The weather in Seeley Lake may still have a crisp feeling, but for the most part, we've turned a corner. The sun is shining, the snow is melting, hibernating animals are waking, and the crocuses are poking their heads up through the ground; a long and cold winter is starting to wind down. This Saturday marks the first day of spring, and it is a welcome change!
As we have come to expect every spring, the incipient balmy weather sprouts tulips, and is also likely to bring another species out of hibernation—househunticus americanus, commonly known as the North American house hunter. These intrepid souls, no longer trapped indoors by snow banks, icy roads, and freezing rain, will soon begin venturing out in search of new lodging - maybe even vacation homes! And like all successful explorers, North American house hunters must be properly outfitted for their searches.
Are you among this species of house hunters? First and foremost, you’ll need a means to plan your search. Begin by finding a Realtor® you like. This is a critical step, as Realtors® are invaluable guides who will provide you with detailed advice on how to search for and buy houses. And, if you’re looking in an area that is new territory, you’ll want to be sure to choose a seasoned resident of the area where you want to buy.
You should also consider buying a map of the city where you're planning your home search. An experienced real estate professional can guide you to the areas that fit your needs, and you can self-search with sites like Google Maps and Mapquest.
Once you're actually on your search, always keep a pad of paper and a writing utensil with you. These are useful for jotting down homes you see with For Sale signs. You can then ask your real estate agent for more information on those homes. And, if you find a home for sale by someone other than your Realtor®, passing the address and phone number onto your agent is a great way for them to dig up the relevant information about the house for you.
Keep your pad and pen with you once you actually start touring homes, too. You’ll find that taking notes of things you like and dislike about the homes you see will be helpful; you're likely to look at a lot of homes, and they may start to run together in your mind. Taking notes will not only keep you focused on the homes you're seeing, it will give you a frame of reference to start narrowing your choices, based on what you’ve liked and what you didn’t.
Finally, as a smart house hunter, you’ll want to always take a digital camera with you on your search. Like your notes, pictures will help you recall each house, and help to keep them separate in your mind. You can also use your camera to snap pictures of specific things you like or dislike about any home. Again, these will help you make your final decision after narrowing down the houses you're particularly interested in.
That may seem like a short list—Realtor®, map, paper and pencil, and camera—but with those essential tools your home search will be a breeze. When you’re ready, give me, Kim Koppen, a call. I’m your Seeley Lake home expert and I’m ready to take you on the adventure of finding your next home! Happy hunting!
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