Looking to buy a home? Looking to rent a home, condominium or apartment? Finding the right place to purchase or rent can be troubling, tough and emotionally and physically draining. Schlepping from model to model and complex to complex can be tiresome and unfulfilling. Before heading out on the road, and maybe traveling cross country to look for a place to live, always follow a handful of tips. These tips can be the difference between a successful house hunting trip and one that makes you want to poke your eyes out.
o Take time to research – An hour or two of research might seem like a lot of time but it can be the difference between success and anger. Pull out all the stops when doing the research. Set a time frame for when the research will end and the browsing will begin. When researching a house or apartment pick up real estate magazines from a grocery store checkout line, on the corner from the newspaper stands and even online. One of the most informative real estate sites belongs to The New York Times. Their real estate section offers question and answer sections, real estate blogs, listing not only in New York but also across the country and articles detailing the real estate market throughout different regions.
o Either browse alone or with a real estate agent – If at first you don’t want to be overwhelmed by an agent, begin to browse through houses with an agent. Once you have narrowed your search down to two or three houses for purchase, go out and find an agent. Most good real estate agents will know the ins and outs of the neighborhood you are looking to buy in and will give you honest answers about the pricing scale and whether or not you can afford to live there.
o Keep a watchful eye on the ins and outs of the house – Have you narrowed your search down to one house? Want to make an offer? Check the entire house for leaks, pipe problems and holes in the walls. Bring in your personal contractor or a friend that does contracting work to inspect the house for any damage that might need to be repaired before moving in.
o Make sure the real estate agent will go with you to closing – Real estate agents, if following their code of ethics, should assist the buyer at closing. The closing part of purchasing a house or apartment can be the most difficult and scariest part of the process to deal with. It involves discussions about the final terms of the contract and the final sale. Here a real estate agent can make the process much easier to deal with and less hectic and less stressful.
Following these four easy steps can lead to a better search and better results when it comes to finding that perfect house, apartment or condominium. Finding the perfect new place to live can be difficult and overwhelming but shouldn’t be if the proper steps are taken to ensure a successful search.