First-Time Buyer’s Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before You Offer

by Daniel Reyes

skyline-of-jacksonville

Making an offer on a home is exciting — and terrifying. Before you sign anything, run through this checklist. Every item here has saved a buyer from an expensive mistake.

Before You Even Look

  • Get pre-approved, not just pre-qualified. Sellers take pre-approved buyers seriously.
  • Know your true monthly number — taxes, insurance, and HOA fees included.
  • Check your credit report for errors at least 90 days before applying.

When You Find the One

  • Visit at different times of day. That quiet street at 2pm might be a school-pickup racetrack at 3:15.
  • Pull the permit history. Unpermitted additions become your problem at resale.
  • Ask for utility bills from the last 12 months — drafty houses show up in the numbers.
  • Research comparable sales from the last 90 days, not the asking prices nearby.

Before You Offer

  • Never waive the inspection contingency, no matter how hot the market feels.
  • Confirm what stays: appliances, window treatments, that shed out back.
  • Understand every contingency deadline in the contract — missing one can cost you your deposit.

The Bottom Line

The best offer isn’t always the highest one — it’s the one with clean terms, realistic timelines, and a buyer who did their homework. Be that buyer.

Keep reading: don’t miss building a home maintenance calendar and the curb appeal fixes sellers use.

The post First-Time Buyer’s Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before You Offer appeared first on House Logic.

Keith Francis

"My job is to find and attract mastery-based agents to the office, protect the culture, and make sure everyone is happy! "

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keith@roundtablerealty.com

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