The basics of looking for your first home are an often discussed item within real estate circles. I should know because we dedicated a whole week to it. But as any experience homeowner or real estate professional will tell you, there’s always more that can be learned to prepare you for buying that first home.

In this segment from NBC’s LXTV Open House, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage agent, Ronnie Aiosa, teams up with designer and home improvement pro, George Oliphant, to cover some of the secrets to buying your first home.

One of the most useful tips they hit on in the video that was important for me was to look past the decor. When my wife and I first saw our current home, I was ready to turn around and leave after the first five minutes. The previous owners had painted the baseboard heating panels orange and baby blue. Baby blue! Wallpaper from Tony Manero’s house in Saturday Night Fever adorned pretty much every room. But our Coldwell Banker agent, emphasized that it’s easy to paint and wallpaper can be removed. If the “bones” of the house and the location fit our needs we shouldn’t let the lack of good taste in wall decor stop us.

Check out the full video above to learn all the tips that Ronnie and George have to share and share the most useful tip or advice you received when for buying a home in the comments.

Image courtesy of Zeldalily.com via Creative Commons