Forum Archive: Posts by: ngd

My husband and I very recently decided to start looking for a townhouse. As first-time buyers, we figured we’d ease into it slowly and casually, but I fell in love with the third house we looked at. I am now paranoid that someone will buy it before we figure out our next step!

What should our next step be? We’ve been casting out feelers for a buyer’s agent– is that the right direction? Would that person help us with what to do next? And how long does it usually take to find the right one? (I’ve read we should interview at least three…) Or do we bring in someone to look at the actual house first? The house needs a gut renovation, and we need to get a ballpark idea of how much that could be, to see if we can actually afford the place, but we don’t know whom to ask. A home inspector? A contractor? And how the heck do we find one? (I know I’d like to be getting recommendations and seeing past work and interviewing and stuff, but I’m panicking a little because I. love. that. house. and I don’t want anyone else getting it!) (They just lowered the price!) I’ve bought a few “first-time home buyer” (and renovation/old house) books, but I’m getting overwhelmed. The house needs a lot of work, of which we can do a lot, but obviously we can’t update the electricity or plumbing ourselves, or know the extent of the water damage & mold in one of the rooms.

We would welcome any recommendations & advice. So far, we only have one recommendation for a buyer’s agent, but it’s from a friend who bought a coop in Soho. (We’ve got two recs for home inspectors.) BTW, the house is on the very, very, VERY upper west side of Manhattan, if it makes a difference for recs. (But even though it’s in Manhattan, I hope you’ll still help us!)

Thank you in advance!

PS- Sorry if this question has been asked before; as I mentioned, I’m a little overwhelmed.