Finding the Right House 
A real estate agent can help save you time and effort in your search for the right home. Real estate professionals have access to home buying tools and experience that the average homebuyer doesn't. The real estate agent's role is to guide you through the home buying or selling process. Real estate agents can help you:
- Understand the paperwork and legal requirements
- Find the neighborhood for your lifestyle
- Find the home that meets your needs
- Search property values in your area
- Negotiate the final offer
- Coordinate the closing process
Determine the specifics you want or need in a home.
- What are your day to day and future needs?
- Do you enjoy swinging a hammer?
- Older houses have great charm, but may need updating.
- New homes offer the latest energy efficiency and design features- larger lots can provide room for additions and swimming pools.
- A fixer upper can dramatically increase in worth.
- A Planned Unit Development may have private recreational facilities such as a pool and tot lots.
- A condo or town-house will relieve you of yard work and exterior maintenance.
Sit down with your real estate agent and make up a wants and needs list. Knowing your price range, your agent can determine in what neighborhoods or towns to start looking. You may find that you are limited to where you look based on your situation.
|
Price range
Building style/design
New construction
Remodeled
Fixer upper
Minimum # bedrooms
Bathrooms
Family room
Fireplace
Office/den |
Hardwood floors
Swimming pool / Spa
In-law quarters
Workshop
Central air conditioning
Parking facilities
Yard size
School district
Work locations
Special zoning or location |
 With a list of houses in your price range, drive by them and check out the surrounding neighborhood. Next make an appointment with your agent to view the interior of the ones that interest you. After you have narrowed your selection to few houses it is important to visit them at different times of the day, such as during the morning commute time. If you visit only during the middle of the day, you might not notice if the street in front of the home is used as a shortcut. This is also a good time to find out how you emerge from your residential area into traffic on a busy highway or how long it takes to get to the freeway access. Go back after dark and walk around the block. You might notice that headlights from approaching traffic shine into the home or hear sounds from a nearby night club or park that you were not aware of.
After previewing a number of homes, you will want to see some a second time. This is the time to make measurements, ask questions and make a closer self-inspection. When you want to make an offer, ask your agent for sales comps to arrive at an offering price. A "seller's market" or "buyer's market" can have big effect on how much to offer. There is no sense in making a low offer on a well-priced home in a seller's market.
A properly written contract will allow a buyer a number of outs if certain items are not met or approved. Get a copy of a typical real estate contract prior to making an offer and have your agent go over it with you.
|
 | Home | Find a Home | Market Statistics | Featured Homes | For Home Buyers | For Home Sellers | Request Info | Home Assessment | Auto Agent | Newsletter | Login Thank you for visiting. Please return anytime. To make that easier, click here to add this site to your bookmarks. Proudly serving buyers and sellers in the following areas: Fairfax County, Virginia
Alexandria, Annandale, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Dunn Loring, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, Falls Church, Fort Belvoir, Great Falls, Herndon, Lorton, Mclean, Merrifield, Oakton, Reston, Springfield, Vienna Falls Church City, Virginia
Falls Church Loudoun County, Virginia
Aldie, Arcola, Ashburn, Chantilly, Hamilton, Leesburg, Lincoln, Lovettsville, Middleburg, Philomont, Purcellville, Round Hill, Sterling, Waterford Prince William County, Virginia
Bristow, Catharpin, Dumfries, Gainesville, Haymarket, Manassas, Nokesville, Occoquan, Quantico, Triangle, Woodbridge © 2010 Glenda Cherry
© 2010 GoMethod |
|
|
