Your first time home buying mistakes?

[gorcorps]

Agreed. if the walls are painted neutral, that could possibly one less thing that I have to do after I purchase the place. There is nothign worse than a recent house I saw and I swear a family of clowns must have lived there. Every room was ridiculous shades of purple, pink, blue, green even the kitchen was a disgusting color. The first thing I thought when I saw it was that this will require at least $2000 in just paint and maybe 4-6K in paint labor.

Disagree

Paint is the easiest thing to fix, and one of the first things I did when I got my house. Both spare bedrooms in my house were kids rooms, so one was bright pink and one was bright blue. Both were a nice, dark tan after a weekend. If you're judging a house on paint you're making huge decisions on something that's easily fixed. Seems like a really stupid thing to get hung up on IMO.

 

[NetWareHead]

Disagree

Paint is the easiest thing to fix, and one of the first things I did when I got my house. Both spare bedrooms in my house were kids rooms, so one was bright pink and one was bright blue. Both were a nice, dark tan after a weekend. If you're judging a house on paint you're making huge decisions on something that's easily fixed. Seems like a really stupid thing to get hung up on IMO.

If I liked the house then I can ignore the paint. Repainting a room(s) is an expense in both materials and labor. If I can get a freshly painted house, thats one less thing I have to do especially if this is a flip. I didn't pick that clown color house for other reasons but you can bet if I did make an offer, I would have asked for a price reduction just on the paint alone.

 

[HumblePie]

That's pretty irrelevant to most people, but since you're OCD, you can buy switches that are neither up nor down.

The problem is I have a big gang of 5 switches in a central location that controls lists for the kitchen, dining, and living room. Those all are 3 way switches with a switch somewhere else. So my wife doesn't always use the switches on the big gang one so to me it's a bit annoying not having them all down for OFF.

As for finding switches that aren't toggle based. Good luck with that. There are articles of some DIY shit with Atiny85 or Adruino chips to make some. There are some kickstarter crap for some really hightech stuff like bRight switches. But I can't find any simple touch switches that have no mechanical toggle part of the switch available to purchase.

 

[Red Squirrel]

*vomit* My dad bought his house and the bathrooms were covered floor to ceiling in that same kind of wallpaper. I mean there was even wall paper behind the toilet tank, behind the vanity and even on the door!

Wallpaper is such a huge pain to remove too. Sometimes it's easier to just remove the drywall and install new. :awe: But either way I would not let paint or wallpaper make up a buying decision, it is cheap to change.

 

[woodman1999]

Marked, as my wife and I are ramping up our buying process now.

 

[vi edit]

Wallpaper is such a huge pain to remove too. Sometimes it's easier to just remove the drywall and install new. But either way I would not let paint or wallpaper make up a buying decision, it is cheap to change.

Paint no. Wallpaper...I'm serious. It can be a NIGHTMARE. Some of the homes I've looked at had it covering 90% of the house. You are talking a total GUTTING of the place to erradicate that vile covering. That isn't cheap, fast, clean or easy when you are buying a 2500+ sq/ft home.

People that put that stuff on their home should be beaten with a roll of it.

 

[Kadarin]

Paint no. Wallpaper...I'm serious. It can be a NIGHTMARE. Some of the homes I've looked at had it covering 90% of the house. You are talking a total GUTTING of the place to erradicate that vile covering. That isn't cheap, fast, clean or easy when you are buying a 2500+ sq/ft home.

People that put that stuff on their home should be beaten with a roll of it.

My parents did that to their home back in the '80s, and it's hideous.

 

[nageov3t]

My parents did that to their home back in the '80s, and it's hideous.

mine too, in the early 90's... I distinctly remember my mom wallpapering every single room of the house when we moved in.

if it's any consolation, my mom also had to go through the suffering of ripping it all down in the early 00's when they decided to paint instead. (I think my dad's office is still wallpapered, but it's not a pattern, just a neutral textured paper)

 

[Eug]

As for finding switches that aren't toggle based. Good luck with that. There are articles of some DIY shit with Atiny85 or Adruino chips to make some. There are some kickstarter crap for some really hightech stuff like bRight switches. But I can't find any simple touch switches that have no mechanical toggle part of the switch available to purchase.

I was thinking Belkin ones, but they're $50 apiece, and come to think of it, they're probably just single-pole anyway.

I think Lutron or Leviton or somebody like that also makes a touch-based switch, but I'm not sure if they come in the 3-pole variety.

EDIT:

Lutron:

http://www.lutron.com/en-US/Product...witches/MaestroDimmerSwitch/ModelNumbers.aspx

These are dimmer switches and support 3-way.

The problem is I have a big gang of 5 switches in a central location that controls lists for the kitchen, dining, and living room. Those all are 3 way switches with a switch somewhere else. So my wife doesn't always use the switches on the big gang one so to me it's a bit annoying not having them all down for OFF.

You could remove the other switches if you want (and piss off your wife).

Probably just best to get over it.

 

[Fritzo]

If it's a new house, anything you're ever going to want in a house, get it rolled into the loan. Otherwise you'll never end up getting it.

Regret skipping the sprinkler system, extended driveway, wood floors, and larger garage

 

[Remobz]

I live in the same home I lived in the day I was born.

 

[Fritzo]

I live in the same home I lived in the day I was born.

So you went with the "Lived with my parents so long that they ended up moving out" route?

 

[halik]

Using a real estate agent was a huge mistake every time I've ever done it. When I went through the process on my own, it was WAY smoother and WAY less costly. Regardless of the bullshit anyone tries to feed you, you and the seller are both paying for the agents.

I actually bought my first home without one and everything went great. I have no idea why I decided to use one on subsequent transactions, but I'm back to not being a dumbass. They literally add no value if you can think your way out of a wet paper bag. I guess I should also consider that some people are rather stupid and may need help from someone who is only marginally less worthless, but the fact that you're asking for advice up front means you're probably smart.

Also, SandEagle is right - don't use recommendations from an agent or a broker unless you independently arrive at the same decision through research or a recommendation from a person who doesn't have a hand in your pocket. Kickbacks for recommendations are both extremely common and directly in opposition with your best interests.

The best piece of advice I can give you is to relax and realize it's just a house. You've been fine so far without it and you'll continue to be fine if you don't get the one you think you really want. People get caught up in the whole ordeal and think they're missing out on a dream if a particular house doesn't end up in their possession. Don't let anyone pressure you into buying a house if you aren't 100.000% sure it's exactly what you want in the location you want at the pricepoint you want at the terms you want.

This is the single biggest thing I didn't understand until multiple transactions. YOU are in the driver's seat, but everyone throughout the whole process will be trying to drive from the backseat. If you don't like something, put your fucking foot down and make sure people know they aren't going to get their way. I'm being slightly abrasive about this for a reason; experience has led me to understand how the whole system really works. Almost no one involved has your best interests in mind, but they're all masterfully trained to make you think they really care and their number one priority is you. It's absolutely the opposite.

Bingo,
we bought our place without a realtor - wrote up an offer on the spot and was able to negotiate 30K discount.

 

[Blackjack200]

If it's a new house, anything you're ever going to want in a house, get it rolled into the loan. Otherwise you'll never end up getting it.

Regret skipping the sprinkler system, extended driveway, wood floors, and larger garage

Do you set off fireworks in your living room or something?

 

[dawp]

letting your girlfriend talk you out of the house you really wanted and then she dumps you a couple of years latter and your stuck with one you grow to hate.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Mine is starting with Bank Of America for the loan/mortgage. Don't do it use anyone else. BoA was not able to keep one single commitment they made and were constantly requesting more income verification and were generally a pain in the ass.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

letting your girlfriend talk you out of the house you really wanted and then she dumps you a couple of years latter and your stuck with one you grow to hate.

oh this is critical, make sure you are each satisfied with the home and location, this is HUGE. I thought my other half was going to kill me when I said lets wait on the small house with a beautiful yard then someone put an offer in.

 

[halik]

Also if you can find an inspector with heat camera, totally do it. We've been paying ~$200/mo for heat, because our house is insulated piss-poorly. Inspector with FLIR will be able to show you all kinds heat leaks.

 

[HumblePie]

Another thing to note for me with the agent, I don't know of any builders around here that will sell to anyone without an agent that isn't paying full cash up front. Mainly because the cost of the house has the agents 3% built into the price of the home on every new builder home we looked at when I was shopping.

But the agent was a "little" nice and gave me a $1000 check back as a "move-in" and marriage gift for me Since I bought my house on the day before my wedding.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Wallpaper is such a huge pain to remove too. Sometimes it's easier to just remove the drywall and install new.

In my bathroom that had ugly wallpaper I just textured it then painted over it. It looks like regular wall now.

Is that wrong or something? Will the ghosts of crappy home repairs come visit me next Christmas?

 

[vi edit]

In my bathroom that had ugly wallpaper I just textured it then painted over it. It looks like regular wall now.

I guess I'd question the texture adhesion depending on the type of wallpaper you covered. Also seems like it would be more prone to cracking, but that's just a wild assumption out of my ass.

 

[Wreckem]

Disagree

Paint is the easiest thing to fix, and one of the first things I did when I got my house. Both spare bedrooms in my house were kids rooms, so one was bright pink and one was bright blue. Both were a nice, dark tan after a weekend. If you're judging a house on paint you're making huge decisions on something that's easily fixed. Seems like a really stupid thing to get hung up on IMO.

It is easy to fix, but depending on how much needs repainted and what region you are in, it could be costly. I mean if everyroom needs repainted(like in Netwares scenario) repainting the interior of 3000sqft+ house is going to be a lot of money or a lot of time.

 

[Fritzo]

Do you set off fireworks in your living room or something?

We have a huge lawn, and it would have been $3000 to install while the house was being put in. Now it'll be $6500 and never get done. Our lawn gets nice and crispy in the summer due to the lack of trees as a result.

 

[Wreckem]

Another thing to note for me with the agent, I don't know of any builders around here that will sell to anyone without an agent that isn't paying full cash up front. Mainly because the cost of the house has the agents 3% built into the price of the home on every new builder home we looked at when I was shopping.

But the agent was a "little" nice and gave me a $1000 check back as a "move-in" and marriage gift for me Since I bought my house on the day before my wedding.

Going with new construction, you might as well have a buyers agent, simply because of that reason. With new construction someone without a buyers agent might think they can negotiate that away, but they cannot. Furthermore, those "rare" commission rebates are much more common in new construction. Mainly because many builders use money out of their marketing budgets as incentives for select buyers agents, more so in the beginning of a new development when they are trying to drum up sales. In new construction, while it can sometimes backfire, you are almost always better off being one of the first to buy. Because you are likely to pay less than the original list price, have extra upgrades, and rebates. Where as people who buy after sales have been well established will pay more than the original list price(especially in a hot market/development), won't get the extra upgrades, and likely won't get any rebates.

 

[Wreckem]

Bingo,
we bought our place without a realtor - wrote up an offer on the spot and was able to negotiate 30K discount.

And the sellers agent thanked you because they got all 6% instead of just 3%.