Why You Should Drive by a Home
Before You Decide to See it for Real!
Most buyers use the Internet to search for homes these days, and there are plenty of good reasons for doing so.
You get to see lots of photos…hopefully plenty of good ones…plus you can read details about the home, including features, size, bedrooms and baths, garage and parking spaces, fees (if there is an HOA), and the list goes on.
Usually there is a map, and you can explore the area online, too.
And in these days of the pandemic there are virtual tours, Matterport 3D tours, and plenty of videos so you can really explore the homes that interest you, inside and out, and safely from the comfort of your home or office. All before you decide the home looks like a great fit for your needs and budget and take the plunge and ask your Realtor to set up a showing.
But wait. There’s another very valuable step you might want to consider before you go traipsing through homes that appeal to you online, and that is…
Take a drive by the home AND explore the local area. Why?
The MLS listing can and will only show you so much about a home, and while the details of a listing are important in order to decide if the property meets YOUR requirements, there are some prime reasons a drive-by makes sense.
You also get to see the area around the home the MLS listing likely doesn’t show you!
Maybe there’s a reason that’s been omitted.
You might find the general location is fine, OR it may not appeal to you at all, even though the house does!
And in this time of the pandemic why spend time touring homes, despite all the precautions, if it’s not the right property?! It makes sense, of course, to drive by multiple homes you like.
WHY YOU SHOULD DRIVE-BY
You can learn what the shopping is and where, especially grocery stores, and how far away it is from the house
Explore nearby services, recreational activities (golf, tennis, swimming, the beach, parks and playgrounds), and tourist attractions, depending on what’s important to you and your lifestyle
Check out the dining options – if that’s important you might want to do some tasting, too!
Evaluate commuting routes and traffic patterns (don’t forget to explore rush hour on major roads – apps online can only tell you so much!), especially roads adjacent to the property, and check out commuting distances.
Listen to noises (e.g., general street noise, trains, a particularly busy road nearby, the freeway, neighborhood noise at different times of the day). Road noise can be a big deterrent for many people. The MLS won’t give you this information and you can’t always tell from looking at the map!
If relevant, find the schools located nearby (first check to find out which schools service the area). Is being close to the school, even walking distance, important?
Check out views which may be important to you OR that you might not like (e.g., views of retail space, high-tension towers and wires, nearby industrial areas, a golf course, the ocean, green-space). The MLS photos may be primarily of the house and yard, and not necessarily the views, especially if the views are lacking or not positive.
SOME FINAL THOUGHTS
Searching for the right home these days can be a challenge…with limited inventory which means competition…and the restrictions as a result of the pandemic make arranging showings more complicated. And you have to use your time wisely.
Taking the time to drive by a property, or a number of properties, of interest makes a lot of sense so you don’t waste time arranging a showing, only to drive through the neighborhood and up to the house and feel it was a mistake.
At the same time, depending on your local market conditions you may have to move quickly, given the competition, so a new listing that will work for your needs and budget does not slip through your fingers.
You might have to go right to a showing and forget a preview drive-by so you don't miss out.
Take the opportunity to do as much research as you can online. The technology provides lots of ways to gather valuable information before you step into your car and head for a drive-by or showing. And of course your Realtor should be a good resource as well!
You can start your search online for a Carlsbad home for sale and check out the complete inventory of homes (detached single family homes, condos, townhomes and twinhomes) by clicking on the photo to the right.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Please reach out to me at (760) 840-1360 to discuss your particular housing needs, lifestyle and budget so we can craft a strategy to get you into the right home.
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