Finding a house online is easy, but how about finding the perfect house with the best price? Well, not so much. If you are a first-time homebuyer, here are the most important things you need to remember when browsing listings online:
1. Make a list of needs and wants
Before you go online and browse reliable real estate listings in places like Eagle Mountain, for example, make a list of what you need and what you want in your future house. How many bedrooms do you need? Bathrooms? How big does the yard need to be? After you identify your needs, list down the features you want, but don’t necessarily need, such as a patio, a sunroom, a pool, or a walk-in closet. In this way, you can narrow down your search and easily find houses that fit your needs and wants.
2. Always be wary
Don’t believe anything you see on an online listing right away. While many sellers are honest and upfront about their properties, there are still some people who don’t disclose everything on their listing or make their property seem better than it actually is.
When you see a listing that you like, don’t fall in love at first sight. Bookmark that listing and then keep looking. At the same time, if a listing seems too good to be true (e.g. price that is too low), look for something else.
3. Create a spreadsheet
With all the listings available online, it can be hard to track every potential house you see. To address that problem, create a spreadsheet to log house listings onto. Include the location of the house, the link to the listing, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and other basic information that can help you compare listings on a single page.
4. Manage your expectations
Many sellers post beautiful, staged-up photos of their houses to attract buyers like you. For that reason, it’s important to manage your expectations before scheduling a walk-through or you might end up disappointed.
5. Browse more than one website
There are many different real estate websites that you can choose from, so don’t focus on just one. Widen your search using at least three or four real estate websites and then narrow your choices after. In this way, you won’t miss out on a great listing that you would find if you’d just browsed another website.
6. Use Google Maps
It’s possible to take a glimpse of what the neighborhood looks like without actually going to the property. When you see a listing that has a lot of potential, use Google Street View to take a virtual trip around the neighborhood and possibly see what the house looks like. Although Google Street View has its limitations, you can at least get a “feel” for the house and its location.
Is it easy to find a house online? Possibly so, but not a lot of buyers can find the perfect home in a short period. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, use these tips to help you find the one.
