Making the House Hunt Easier
Even if you work with a real-estate agent, you will want a system to organize your search to keep you from becoming overwhelmed by information.
First, be sure the agent knows the type of home you want, the price range, and the architectural style. Specify what you consider essential — such as four bedrooms, a two-car garage, or being close to the parkway.
Second, limit yourself to viewing no more than six to eight properties a day. Beyond that number, features blur in your mind and fatigue affects your perceptions. Similarly, give a day to each town if you are interested in several. Do not keep crisscrossing back and forth from one city to another. By concentrating on separate towns on different days, you will get a good idea of comparative value.
You cannot turn over to a real-estate agent, even a buyer's broker, the responsibility of finding you a perfect home. It is you who must watch out for your money and your happiness and you who must make the right decisions each step of the way.
Third, take advantage of having the agent drive you to properties. Chauffeuring is also his business. While the agent is driving, you can take notes, mark your street map, or just take in the view. Following the agent in your own car is not a good idea. Being in the car next to him allows you to ask questions as you think of them. You can always talk privately — if you are house hunting with a partner — at home or on the drive home.
While you are out with an agent, look for “For Sale by Owner” signs in front of properties that might be of interest to you. If you've signed an agreement with an agent, you should go through that agent — she should contact the owner on your behalf.
Billed as the “world's largest database of homes for sale,” Realtor.com provides information on millions of listings around the country. The site also offers advice on finding an agent, checking market conditions, figuring out what your home is worth, and even how to find a mover.
There is a lot of paperwork involved in a real-estate transaction. Things move quickly, and mistakes can be made — and often are — in one area of a property transfer or another, from stupendous blunders to trivial oversights. Remember, you are in charge here!
Your real-estate agent can be an invaluable help to you, but it is up to you to continue working with your lender, house inspector, and everyone else involved to get answers to your questions, to double-check documents, and to run figures through the calculator.
Most real-estate agents these days have websites that feature their real estate listings, including photos, prices, and in some cases, virtual tours of homes for sale. You can get a good idea of the price ranges by city, state, and even zip code. “We know that if consumers look first online, they will actually step inside five to six houses, on average, before making a decision,” says Sandra O'Connor, Allen Tate Company, branch manager. “If they never look online, they will look at more than 16 houses before making a choice.”
