Looking for a house online can make a very real, very important decision seem as simple as swiping on a dating app! Fortunately, there are enough steps to digital house hunting that you’re unlikely to get all the way to buying a house without really thinking it through. However, finding the right homes to consider can be a challenge – how can you make the best use of the tools you have? Here are our best tips.
Do: Work with a Great Real Estate Agent
If you think searching online on your own is the best way to save money on houses, think again. An agent saves you tons of time throughout the process, even if you personally happen to find the actual house you decide to buy. They know the process, can communicate with the seller’s agent, and can expedite paperwork in a way that would be challenging for outsiders. They also have access to sophisticated real estate software that can send you listings that match your goals and parameters.
Don’t: Assume Every House Will Be on the Market Multiple Days
While the market may have slowed from the staggering speeds of past years, the goal with an online house hunt is to be decisive – while in many cases you can sleep on it, you’ll most likely need to see the home immediately and make a choice about whether you’re making an offer or not. Sellers who are pricing their property to sell may still get multiple offers, and you want yours to be in before that happens.
Do: Keep Creating Alerts as You Refine Your Goals
Whatever app you use to look at homes, create real estate saved searches and email or text alerts that tell you when new properties come available that fit your goals. Over the course of a search, some people realize they will only be happy with one more bedroom to use as an office, or they realize that a big yard really isn’t the dealbreaker they thought it would be. Make changes so you’re catching all the homes that fit you and not sifting through a bunch that simply won’t work.
Don’t: Lose Sight of Top Priorities as You Search for a Dream Home
If you have some time to shop for houses, you might be tempted to set your sights on only a “dream house” – i.e. everything you’ve ever wanted for a price you can afford right now. This kind of dream does come along sometimes, but it’s so much more frustrating to conduct this kind of house hunt – a needle in a haystack! Instead, create top priorities and then a list of “nice-to-haves” – your shortlist of most important qualities helps you give lots of houses a fair viewing and see if they bring unexpected positives to the mix even if they are missing one or two nice-to-haves. Because some things about homes can be remedied with renovations or additions, it’s worth keeping your mind open about all but the most important priorities on your list, so you’ll actually get to see some homes and eventually buy one.
