Pro Tips for Virtual Housing Hunting
John Toth, President
North Coast Building Industry Association (NCBIA) www.ncbia.com
If you’re planning to buy a home but you’re not ready to view several dozen homes in person, start by looking at homes online. You’ll be surprised by the number of online showrooms, photos and even 3D videos available of homes to help you narrow down your search. Websites such as www.ncbia.com, Realtor.com, Redfin.com, Trulia.com and your local custom home builders have detailed information about home interiors. Below are a few expert tips to help you organize and find information to support your virtual house hunt.
Create a List. If you are navigating many websites or watching hours of home videos online, make a list of the homes you enjoyed viewing. Keep careful notes of the descriptions listed. By creating a note taking system that works for you, you’ll be able to easily compare properties when you are ready to narrow down your list. Don’t forget to make a list of questions about the property you may have for the realtor.
Ask About Floor Plans. If you’re not physically walking through the home, it might be challenging to visualize the space by only scrolling through photos online. Ask a realtor for a copy of the home’s floor plan. Once you have an idea of the layout and size of the space, you’ll be able to get a better grasp of the photos or videos of the home.
Research the neighborhood. Not all websites with home listings will give you a sense of the neighborhood. To help get a complete profile of the home and make an informed decision about the area around your home, conduct a general online search about the neighborhood. You’ll be surprised by the amount of information you can learn about the activities that happen in the area or the local school system.
Drive by the home. You can learn a lot by doing a drive-by of the house. Are neighbors yards and homes well maintained? Do you see people outside congregating? Are there restaurants, schools, shopping, etc. in close proximity? Is the street busy or quiet? Think about your commute to work, church, or school from the house.
For more information on how to find a home call or visit www.ncbia.com. We are your local not-for-profit trade association representing member companies involved in all aspects of home building, remodeling, and other services available to help you in the future. So, you can see that you use an NCBIA member for your protection. If you are unsure that your contractor is a member of the NCBIA or you are looking for a list of NCBIA members, you can visit our website at www.ncbia.com or call 440-934-1090. We also have a job posting board (under the Industry tab).
For information about new homes as well as local remodelers available in the community visit ncbia.com 24/7 Virtual Parade of Homes!!! It lets you look at some of our builders’ new homes and communities on your mobile device or computer. You can also see our remodelers. We know time is our greatest asset, and via our NCBIA Virtual Parade of Homes, we save you time looking for a new home or a community that fits your lifestyle.
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