Build Your Homebuying Sequence

​In this week’s episodes, we’re buying a home! Or at least thinking about what we need if we were to buy a home. In today’s episode, I’ll be sharing some tips for thinking through your homebuying timeline.

Is your calendar up to date?! Because if you’re buying a home, you need it to be. If you haven’t checked out previous episode, “You need an effing calendar,” go give it a listen before you buy a home, because your calendar is vital for this process. You’re going to have a lot of meetings, appointments, and reminders that you’ll need to keep track of, and if you don’t already have a calendar going, the process will be a million times harder than it really needs to be. I also don’t want to give a firm timeline of “you’ll need six months to plan your move” because I’ve had everything from six months to three weeks to firm up paperwork and get from one home to the next. SO, instead, we’re going to build a Homebuying Sequence.

Placing the tasks and notable events of buying a home into sequential order and then assigning relative dates is a much more flexible plan than checking off many homebuying timelines. When you’re building a sequence, you compile all of the tasks and events, sort them into order, and then assign them dates and times.

So, start with the tasks that need accomplished, and again, write it down! If you’re planning to work with a realtor, plan to get recommendations, interview three, and make a decision. You’ll want to work in time to view homes, deliberate, and put in an offer. You’ll definitely need to plan for a home inspection, as well as any walk throughs with contractors if you’re doing renovations off the bat. Plan on securing homeowner’s insurance (you can have a company offer quotes for your area of choice and interview representatives before you make an offer—just ask). Know that you’ll need a few hours to go over all of the paperwork for your closing contracts before your official closing date—you should be able to review these documents in advance. Then, block out your plan for actually moving into the house—hiring movers or renting a truck. Each situation is unique, but list out all of the things that you know will need to happen to get from “I think it’s time I buy a home” to lounging on a hammock in the backyard with a martini.

Next, take this list and sort it into the order it has to operate in. Note any contingencies (for example, you can’t acquire the keys to your place without making an offer).

You can set two types of dates—target dates and actual dates. Target dates are when you’d like to have a task accomplished by, but know that life often has other plans. Definitely brace yourself with some timeline flexibility. Assigning dates is beneficial, though, because it helps you understand your absolute shortest timeline upfront.
By building your sequence of homebuying events by compiling tasks, ordering them, and assigning them dates, you’ll have a realistic picture of what needs to happen.

You can do it, I can help, and I would love for you to share your homebuying sequence with me! Send it to nowthatimnotyourteacher@gmail.com.