What to Keep in Mind When Virtually Shopping for a Home

Although buying a home before seeing it in person was something that occasionally happened in the past, once the pandemic entered all of our lives and made us adapt to different ways of doing things—it turned into a process that was sometimes necessary for people to buy a house at all. At Weston Dean Custom Homes, we fully understand how difficult it is to buy a home, especially when you’re in the middle of relocating hundreds if not thousands of miles away. That’s why we’ve put together a list of things to keep in mind when shopping for a home online. 

Do your homework on the surrounding areas

Whether you’re moving to a different home due to a new job, a desire for change or anything in-between, you need to start out by researching the area that you’ll be living in. Do you need to look into the different school districts around the area to find the best one suited for your needs? Is being close to a shopping center, restaurants, art centers or museums a must for you? The location is a crucial factor when purchasing a home no matter if it’s in-person or online, so make sure you thoroughly research the area before jumping right in to looking at homes. 

Find an agent to help you through the process

Nowadays, most real estate agents have probably done some form of remote home showings, and it will be the most beneficial for you if you find an agent that will make the process as smooth and stress free as possible. When you’re not directly in the city, you’ll want someone there at all times to keep you informed on any updates and to walk you through homes over video chat so you know exactly what is happening at all times. 

Create a travel budget and timeline

If at some point, you’re able to travel to the location, instead of simply attempting to rush through as many homes as you can in one weekend, see if you can plan to spend four to five days in town. This way, you’ll be able to truly look through all of your home options, get a good feel for the various neighborhoods you’re in and make a more informed decision without feeling rushed. 

Figure out your top 5 must-haves

After perhaps the first day of browsing homes around the neighborhoods you’re interested in, you’ll be able to dive deeper into what you absolutely need in your home. Make a list of the top five things that are the most important factors to you and easily cross out any non-contenders from there. This will make the process easier on you if you have a clear vision in mind, and your agent will be able to be extremely selective with the homes they will show you—cutting down on any truly unnecessary visits. 

Take a deep breath and trust the process

Finally, take a minute, breathe, and remember that this is supposed to be one of the most exciting times of your life. Trust your agent, your instincts and the process—you’ll soon be in the home of your dreams. 

At Weston Dean Custom Homes, we love the feeling of helping homeowners create a home that is perfectly suited for them and their families. If you’d like to know more about the communities we build in, our design work and how our team can help you throughout your home buying process, contact us today.