Bay Area Real Estate Sales.com Newsletter

November 2004

 

In this Issue:

 

Shopping for a new house driving you crazy?

Marin & SF Home Sales Statistics

Confused about mortgages?

Home Sales Momentum to carry into 2005

Buyers' Home Feature Preferences Reflect Lifestyles

 

 

Is shopping for a new house driving you crazy?

By Liz McCarthy

 

Does this describe your typical Sunday?  You start your morning with a cup of coffee pouring over Sunday's listings of open houses.  You circle the ones you want to see, get out your map and then set out on a day of visiting houses. 

 

I've found that after viewing 4 or more homes, my clients find it difficult to keep houses' features separate.  Here are some suggestions in your search for a new home:

 

Build an open house kit.  Your kit should include a folder with pockets, pen, paper, home-shopping-checklist forms, paper clips or a stapler, and a digital camera.

 

Know your must-haves.  It's easy when you are viewing a house that has an amazing city view and a beautifully redone kitchen to forget that the house doesn't have a 2-gar garage, which was one of your must-haves.  If you have a printed list of what you are specifically looking for, you'll better be able to eliminate houses that don't match your must-have criteria.  Remember, you said they were must-haves for a reason.   You can use the form: Home Shopping Needs and Wants Checklist found on my website:  Home Shopping Needs & Wants Checklist

 

Be realistic. I've had clients that had unrealistic expectations of "finding their perfect dream house."  You may have to compromise on some of your wish-list items.  Be sure to prioritize must-have "needs" versus nice-to-have "wants."

 

Keep a written log of all the houses you visit.  You can use pre-printed Home Shopping Checklists like the ones found on my website:  Open House Checklist . On this page you'll find a link to download a copy of this form to print out, make copies of and bring to the houses you visit.  Take a few minutes to fill it out once you get back in your car.  Take special note of any features you loved or that you really disliked.  Staple/paperclip a copy of the house flyer to your checklist.  Once you are back home you'll be happy to have taken the extra time. 

 

Take pictures. Bring a digital camera with you and snap a few pictures of either features you love or that you don't like.   You can also use a video camera or a digital camera that takes videos to record yourself pointing out special features.   I've had clients form a mental picture of a feature inside a house (like a wall or windows) that didn't exist once they viewed the house a second time.   If you don't have a digital camera, I'd be more than happy to take pictures of houses we visit together and give you a CD to take home with you.

 

Be prepared to act quickly.  If you find a house that fits the majority of your criteria and fits all your must-haves, you need to be prepared to act quickly.  The majority of home-buyers tend to want the same features, which means it's likely that the house will be sold by the next weekend.  Have a pre-approval letter ready from your mortgage broker/banker.

 

Oh-no, there's going to be multiple-offers.  In multiple-offer situations its best to imagine that another buyer got the house for a price that you would have been willing to pay.  That should be your offering price!  Put your best offer out there initially when there are multiple offers so that you can start spending Sunday's enjoying your morning coffee in your new home and thinking of the poor souls who are still in the hunt for the perfect house!

 

December newsletter's article:  "Getting your house ready to put on the market"

 

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