The House Hunting Rules Nobody Tells You About
/We've done the planning, talked about what you're looking for, and now we finally get to the fun part:
We go look at houses. 🎉
House hunting is exciting, but after a few showings, houses can start blending together. So here's how we'll keep the process focused - and hopefully fun.
Before We Schedule a Showing
A cute listing isn't always enough to earn a showing. Before we go, take a peek at Google Street View, drive by the house if you can, and do a little internet investigating into anything that's important to you.
Photos will happily show you the beautiful kitchen. They're considerably less interested in showing you the six-lane road behind the backyard.
Also, sellers often need 24 hours' notice, I generally schedule showings in 30-minute windows, and I try not to cram more than five houses into one block. After that, even the kitchens start looking the same.
Some Homework Has to Be Yours
There are a few very reasonable questions you may want to ask me that I can't answer for you as your Realtor.
“Is this a good school?” “Is this a safe neighborhood?” “What kind of people live around here?” “Is this a good area for families?”
Fair housing rules mean I can't characterize neighborhoods or steer you toward - or away from - an area based on those kinds of questions. You get to decide what feels like the right neighborhood for you.
What I can do is point you toward resources so you can research the things that matter to you. Check school information, local crime data, commute times, Google Street View, or anything else that affects your day-to-day life. Better yet, drive through the neighborhood yourself at different times of day.
You know what “a good neighborhood” means to you better than I ever could.
My job is to help you evaluate the house. Your job is to decide whether the location fits your life.
While We're Inside, Focus on the 3 L's
As we tour, pay the most attention to Location, Layout, and Lot - the things that are hardest to change.
Paint? Easy. Light fixtures? Easy. A floor plan that makes absolutely no sense for your life? Much harder.
I also use a pretty simple rule: if it's not at least a 8 out of 10, it's probably not your house. You don't need to convince yourself to love something.
As we see more homes, we'll keep a rolling Top 3 so every new contender has something to compete against.
Remember: A Showing Isn't an Inspection
We're absolutely paying attention while we're there. We'll notice visible maintenance issues, weird DIY projects, signs of water damage, and anything else that deserves a closer look.
But we're not performing a home inspection.
The showing helps us decide if you want the house. The inspection helps us understand what you're buying.
And while we're inside, always assume there could be a camera or listening device. Please save “I WOULD PAY ANYTHING FOR THIS HOUSE” for the car. 😂
A Few Showing Quirks
You can absolutely go to open houses without me - just make sure they know you're already working with a Realtor and give them my information.
If you find a For Sale By Owner, send it to me rather than contacting the seller directly. I'll do the investigating on your behalf.
And if a great house pops up when I'm unavailable, I can arrange for another licensed agent from my brokerage to step in for the showing. I don't want my calendar to be the reason you miss a house.
Also: bathrooms aren't always functional in vacant homes, and staged beds are sometimes literally boxes.
Real estate is glamorous.
When We Find The One
Once we're ready to write an offer, things can move quickly. Ideally, we'll already know who we're using for your lender, closing/settlement company, home inspection, and termite/moisture inspection so we're not scrambling later.
And once your offer is accepted, you'll have a few immediate action items - including your earnest money deposit and home inspection - and we'll start putting the big dates on the calendar: inspection, final walk-through, and closing.
The Big Picture
You don't have to find the perfect house on your first day of showings. Sometimes we find the one quickly; sometimes the first few houses simply teach us what you're actually looking for.
Every showing gives us more information.
Your job is to notice how the house feels, do your homework on the location, and decide whether you can picture your life working there.
My job is to help you keep your head while your heart starts decorating the living room.
And eventually, we're going to walk into one and think:
“Ohhhh. This might be it.” 🎉