House Hunting Checklist
John Buetergerds is with the Sarasota Suncoast Team of Keller Williams Realty Sarasota, FL.
I was recently asked by a buyer, "How many homes could we see if we went house hunting 4 hours a day on all 5 days of my trip?"
Even though this is a fair question for an excited buyer, I nearly fell out of my chair with exhaustion just thinking about this upcoming, non-productive blur this could be for us both!
It was clear I needed to put together a quick House Hunter Checklist to help him get organized prior to hitting the road.
Here is a modified version of my House Hunting Checklist Letter:
Yes, we can see many properties, however there are some ways to make it more productive and fruitful for you.
Inventory, price and your lifestyle needs will eliminate many of the properties.
Typically with all the drive time, going in and out of condos and depending on how far apart they are, it gets tough to see more than 4 to 7 in an afternoon. People get "snow blind" and all the properties begin to look the same after about the 4th or 5th. In a few days, the 1st one from day 1 can become a distant memory. The majority of people get overwhelmed. I've seen it in couples situations, where there is one partner that just doesn't have the patience or interest for a 4 hrs x 5 day week long house hunt.
Searching for homes goes well when you look at your over all wants and needs list, in concert with the price point to stay on budget, and then eliminate homes online. There isn't a need to go for a marathon 5 day house hunt if the ground work is done in advance. Inventory, price and your lifestyle needs will eliminate many of the properties.
You'll need time to explore
Also, everyone searching for a home needs to explore the area on their own. At some point, without looking inside, you've got to feel out the neighborhoods. This is so important, even if a person already knows the area. You see, when you're not on vacation or working, it's different than when you're looking with your buyer glasses on. Things look different than they ever have before. On a house hunt you need time both for scrutinizing as a buyer and relaxing as you would everyday.
Tips to Create a Productive House Hunting Checklist
Get Your Financial House in Order - Know Your Limits
Determine if you want or need to get financing and then get pre-qualified. Ask the lender to run your credit scores and look at your finances so there are no surprises. Don't accept a pre-approval, get fully pre-qualified. Make sure your lender gives you a pre-qualification letter. I believe in your case you would pay cash so you would just need a proof of funds letter from your financial institution
Note: If you find the right home on our first house hunting day, you will want to make an offer within a day or on the same day. We have a much more fluid inventory now than we had in the past and homes are selling quickly. Having your ducks in a row and letters with you make will keep you from being at a dis-advantage.
Make search adjustments after taking inventory of your finances in the budget step. Write down your estimated drop dead price you'd pay for a home and look no higher on the search engine. Then let me know the limit so I don't search any higher either. As a professional I want to be respectful of your budget and I won't show you anything higher unless you tell me you want to move up in price.
Location#1, Location#2, Location...SURPRISE!
Select your 1st choice of location, 2nd choice and 3rd choice (and be open to a completely different area than you had imagined. Many people buy far from where they first started house hunting). If you don't know the area, you may want to look at fewer homes and spend more time getting to know the area. You may even want to consider leasing a property and exploring for 3 to 6 months prior to buying.
I've Gotta Have It or I'm Going To Cry!!!
Write down all your "must haves" and then all your "want to haves". After looking at what is as available in the price point you set, either scratch those homes that don't meet the wants and needs lists or adjust your wants and needs to what is available in your price point.
Surfing vs. Driving
Today as a consumer you are so fortunate to have all sorts of sites and tools at your finger tips to see homes online. Our website, http://www.SarasotaSuncoastHomes.com gives you the freedom to search AND save the homes you like, as well as share them with me. The best part is you don't have to spend hours in a car with your Realtor ;-)
Let's get your online search up and moving efficiently on my website. It will be much, much enjoyable for you to spend a few hours online surfing the net, than to spend days in a car driving all over town. As your real estate professional I will help you narrow your search down to a manageable amount of homes and we'll find you a great place quickly. Please send me an updated wants, needs and price point list so we can help make this easy for you.
Sincerely,
John
John Buetergerds
Sarasota Suncoast Team, Inc of Keller Williams Realty
Exceptional Service for Your Exceptional Lifestyle!
