Too many choices - this is the problem buyers face today. Dozens upon dozens of homes that fit your general criteria may sound appealing at first. But having too many homes to choose from and viewing too many homes makes house hunting quickly become an overwhelming chore for a buyer.
When working with buyers, I guide them in continually focusing and refining their home search. That way, we spend our valuable time viewing only the very best homes for them. Ultimately, the only thing that matters in a home search is finding a great home at a great value. Here’s how we do it:
Price It’s never necessary for a buyer to max out on their purchase price. I am a firm believer in this. There are great homes to be had at all price levels and I advise buyers to select a great home that they can afford. There’s nothing good about having an incredible home and an empty wallet. Don’t push the upper limits of your price range – sticking to the bottom or middle of your price range will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.
Location Where do you want to be? East metro Orlando is probably the biggest “neighborhood” in the city. East Orlando is expansive and encompasses hundreds of subdivisions. As important as price, location needs to be decided up front. Do you want to be within five miles of work, within a certain school zone or near family? Even better - select the specific subdivisions you can see yourself living in.
Short Sales In Or Out? Short sales represent the bulk of homes available today. As a buyer, are you prepared to give a short sale offer the time and patience required? Don’t expect an answer back within a couple of days like you would with a “normal” sale. Responses to short sale offers take much time and patience – I’ve recently seen a two week response, but a longer wait is more typical. In my experience, the average homebuyer doesn’t have the patience to wait for a response. For those folks, I advise to eliminate short sales from their home search.
Amenities You want a pool, but could you live without one? You want a three car garage, but could you live with two? You want a new home, but could you live with a 10-year-old home? You want four bedrooms, but could you live with three? First-time buyers are especially demanding and expect every item on their wish list without exception. But an experienced buyer knows that they will likely find just a few items on their wish list and can work on the home once they move in.
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