How to be a Savvy Buyer

In January, we laid out our 2024 real estate predictions and got into the upcoming election, buyers waiting for the spring market and lower interest rates, and sellers hoping to capitalize on a hot market. 

Because buyers will soon be hitting the ground in search of the perfect home, we wanted to give you our best tips on how to be a savvy buyer. We’ve been in the industry long enough to know a few tricks that can make all the difference when it comes to such a huge purchase.

One of the first things that will happen when you contact a real estate agent is getting set up on a home search. This will usually look like a daily email with all the new homes for sale in your area and with your criteria (number of bedrooms and bathrooms, etc.). Our best tip is not to let pictures sway you. A great photographer and beautiful staging can make a not-so-great home look like a dream come true and likewise poor quality, hastily taken iphone pics will never capture a home at it’s true potential. If you see a house in your listing alert that might work, we encourage you to see it in person!

When you walk into a listing, keep in mind the superficial things that can easily be changed. Think paint color (it’ll be easy to paint in an empty house before you move in!), wallpaper, carpet (who knows what you’ll find underneath!), light fixtures, door and drawer handles and even kitchen and bathroom appliances. It can be hard to look beyond ugly walls, but bad paint might even work to your advantage since less-savvy buyers than yourself will reject the house without realizing how easy it is to paint.

Let’s talk about things to avoid, most of which can be spotted with a quick google street view search of the home (our best timesaver tip!). Most people don’t want to live on or near a high traffic street or a railroad track, or in the flight pattern of a busy airport. Even if these things don’t bother you, it might be worth considering that you’ll be selling this house down the line and those buyers might not be into the location. 

Having a great agent in your corner can make all the difference, but in the end, you have to be true to yourself and what you do and don’t want. A question we often encourage our buyers to ask themselves is, “do you want a house or this house?” It can be worth waiting for the perfect spot but it’s also just as valid to want a house sooner and be willing to compromise on aspects like number of bathrooms or location.

Ready to get set up on a home search? Reach out to us and we’d be happy to chat.