BEFORE YOU MEET WITH AN AGENT:
- Make a list of "must haves." This can include a geographic area or neighborhood, square footage, number of bedrooms/baths, proximity to work, and/or school districts you prefer
- Get pre-approved! Call a mortgage broker or bank to get a pre-approval letter; offers accompanied by a pre-approval letter are viewed more seriously be sellers and their agents. This also lets you know what you can best afford, and what your monthly payments are likely to be
- Make a list of "It would be nice to have" items. Bear in mind that a house which meets 99% of the "must have" items is great to find; including a few "nice to have" items is what the French call "lagniappe" - something a little extra
- Surf the MLS on the net! Narrow your possibilities by looking at active listings on the internet; most sites offer all the MLS listings available on the internet - they just stick their own logo on them so you'll call the agency through which you're browsing, rather than the listing agency. You can find all homes currently listed through our MLS system's internet listing service by using my site: http://www.justaskallen.com/ It isn't necessary to browse more than one site; what's on one is most often on all of them
- Use the Virtual Tours when they're available! Why not do a "walk-through" of a house before ever having to drive out to see it?
- Be flexible; if you make too many demands in what your "idea" home will have, you are likely to be house hunting for a long time, and not overly satisfied with your final decision
- Work with an agent in whom you have confidence, and trust that they know they local market. Remember that their advice is generally based on prior experience in that market. Also remember that your agent works for you; his or her goal is to help you make the best deal on the property which best works for you.
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