The Winchester, VA, real estate market is slowly turning from a buyer's market to a seller's market. You can see the writing on the wall. A good, well priced ready to sell property will not sit more than a week, and many don't last 24 hours.
The day of the causal buyer is coming to end very quickly. Two years ago, I had two buyers who each looked at 60 houses. That will not happen today if buyers are actually looking to purchase a home. A home that is ready to sell - will sell.
There are a few simple things a buyer can do to make sure he's the one who gets the house.
- Hire an agent you can trust and give her everything she needs to find the right house.
- Use your first agent meeting to set the parameters of your search; where, what style, how big, how small, how many bedrooms, how many baths, garage?, basement?, square footage, price, age, etc.
- Set the rules between you and your agent. Most agents have more than one client. They may not be able to drop everything and show you a property "Right Now."
- Don't change the rules in mid-stream. If you change your mind about something, let your agent know ahead of time so she can adjust to the "new" norm. There is no sense in setting appointments for a dozen ranchers if you suddenly hate ranchers.
- Remember, your agent-partner only has so much time. She can dedicate a certain amount of time to your search, but she can't be available 24/7. If you have a good plan before you start, she will be your biggest asset, but please respect her time also. Make every hour dedicated to your search as profitable as possible.
- Act. If you find a house that meets your criteria and it's fresh to the marke
t, buy it. If it's well priced and it's ready to sell, it will be gone before you spend the weekend thinking it over.
Buying in a seller's market is not like buying in a buyer's market. You can't approach your search with a casual attitude. In a seller's market you've got to be focused and ready to act. Decisions in a seller's market need to be made much more quickly. So, be ready before you start, and you'll be in your new home before you know it. The Winchester, VA, real estate market is slowly turning from a buyer's market to a seller's market.
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