It's the Great "Real Estate" Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

There’s a knock at the door. You dare open it only to discover the most hideous costumed individuals staring back at you. Only when you hear the children’s “Trick-or-treat’s” coming from behind the masks does your calm return. You give each of them a piece of candy and off they go to the next house.

And I was thinking there’s much about our country's annual trick-or-treating event that relates to real estate and the home buying process in particular. To simplify things, I boiled it down and came up with a quick list of five important reminders "Trick-or-Treating" offers when it comes to buying a home. See if you agree:

1. Dress to be seen.

No matter what your costume, it’s important to wear bright clothing. You wouldn’t want to be hit by a car, would you? When buying a home, it’s especially important to be candid. Let real estate agents know exactly what you want and don’t want in a home. Let loan officers know your complete financial history. It’ll help you avoid having your deal “run over” later.

2. Stay away from the wrong crowd.

I can remember growing up there were just certain groups you shouldn’t go trick-or-treating with because of their “mayhem” mentality. When buying a home, it is true that there are some people that you just shouldn’t work with. What does your gut tell you? You ought to feel comfortable with the person or people helping you.

3. Be accompanied by a parent.

Going out alone in the dark can be a scary thing especially for the younger kids. Just having mom or dad around oftentimes is all the safety and assurance they need. Parents can be most helpful during the home buying process. Don’t discard their input, advice and counsel. (And sometimes they even help out financially, too!)

4. Don’t accept “rocks” for candy.

When Charlie Brown went trick-or-treating, he got a lot of rocks. Do you know what Charlie Brown’s problem was? He accepted the rocks. Refuse to settle for less when you’re buying a home. Refuse to settle for less than the best realtor with a proven track record and of the utmost in integrity and character.

5. Enjoy the experience.

One of my fondest memories of trick-or-treating is when my brothers and sister and I would go through our bags to see what we got. We’d separate the M&M’s from the Milk Duds, the Tootsie Rolls from the Snicker’s Bars and so on and so forth. (My favorite is Candy Corn. What’s yours?) It was just a fun time. It’s one of the most exciting experiences in life looking for a home. Whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned veteran, there might be a snag or two in the home buying process. Don’t let that deter you from enjoying the ride. Before you know it you’ll be in your new home and storing up memories that'll last a lifetime.