Special offer

How to Shop for a HOUSE!

By
Real Estate Agent with Casta del Sol Real Estate / HomeSmart Everygreen Realty 01439520

I tell buyers to make a list of everything they have to have and do their best to get them all.

Before house hunting, make a list of nine things you want in the new place. Then make a list of the nine things you don't want. I call this

                             "NINE OF THIS AND NONE OF THAT".

You can use this list as a score card to rate each property that you see. The one with the biggest score I WANT THIS wins! This helps avoid confusion and keeps things in perspective when you're comparing dozens of homes. When you are house hunting, keep in mind the difference between

"SKIN AND BONES".

The BONES are things that cannot be changed such as the location, view, the size of lot, noise in the area, school district, and floor plan. The SKIN represents easily changed surface finishes like carpet, wallpaper, color, and window coverings.

Buy the house with good BONES, because the SKIN can always be changed to match your tastes. I always recommend that you imagine each house as if it were vacant. Consider each house on its underlying merits, not the seller's decorating skills.

The web site I have my clients use, to do their searches on, has 3 columns and about 30 picks that they can check either 1) must have, 2) would like to have, or 3) don't want. Check it out.

www.valorie.listingbook.com

 

Posted by

Valorie Stover , Specializing in YOU!

Sandy Shores FL RealtorĀ®, Melbourne Real Estate
M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Valorie, I have found that over the years buyers purchase a home with about half of the amenities in it that they first came to us telling us they must have.  Their tastes must adjust to price ranges within the market and the properties that are available.

Apr 03, 2009 07:01 AM
Valorie Stover, Realtor for Casta del Sol
Casta del Sol Real Estate / HomeSmart Everygreen Realty - Mission Viejo, CA
Mission Viejo,CA, Active Adult Community!

I agree they change their minds along the way. I wish I had money on how many times a buyer would ask about a house that they first said they would never buy. Guess which one they brought!!!!

Apr 03, 2009 02:24 PM
Connie Case
Platinum Realty Group - Fountain City, TN
Realtor, Knoxville Tn.

Valorie,

These are great lists. I haven't used this method but it would help clarify things for the buyers!!

Apr 04, 2009 07:27 AM