Tips for Virtual House Hunting
Hickory & Catawba Valley Parade of Homes 2020 35
If you’re planning to buy a home but you’re not
quite ready to view several dozen homes in
person, start by looking at homes online. You’ll
be surprised by the number of online showrooms,
photos and even 3D videos available of homes
to help you narrow down your search. Websites
such as Realtor.com, Redfin.com, Trulia.com and
your local custom home builders have detailed
information about home interiors. Below are
a few expert tips to help you organize and find
information to support your virtual house hunt.
Create a List. If you are navigating many websites
or watching hours of home videos online, make
a list of the homes you enjoyed viewing. Keep
careful notes of the listing descriptions. By
creating a note taking system that works for
you, you’ll be able to easily compare properties
when you are ready to narrow down your list.
Don’t forget to make a list of questions about the
property you may have for the realtor.
Ask About Floor Plans. If you’re not physically
walking through the home, it might be challenging
to visualize the space by only scrolling through
photos online. Ask a realtor for a copy of the
home’s floor plan. Once you have an idea of the
layout and size of the space, you’ll be able to get a
better grasp of the photos or videos of the home.
Research the neighborhood. Not all websites
with home listings will give you a sense of the
neighborhood. To help get a complete profile of
the home and make an informed decision about
the area around your home, conduct a general
online search about the neighborhood. You’ll
be surprised the amount of information you can
learn about the activities that happen in the area
or the local school system.
Drive by the home. If you are ready to get out
of the house while maintaining social distancing,
what better way than to drive by the homes you
are considering. You’ll gain a better understanding
of what amenities are nearby and a sense of the
community. If you are not working from home or
will be returning to work soon, try out your work
commute.
For more information on how to find a home in
the Hickory Catawba Valley area, contact Hickory
& Catawba Valley Home Builders Association at
www.hickoryhba.com or 828-322-6482.
/Realtor.com
/Redfin.com
/Trulia.com
/www.hickoryhba.com