How To Find the Perfect House to Buy
Posted on February 18th, 2010
In order to find the “perfect” house for sale in, you need to know exactly what you want. Your real estate agent will help you focus your search by discussing the following points with you. In the long run, spending this time now before you look will save you time, frustration, and money.
Some locations are great for one person, but not as good for another. Where do you want to live? Do you have small children? If so, maybe you need to be within walking distance of a park or a school. Do you mind commuting to work? If yes, then perhaps you need to live close to your place of employment. A great location is a critical factor to finding your perfect home. That’s why I’ll want to talk in detail with you about your preferences in this area. And this will be our first step in focusing your search.
Are there certain features in a home that you must have? For instance, if you’re a gourmet cook, you’ll need a large kitchen. If you have children, you’ll need extra bedrooms, and perhaps yard space. Perhaps there are features you would like in a home, but are not necessarily critical, like a fireplace or a finished basement. I’ve prepared a handy tool called a “Home Wish List” to help you sort through your preferences for home features.
What do you know about the neighborhood? “Knowledge is power,” as the saying goes. You can go online and find lots of useful information about a neighborhood and even specific houses you might be considering. You’ll learn about the school system, public services, the crime rate, demographics, etc. The Chamber of Commerce is a great resource for you, and will have free visitor packets available, chock full of useful information. Another great resource is the local newspaper. Visit their website and scan some month’s worth of headlines. This will tell you all kinds of information about the health of the area.
Do you have a realtor? Is she local? It’s crucial that your realtor be very familiar with the area you’re considering. It’s also important that you feel comfortable with your realtor, since you’ll be sharing personal information like financial data with her. You can locate a local realtor online or in the phone book.
While you can learn a lot about a neighborhood online, the only way to get a real “feel” for it is to visit it in person. Any property you’re considering may look very different in person, since you’ll be seeing it in context of its surroundings. You can also learn other things about the neighborhood that pictures just can’t tell, like what traffic is like in front of the property, or is it near a highway.
What price range of home can you afford? This figure is determined through a process called “pre-approval.” It is performed by your loan officer, who then hands you a letter stating the range of prices for which you are a serious buyer. Having this letter saves you time since you’ll only be looking at homes you can afford. It also gives you leverage with sellers.
If you consider the above points when you start to search for a home, you’ll be in a great position to know the right property immediately when you see it.
Author Susanne Novak is a full time Columbus real estate agent who helps home owners buy properties at discounted prices. Her blog shows how to find and successfully purchase the best Columbus OH Homes for Sale.
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