Uncategorized November 12, 2021

Can You Buy a Home Virtually?

As we continue to see unprecedented activity in the real estate market, buyers
often find they are too late to offer on recently listed homes. For the serious
homebuyer, this can be frustrating, often causing them to make last-minute plans
to run out and view homes, interfering with work and home life.
As employees and businesses have shifted to virtual methods of meetings and
interaction, it’s natural for real estate to make the leap as well. Yet, buying a
home completely virtual demands a unique approach. It’s not enough to simply
view a home tour on the listing or Skype walk-through with the agent.
Fortunately, with the right approach, it is possible to buy completely virtually and
still get the right information to make the best decision for a new home. Here are
a few tips to help:
• Virtual Tour – A virtual tour should be a live event with an onsite agent;
yours or the sellers. Ask the agent to open closets and storage and look up
and down. Zoom in on areas of concern and make lots of notes for
questions.
• Ask the Right Questions – All homebuyers need to ask the important
questions and with virtual tours, it’s even more so. Ask about the age of the
roof and HVAC systems. Look under cabinets for water damage and ask to
see anything listed in disclosures. Remember the things that can’t be seen
in a virtual tour, such as street noise or over-the-fence issues; don’t be
afraid to ask.
• Be Prepared to Buy – Whether viewing the home virtually or in person, a
serious buyer must be ready to move quickly in this market. Financing and
pre-approval letters should already be in place before seeing homes.
It might be intimidating to consider buying a home virtually, but the tools are
available. In this competitive market and with the global health concerns still very
real, homebuyers can buy their next home virtually by being prepared and
following a few simple tips.