Buying That Forever Home

Judith Sutton ABR CRS IDS PMN ASP IAHSP SRES GREEN

Judy@JudithSutton.com   908 803-0472

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Even though purchasing a home sight unseen may be a good strategy in some cases, there are some risks involved. Below are some tips I have listed to avoid trouble if you have decided to buy your house sight unseen (or for that matter, if this is your only option). The first suggestion is to find the right agent for the job.  

 

Picking an Agent  

You can start being more cautious by being extra careful when picking out your real estate agent.  Here’s a list of suggested questions you should ask your real estate agent. 

How long have you been an Agent?

Knowing how long your real estate agent has been practicing is essential to determine how much experience they have. By asking this question, you can decide if you would like your agent to have more or less experience.  My 35 years+ as a full-time practicing Realtor have given me a unique and complete perspective on the process.

How many homes do you sell a year? How many homes have you sold in total? How many homes have you helped buyers buy? 

The amount of time your home stays on the market is essential. Because if your home stays on the market for too long, then your home will go down in value. Therefore, you should ask about their marketing plan to sell your home fast. If you’re looking to buy a home, it’s good to know how many homes your agent has sold to understand how proactive they are when helping their clients find and buy their houses.  

Do you work full-time or part-time? 

Ask the agent if she works either full-time or part-time. This is an industry that moves quickly and is filled with many part-time agents.  You decide.  

How many buyer clients do you have right now? How many selling clients do you have right now?

If they have several clients, they may not be able to properly dedicate their time to you. A good balance will mean more attention and quick responses to your questions.    

Can I see your real estate license? 

Asking for your agent’s license allows you to make sure your agent is allowed to practice, which reassures you that they are a qualified agent.  

 

 

 

Hire an Inspector  

After you take extra care in picking out an agent and finding the right house for you, it is time to make an offer on your home. Before you purchase, it is essential to get your home inspected by a professional inspector. Once you have chosen your inspector, with advice from your trusted advisor, (Judy)  you can ensure that any property issues are reported to you. Finally, consider an inspection contingency that provides you with an out before making one of the most significant purchases of your life. 

Take a Virtual Tour 

Even though you cannot take a tour in person you should really take a virtual tour before you purchase the house. You could do this via Zoom with your real estate agent who can set up a virtual call. Taking a virtual tour allows you to ask questions while looking at the home. Some of the questions you should ask your agent are: 

• How is the cell phone reception on the property? 
• Could you show me the inside of every closet?  
• Can I see the roof, how does it look? (Provide an aerial view)
• Are the gutters functioning properly? 
• If there’s a basement, is it finished? 
• If there’s an attic, can I see it? 
• Can I see the backyard and front yard? 
• How’s the temperature of the house? Is it too cold, too hot?  
• Can I see the kitchen appliances? 
• If there’s a garage, can I see the inside of the garage? 
• Could I see the views outside the windows? 
• Is there anything that you have seen, that concerns you? 

With these questions, you and your family can get a better idea of the house you are going to buy sight unseen.  Relying on your trusted advisor should give you the confidence you need for the purchase.

Technology Can’t Do It All 

When buying a home sight unseen, technology can be one of the greatest assets for learning as much information as possible. But you need to remember that technology cannot do it all. For example, the pictures of your home will not give you an accurate depiction of the lighting in your home because the photographer could have used flash photography. Something else technology cannot do is tell you how loud the traffic or the neighbors outside your house are. Finally, you will not know the smells in the area near your home. But of course, any of these concerns you have could be addressed by your trusted real estate agent or the inspector with his report.  

Buying a home is a big decision but buying a home sight unseen is an even more significant decision that requires much more consideration. Let me be your trusted advisor to guide you through the process comfortably! Call me. I can help.