How To Perfect The Home Search From Home
Thinking it’s time to search for a new place to call home? Whether you’re packing up for a fast-paced relocation or in no rush at all, starting the homebuying process online can save sufficient time and broaden the range of options.
Getting started
Begin the search by assessing your current residence and creating a “wants vs. needs” list based on the aspects you find inadequate or in need of a major upgrade.
Then, head online to see what homes are available to fit your exact needs. Use remax.com or download the RE/MAX Real Estate Search App to find the best features that tailor the house-hunting experience to you and your family. Both the website and mobile app work simultaneously, so users can save their search on one platform – and pick up where they left off on the other.
Where to look and what to look for
In addition to simply scrolling through photos and seeing a bedroom count, online searching can reveal yard size, year built, heating and cooling information, as well as other nitty gritty details alluding to potential repair or maintenance. Weeding out undesirable properties prepares you to tour serious candidates with your real estate agent.
Narrowing down exactly where to search for properties can be daunting, especially if you’re seeking a fresh start in an unfamiliar city or town. Multiple factors typically determine where to live, including accessibility to school, work and family members, as well as attractions and destinations that make a location livable – so take advantage of how the search bar uses Community Search to show niche neighborhoods or school district boundaries.
In the RE/MAX app? Utilize the Draw Search feature to draw customized boundaries within town or city limits on the interactive map when zip codes feel restrictive.
The My Places feature on RE/MAX search platforms also enables you to see a home’s proximity to each of your most frequented locations. Searching for homes based on closeness to these hubs helps evaluate potential traffic along the new commute to work or plot how quickly you (and your dog) can get to the local park. On the website, you can compare the locations of multiple listings side by side.
Keep communication open
The homebuying process is often shared with a spouse or significant other. While you hope to have aligned interests, it’s not uncommon to wield varying opinions of what criteria make a house the perfect home. When two people search for homes each with a RE/MAX account, it’s easy to use the Favorite feature – the heart-shaped button – to see how your partner feels about the same properties. You will be able to see which listings they disliked and – most importantly – see the ones you both agree on.
And even though you’re at home, stay in touch with a trusted agent for any questions that arise about specific properties – and to ensure you don’t miss out on a great deal. Your agent will be able to help with requests like a virtual showing – a great alternative for safety-conscious buyers or those relocating from far away.
Check back when it’s convenient
Not seeing exactly what you’re looking for? It’s best to check in regularly for new listings or price fluctuations with homes you’re keeping a close eye on. The Save Search feature allows you to save the preferences you’ve selected along the way – like filters and customized boundaries – so you can pick back up where you left off when it’s convenient. The feature will even send you alerts when new properties hit the market that match your saved search criteria.
Article originally appeared on RE/MAX.