How to Avoid Home Buyer’s Remorse

It’s human nature to question big decisions. Here are 3 tips to avoiding home buyer’s remorse.

My fiancé and I recently purchased our first home–a monumental milestone in the journey of growing up. We live in an urban market where homes sell like hot cakes and split-second offer decisions are the norm. We had only been looking for a few weeks when we found what we knew was the right one for us — a two story townhome with a small backyard, an extra bedroom and plenty of charm (exposed brick and all!) But, after we made the offer and the home was ours, we suddenly had a moment of panic. What had we just done?!

Within 10 days we had made the offer, negotiated the price and conducted the home inspection. The process only seemed to speed up from there with mortgage approvals and closing. It felt like we had blinked and when we opened our eyes, we were homeowners. Now, I know that the process is not always as quick for everyone and empathize with those that spend months and even years searching for the perfect home.

But, one thing that I think is inevitable during the home buying process is doubt. It’s human nature. We all question big decisions: picking a university, accepting a job offer, selecting a baby name, buying a home. Our way of making sure that we’re doing the right thing is to weigh the pros and cons.

But, sometimes even after we’ve made the decision and we’re convinced it’s the right one, we can still experience a little doubt. The negative result that can sometimes come out of this careful weighing of options is that once we do make a decision, we can’t help second guessing ourselves.

Here are 3 tips to avoid Home Buyer’s Remorse:

1. Stop looking! – While those email alerts from real estate websites are helpful during your home search, seeing what’s new on the market will only add to your doubt. Mulling over what could have been can only result in buyer’s remorse. Stop searching, you’ve found the one!

2. Get to know your neighborhood – For us, one of the biggest adjustments was leaving the town we had grown to love, but learning about all of the new hot spots, meeting our new neighbors and trying out new things has helped us come to love our new neighborhood, too.

3. Make it yours – It’s up to you to make your house feel like home. Decorate your new home with personal touches that truly make it your own. Add family photos or pictures from your latest vacation. Give the walls a fresh coat of paint. Start a list of projects, like switching out the front door, that will make the house truly feel like home.

Remember, you weighed the pros and cons and picked this house for a reason. Now all it needs is a little love to make it feel like home. For more home buyer advice or to look for a home in your area, visit coldwellbanker.com.

How To Make Washing Your Bedspread Easier

Does your dog love sleeping on your bed? Here’s an easy way to wash your bedspread and keep it looking like new.

Few things are cuter then letting your dog up on your bed for an afternoon snooze. It may be cute, but if you let your pup on the bed often you’ll want to make sure you wash it even more regularly than usual. Here’s a way to make washing your bedspread easier.

For other helpful home tips & tricks, subscribe to Coldwell Banker On Location to view the complete Home Tip of the Day video series.

Market Snapshot March 2015

Your Home’s April Honey Do List

Spring Cleaning is in full swing this month! Find out what to do’s you should be crossing off your list for the month of April.

Even though today is National No Housework Day (no, that’s not a belated April Fool’s Joke), spring cleaning season is in full swing. So, while you have permission to put off your honey do list until tomorrow, here’s a list of to do’s for your home this month.

1. April Showers Bring May Flowers – But, only if you prep the garden today! Lay mulch around shrubs and flower beds before the weeds take over next month. However, resist the urge to plant warm season annuals and vegetables until the last frost date has passed in your area.

2. Fresh Air, Fresh Paint – Planning to paint the exterior of your home, deck or front door? Start preparing exterior surfaces now by scraping and sanding so that when the warmer weather arrives, you’ll be ready to apply the first coat (without a coat on!)

3. Dust Off the Chaise Lounges – The days of lounging in the backyard are almost here! Take some time to clean and repair any outdoor furniture.

4. Get Rid of House Guests – While we all love having family and friends visit over the holidays, other unwelcome house guests can often make themselves at home in our roofs and walls during the winter. Follow this guide to inspect and repair damage from animals who took shelter in your home this winter season.

5. Organize the Garage or Shed – For most of the country, it’s finally time to stash the snow shovels and bust out the lawn mower. While you’re at it, consider these 5 things husbands need for spring cleaning at home.

6. Spring Clean That Closet – Kick off your spring cleaning project by tackling one of the most cluttered spots of the home. Follow these three steps to a spring miracle: an organized closet.

Meet Budge Huskey

Budge Huskey, President and CEO, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, LLC

Budge Huskey was promoted to president and chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC on January 1, 2013, after serving as president and chief operating officer since June 2010. Huskey succeeds Jim Gillespie who is now chairman emeritus.

As chief executive officer, Huskey oversees marketing, operations, learning and field services supporting 82,000 Coldwell Banker® sales associates in 3,100 offices in 51 countries and territories around the world. Huskey is a nationally recognized housing industry leader who regularly represents the Coldwell Banker brand in interviews with major media outlets.

Prior to joining Coldwell Banker Real Estate, Huskey had spent the previous 12 years in several executive positions with NRT, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage.

Huskey began his real estate career as an agent in 1984 with family-owned Huskey Realty where he stayed until joining NRT in 1998 as a branch manager for Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in Longwood, Fla. He eventually became a district and regional manager in the organization’s Central Florida region before being named in 2004 as president and chief operating officer of NRT’s Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in Florida.

He remained in this position until 2007 when he was promoted to executive vice president of NRT’s Coldwell Banker Southeastern region. In this role he oversaw the strategic initiatives of more than 120 Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage offices in Florida, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Atlanta, which generated annual sales volume in excess of $10 billion dollars. He also was responsible for oversight of NRT’s REO Experts, one of the nation’s largest REO asset management firms.

Well regarded in the real estate industry, Huskey served as president of the Orlando Association of Realtors, where he was honored as Realtor of the Year, and director and committee chairperson for the Florida Association of Realtors. Huskey currently serves as a National Association of Realtors Director and serves on the Strategic Planning Committee. He won the 2006 Coldwell Banker Chandler Barton Award representing dedication and service to the Coldwell Banker brand. He is routinely recognized by Inman News as one of the Most Influential People in Real Estate.

Huskey is a 1981 graduate of Mercer University who earned an MBA in 1984 from Wake Forest University.