Tips For First Time Home Buyers

Here’s what you can expect from your home shopping experience.

Almost 80% of all home searches today begin on the Internet.  With just a few clicks of the mouse, home buyers can search through hundreds of online listings, view virtual tours, and sort through dozens of photographs and aerial shots of neighborhoods and homes.  You’ve probably defined your goals and have a pretty good idea of the type of home and neighborhood you want.  By the time you reach your real estate agent’s office, you are halfway to home ownership.

Good real estate agents will listen to your wants and needs and arrange to show only those homes that fit your particular parameters.  Your agent should preview homes before showing them to you as well.

How Many Homes Will You See?
Studies show that your memory dramatically improves after consumption of carbs and slows upon consuming sugar.  So, lay off the soft drinks and have a hearty meal of carbs before venturing out to tour homes.  The average number of homes that we show a buyer in one day is seven.  Any more than that, and the brain is on overload.  Therefore, don’t expect to see 20 or 30 homes; although it’s physically possible to do so, you probably will not remember specific details about any of them

How to Rate Inventory
Bring a digital camera and begin each series of photos with a close-up of the house number to identify where each group of home photos start and end.
- Take copious notes of unusual features, colors and design elements.
- Pay attention to the home’s surroundings.  What is next door? 
- Do you like the location?  Is it near a park or a power plant?
- Immediately after leaving, rate each home on a scale of 1 to 10.

View Top Choices a Second Time
After touring homes for a few days, you will probably instinctively know which one or two homes you would like to buy.  Ask to see them again.  You will see them with different eyes and notice elements that were overlooked the first go-around.

At this point, we would call the listing agents to find out more about the sellers’ motivation and to double-check that an offer hasn’t come in, making sure these homes are still available to purchase.

Both Fran and I have worked with many first time home buyers and we know the process very well.  You can count on us to make the transaction smooth and fun!