BUYING A HOME: FINDING THE BEST HOUSE

Nothing can stop you from looking for the home of your dreams. Even though you have no agent, you can do your own diligence. Drive around neighborhoods you feel you would like to live. Look for houses being sold. List down their addresses. And jot down their selling price.

Take note of the area first when you do own our own research. Know the amenities within that area, as well as the safe and not-so-safe streets. Remember, not every neighborhood is consistent and secured. There are times one street might be nicer than the other.

When you already have an agent, discuss with him the house that you want. First, tell him the type of house you are looking for. Make sure the agent knows your preferences and the deal breakers so that both of you won’t waste time on things that will never work. Give him a printed list, if you may.

The agent will do all the searching for you. At this point, all you need to do is to wait for the agent to provide a list of properties that you may prefer based on your discussion. In case the agent has shown you all the properties and none of them fits you, the person will look for new properties until you find the one that you like.

You need not to depend on an agent to find a property. You can do the search process yourself by looking at websites which offer access to the multiple listing services (MLS). However, you won’t have access to other key details which is only available to agents. But if you still want to talk to an agent, go ahead.

If you choose to work with a discounted agent, you may be expected to handle some of the work yourself. Thanks to technology, you can ensure you remain on top of new listings yourself if you are uncertain the agent cannot manage to do his job. A lot of individuals examine the listings online and let the agent do the paperwork.

Only agents have access to the lockbox code of the vacant homes. So it is important to have the agent with you when viewing the properties. The lockbox system limits the visiting to only real buyers.

When you step inside a house, take into account the following: size, your needs, exterior structures, repairs (if any), bedrooms, and possible arrangement. But such details in a home won’t be unveiled solely by your eyes. You will need a home inspection to thoroughly examine that property. Through that process, you can discover additional problems you have not noticed before.

Finding the best house goes beyond beauty. Do not be too attached to a home you really desire because chances are, you may not obtain it. Before declaring a property as yours, look at your budget, the neighborhood, security, the current market, and the house itself.