Whether you’re a first time buyer or a seasoned veteran, everyone wants to find their “dream home.” However, securing this dream is often harder than expected, so we’ve drawn up a few tips to make the hunt for the perfect home a little simpler.
Start by doing your homework and determining your priorities. Today, roughly 80% of all home searches begin on, you guessed it, the Internet. Utilize this resource! Take the time to sit down and click through a variety of homes and pictures to establish in your mind the type of home, neighborhood, and surroundings you’re looking for. This will be very helpful when you meet with your realtor.
You should expect to spend roughly two weeks house hunting with an agent. This process will be expedited by selecting the right agent and by coming in to the process with an idea of what you want. Make sure your agent has a clear understanding of your priorities (location, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, price, etc.). As you visit homes, come prepared with checklists and questions. You’ll want to be in-the-know if your dream home will require a bit of remodeling that isn’t immediately apparent.
You should also spend time in the neighborhoods you are considering. To get the best feel for the area, make it a part of your routine to drive or walk the streets and talk to the neighbors. It’s also a good idea to limit the number of homes you visit to seven a day for the sake of remembering features.
This does not mean that you need to visit a minimum of seven homes before you decide on a house. In fact, when you find the perfect home, do not hesitate to secure it. Home shopping is not like visiting the grocery store. The inventory is limited (there’s a 100% chance there’s no other home just like it) and there is a good possibility that someone may snatch the home from you if you aren’t proactive about it. Obviously, you’ll want to sleep on it and talk it over, but don’t expect your perfect home to be there indefinitely.
If you’re stuck between a few homes, bringing a note pad and camera are great ways to document your likes and dislikes in order to make the selection process easier. Make sure your agent points out any problems or defects with the homes, as this will make the selection process easier as well. When it comes down to it, finding your dream home is relatively simple.
- Do your homework
- Determine your priorities
- Select a good realtor
- Visit the homes
By following these steps, finding the perfect home will be easy and intuitive.
By Andrew Hill
Guest writer for GetOrlandoRealEstate