Interview with a First Time Homebuyer

September 9, 2021 | Buying a Home

Our very own Miranda Sej bought her first home a few weeks ago! Although she has worked as our admin for over a year, she found the home buying process surprisingly exciting and stressful. Kim, Sam and I have been in the business for so long, we sometimes take the buying process for granted. We wanted to interview Miranda to get fresh eyes.

Robyn: What is the one thing that you wish you had known about the home buying process?

Miranda: I wish I knew more about mortgage financing from the outset. I didn’t understand the ins and outs of the approval process. If I had known that from the beginning, it would have helped me set a more realistic budget for my house. I also forgot that I would need money for the closing costs. I think buyers tend to look for the house first and then get their financing second, but that can lead to much confusion. In our case, it would have been far better to get our approval done before we set our wishlist!

Robyn: What was your favourite part about buying a home?

Miranda: Kim’s phone call saying that the sellers accepted our offer! We were competing against two other offers, and I was shocked and happy to hear that we had won.

Robyn: What was your least favourite part?

Miranda: Dealing with all the paperwork and phone calls with the bank. There are so many little details to keep track of when you’re already pretty stressed about spending all your money.

Robyn: What was your first impression of the house that you bought? The first thing about it that you noticed?

Miranda: The first thing I noticed was the windows. I love natural light, and the house we bought is so flooded with sunlight. I know it sounds silly, but I fell in love with the place when I saw all the large windows.

Robyn: Did you know you would make an offer as soon as you walked into the house?

Miranda: Yes. We crossed our fingers and toes that we would get it because it was so beautiful. We knew when we walked in that we wanted it. It was just a feeling. I loved the windows, and my partner loved the backyard.

Robyn: What are you most looking forward to about moving into your new home?

Miranda: The house we bought has four bedrooms, and I am excited to get married and then have children to fill up those rooms.

Robyn: Based on your experience, what is one piece of advice you would want sellers to know?

Miranda: Stage it! The home we bought was beautifully staged, and that helped us imagine living there. The furniture allowed us to imagine how we would live if we moved in. I’m not a visual person, so it helped me see how the stagers arranged the furniture and the flow of the house.

Here are the main takeaways from Miranda: For buyers, the most stressful part is dealing with mortgage approval. Get that done way in advance! For sellers, stage your house! Miranda and her partner decided on the home very quickly, and that was because the staging helped them picture living in the space.

★ If you’re a first time homebuyer like Miranda check out these buyer resources:

As always stay safe

Robyn VanderVennen
The Kim Kehoe Team