Make Long Distance Home Buying Easier With The Right Real Estate Agent!

While the internet has made it possible to shop for just about anything, including real estate online, long distance home shopping is still filled with risks and difficulties that home buyers rarely face when shopping for a home within their immediate area.

Deciding which shirt or set of golf clubs to buy online is often stressful enough, but the thought of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for a home that hasn't been viewed in person, is likely to cause most buyers to panic. If work, family or personal issues are causing you to contemplate a cross-country move, here is an action plan that will help succeed! 

Find the Right Real Estate Professional

Hiring the right real estate agent is important in any home buying or selling scenario, but for the long distance buyer this is a critical decision. The agent you ultimately select should: 

• be a buyer's agent, hyper-focused on protecting your interests over any others
• be successful, with a track record of successfully closed sales in the area you are considering
• be responsive and technologically adept, ensuring you get prompt answers when you need them, via voice, email and text and capable of providing you with digital images and documentation, as needed
• be a student of their local market, giving them the ability to offer you a deeper insight into the area, including upcoming changes and the history of the area

Develop Criteria to Help Your Real Estate Agent Assist You in Narrowing the Field

By providing your real estate agent with a detailed list of the features you hope to find in your new home, as well as the factors that would be unacceptable, you can assist them in helping you narrow the field of possibilities. Remember to note criteria such as:

• school preferences
• neighborhood preferences
• proximity to travel choices, such as airports or mass transit
• proximity to work, school, shopping and recreational or entertainment activities
• home features, room sizes, square footage, garage or parking spaces and special needs or desires, such as fireplaces, main floor master suites, etc. 

Leverage Your Real Estate Agent's Knowledge of the Area

As you communicate with your real estate agent to develop the list of possible homes, remember that they live and work in the area to which you are relocating and will be able to offer you detailed insight about what to expect in terms of lifestyle.

For instance, they can help you understand what the traffic is like during commute times, what to expect from seasonal weather, cost of living information and more. In addition, local agents can offer historical details about the area, as well as information about any changes or development in the works that might affect your decision to purchase a particular home. Your local agent will also know about market-specific customs that can help in negotiating the best deal.

Have Your Real Estate Agent Arrange Viewing Tours Before Making an Offer

Once you have chosen a selection of homes that both you and your real estate agent feel are good candidates, work with them to schedule a quick viewing trip to see them. Most agents will be more than pleased to help you schedule this during a weekend or time that will work with your schedule. 

If you cannot get away to view homes in person, ask your agent to show the homes to a friend, relative or trusted coworker who may live nearby. If no other options are available, your agent may be able to help you take a tour in real time using smart phones or tablets to provide video images as they view the home. This will allow you to ask questions and point out things you like or do not like. 

Remember that the best real estate agents are there to help ensure you find the home that fits your needs and your budget. By working together to form a good plan, they will be able to be your eyes and ears throughout your successful home buying experience.