10 House-Hunting Lessons You Can Learn from the TV Shows

Drew Scott, one half of the "Property Brothers," recommends touring a lot of houses—at least 10—before making an offer on one. And definitely take notes. “When you walk through a home, have a checklist in hand,” he says. “[W]rite down the pros, write down the cons, and rate that house from 1 to 10. At the end of a long house-hunting day, all the houses are going to blend together, and it’s that checklist that’s going to be the saving grace and will get you your dream home.”

Related: 12 Things Realtors Look For in Homes of Their Own

"Flip or Flop" star Tarek El Moussa cautions first-time home buyers against overspending. When El Moussa bought his first home, at the tender age of 21, he splurged, and it put him in a financial bind. “With no money for furniture, I ended up living in an empty house for nearly nine months,” said El Moussa. Be sure to stay within your financial limits, he advises, because “[f]inancial peace of mind is worth its weight in gold.”

Related: Watch Out for 12 Real Estate Tactics Designed to Make You Spend More

"Property Virgins" host Sandra Rinomato always advises prospective buyers to get their financing in place before they start seriously shopping for a home. Many houses are bought and sold overnight. If you have your mortgage preapproved, you’ll be less likely to lose your dream home while waiting to secure financing.

Related: 9 Reasons You Might Not Get a Mortgage

Co-host of "Fixer Upper," Chip Gaines, cautions buyers to always ask about three things: the roof, the plumbing, and the electrical system. If they have issues, these major systems can be very costly to repair. “When you really believe that you’ve found ‘the one,’ it’s easy to get swept off your feet....” says Gaines. “But Jo and I encourage our clients to think beyond what they can see...”

Related: 11 Common Problems Home Sellers Try to Hide

It may seem to go without saying, but if you intend to flip a house, make sure you’re always thinking about resale. Jeff Lewis of the real estate show "Flipping Out" advises potential flippers to make sure that the improvements they’re looking to implement are going to pay off. Over-customizing generally isn’t wise. In addition, always study the neighborhood to find out who's buying, then tailor your renovations to that audience.

Related: 12 Reasons Your Home Isn't Worth as Much as You Think

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