7 Steps to finding your perfect home - in a great area!

While there are quite a few steps to find your perfect home in an ideal area, let’s look at the basics.  First, determine what you really want from the area you want to live in. The criteria for couples with children are going to be completely different from the needs of retiring singles. It should be noted that even if great scenery is plentiful in the area you chose, it makes no sense to move there if the area doesn’t have much else of interest to you. If you like 4 seasons, you probably don’t want to move to Florida. If you like to climb mountains in your spare time, you’re not going to be happy in the Kansas. That said, the first - and usually forgotten - step is always to determine what you expect to from an area.

Lists are absolutely important

Go so far as to sit down and create a ranked list of the activities you want available. This exercise allows you to determine what’s downright necessary to live in a particular area vs. what’s simply nice to have. You should also note that each upside can have a downside. If you want to live in the city, you get to tolerate traffic. Rural living, while usually less expensive, will take you away from essential services and requires a longer commute. Be specific. If you’re too general, you’ll have to live with the consequences. “Great views” is way too general when you actually mean “river views.” It’s now time to look over that extensive list and rank them with a number for must haves vs. niceties.

With that done, let’s make a list of what you would have to have in your home before you’ll move there. Some folks have to have a mud/laundry room. Others require a walk-in closet, or wine storage. Again, you’ll need to be specific; if you need a space to build out a home brewery, this is the place to list it. Now, just as we did before, pare it down to what you can’t do without.

How much home can you really afford?

OK, you've done the fun part of this exercise; now let’s get down to the hard part. Before you so much as step out the door to look at a home, find a lender and see how much you can actually afford before you go hunting. It’s never a happy moment when you discover that perfect home that meets all of your criteria, and you think it’s what you can afford - but your lender disagrees. Avoid this whole situation by doing a pre-qualification, or go through the complete lender qualification process. This will save you from broken dreams.

Use your connections

Whether on your desktop, tablet or phone; your internet connections can make your home hunting so much easier. Unless you just really like driving, you no longer have to go from neighborhood to neighborhood looking for those elusive open house signs. There are any number of places to see a home on the net. If you already have an agent, use their site to look for homes that match your criteria. Compare the properties you want to see to their list of open houses for the week. Your life just got so much easier.

Spend some time

Once you go through the qualification process (you did do this, right?), you’ll want to spend time in the neighborhood you intend on moving into. Drive through it at different times, and see what happens there during different hours. Get out of the car and just listen. You’ll be surprised at the difference between the morning and evening hours. Don’t be shy. If you see neighbors out, tell them about your intended move, and ask them about their area. Nobody knows a neighborhood like the people who live there.

Time for a vacation

If you’re moving to distant location, and you have time, vacation there first. You shouldn't be surprised at the difference between the travel brochures and the reality of a location. As we said above, spend some time in your intended neighborhoods. It will seem like a working vacation, but this is where you’re going to live for a period of time. If you’re still excited about an area after you've spent time there, you could be well on your way to a great experience.

Experience matters

Choose an experienced, local agent. You may already have an agent where you live now, but you need “boots on the ground” in the area you want to live. Find your local agent there, and you’re a step ahead of the game. They’ll know the big picture about the area you want to move to, as well as the nuances only locals know about. Your new agent will want to know about your needs, which is the reason all that work above is necessary. You will now be able to talk about, or send, your requirements and qualifications to your agent in a prepared manner. This alone should take some angst out of finding a new home. Again, don’t be shy. Ask questions; ask for references. They expect this, and should be happy to answer your questions.

Come see us

If you've managed to read this far, chances are good you are seriously considering a move. That’s where we come in. Our website is easy to use, and has links you need for finding an agent, pre-qualifying, or finding a lender. If you’re not there already, just drop by www.Shafferrealtyllc.com to see what we do to help make your search easier. If you’re in the area on vacation, please feel free to stop by at 582 Lynnhaven Pkwy, 4th Floor, VirginiaBeach, VA 23452. We can help  - every step of the way.