which is super likely in the current market). Or maybe the issue is so glaring that you don’t even need a home inspection to notice it.

What if the siding is an issue?

When siding is damaged, dirty, or in disrepair, it can be an immediate turn-off — we all secretly judge books by their covers, don’t we? But what if you love the rest of the house? You’ve already started envisioning you and your family settling down and making it a home? What do you do then? If, worst case scenario, all of the siding needs to be replaced, start by getting a ballpark estimate of what that might entail and how much replacing the siding will cost. Here is a free siding replacement cost calculator to help you get an idea. And keep in mind, new siding is an investment into your home that you won’t need to worry about for decades — and just because another house looks like the siding doesn’t have any issues, know that you will be replacing or repairing it eventually (maybe sooner rather than later), so putting it off is not necessarily saving money in the long run.

One of the perks of replacing the siding? You get to choose what to replace it with — and can give your new house the look you dreamed of. Replacing your siding with a top-tier fiber cement, like James Hardie, will give you the durability and longevity that makes the investment worth it (not to mention you’ll have the best looking house on the block…)

Does all my siding really need to be replaced?

A mistake a lot of prospective homebuyers (and current homeowners) make is believing that they need to replace all of the existing siding on their home. Sure, there are times when that is absolutely necessary, but it’s not always the case.

Knowing when your siding needs to be replaced or just repaired is crucial. And if you’ve found a house that's siding looks a tad worse for wear and decided you’re not able to financially invest in replacing all of it, don’t let that deter you from buying the house of your dreams! Find out if, maybe, you can repair instead of replace — chances are you can!

What should you look for?

If you’ve found your dream home and know that the siding will be an issue, there are a few key things to look for. Damage due to weather and environment is often found on just one side of the house — meaning repairing or partially replacing the siding would work.

And if the damage looks minor or localized, repairing that area might be the best bet. Regardless, getting an expert’s opinion on the best course of action — whether you should repair or replace the siding — should be your first step. And doing so can keep you from losing out on the opportunity of a lifetime (and can save you money in the process)!

Take the plunge!

What should you do when you’re scrolling through Zillow’s “Seattle’s Top 100 Homes for Sale” list at 2:00am (it’s okay — we all do it)? Start by not judging the book (or house) by its cover. That home with the rough exterior but the right amount of beds and baths? Add it to the list. Actually, put it at the top of the list. Realizing that, though siding is probably the first thing you notice, repairing or replacing it may not be the dealbreaker you thought it was is crucial. It can help you seal the deal on the house of your dreams!

So let your realtor know you’re not afraid of homes that need a little TLC. And if you find one that has siding that is less-than-desired? Get a free estimate through EcoSide on whether repairing or partial replacement could be an option. And if you're sick of the computer and desperate to talk to a real person, call (206) 235-1275. Don’t limit yourself and lose out on the perfect home!

Happy hunting!

Article photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash

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