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My 9-step system for buying a house

Kayla J Heffernan
12 min read2 days ago

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An old fashioned key in front of a small Colombian style house
Photo by author

Last year I wrote about my experiences using real estate websites to find my new home. Here, I’ll share the system I used to make the search, inspection and decision-making process as smooth as possible. This system will not work for everyone, but my fellow A-type personalities will see value in it.

Buying a house is a big deal. I wouldn’t recommend rushing such a big financial and life decision. But, the reality is, people need a roof over their heads and sometimes there’s a pressing timeline.

Why I needed a fast-tracked system

I contacted my real estate agent to understand what work I would have to do to sell my place.

I was planning and budgeting the touch-ups (new floors, painting, etc) when he asked to bring someone through. I ended up selling off-market which was a huge money win — no renovations, photos or marketing fees. But it meant I sold earlier than expected without a new house lined up. Thankfully, the buyer agreed to a long settlement.

So I had 4 months to find, buy, and settle a place. This meant I needed a system!

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Kayla J Heffernan
Kayla J Heffernan

Written by Kayla J Heffernan

Head of UX. Passionate about solving ambiguous problems with solutions that are accessible and inclusive. I write every couple of months about design.

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