simple_route
Homeowner
The Johannesburg purchase has completed; what remains unclear is whether the cash set aside for the first repairs will prove sufficient. The process took longer than I expected, with several offers turned down before one succeeded and paperwork becoming the main obstacle near the end.
My biggest lesson was not to put every available amount into closing. Vacancy, moving and early repairs do not disappear when the purchase completes. It also helped to assign each outstanding task to a specific person and keep track of its deadline, especially in the final week when the lender’s timing and the move could have fallen out of step.
The unsuccessful bids still clarified my price limit and the compromises I was willing to make. What caught other first-time buyers off guard once their offer moved forward: the inspection, fees, slow documents or the amount ultimately needed for repairs?
My biggest lesson was not to put every available amount into closing. Vacancy, moving and early repairs do not disappear when the purchase completes. It also helped to assign each outstanding task to a specific person and keep track of its deadline, especially in the final week when the lender’s timing and the move could have fallen out of step.
The unsuccessful bids still clarified my price limit and the compromises I was willing to make. What caught other first-time buyers off guard once their offer moved forward: the inspection, fees, slow documents or the amount ultimately needed for repairs?