House Hunting – Top 5 Tips from a Realtor
Tip 1: Know What You Want
In this fast paced market a buyer needs to know what they want! Take time to write down your “must haves” and your “deal breakers”. This process will help you narrow down your search and remember what you’ve seen. There may not always be time for a second showing with houses selling within hours of hitting the market. Taking notes on each home isn’t a bad idea either. After several they all can blur together so jotting down a few pros and cons of each is helpful.
Tip 2: Do a Drive By
Most realtors will portray the property in its best light; so the fact that it’s on a busy street or has an eyesore behind it won’t usually show in the pictures. Is the yard large enough? I always hear; “wow the pictures made it look so much bigger?” Or, “I didn’t realize how close the houses were to each other”. Drive the area; is it close to the amenities you want, how far from work is it, is there a junkyard next door? The outside of a home is just as important as the inside!
Tip 3: Be Pre-Approved
Have that letter in hand! You don’t want to lose a house because you didn’t get the lender everything needed for pre-approval. It’s a lot of paperwork but worth it to be ready! Plus knowing your budget keeps your search realistic. There’s nothing worse than finding a perfect home and learning you can’t afford it.
Tip 4: Don’t Panic
It can be stressful house hunting when the inventory is low and you are on a timeline. The last thing you want to do is “panic purchase”. This is a big financial decision and you want to know you’ve made the right choice. This also ties back into Tip 1, knowing what you want helps you stay focused. If you lose a bidding war on a property; take the positive from it, now you know exactly what you want! Remember to stay calm and focused another home will come up.
Tip 5: Communicate with Your Realtor
With each house you see tell your Realtor what you liked and disliked. Take time to know the type of area you desire. Do you want to be close to grocery stores, close to a highway, a private setting, etc. All this helps us hunt down homes for you. If your budget, timeline or must haves change, let us know! Your Realtor is your closest ally during this process; good communication helps the process go smoothly.
Jessica Wert is a Realtor for Coldwell Banker Heritage; representing buyers and sellers in the Greater Miami Valley. Looking for more info? Feel free to contact Jessica at 937-806-7750 or [email protected]
