Home tours:
How it works:
If you are like many people, a home search for you is driving around on weekends searching for open home signs. You then browse the open homes and try to find and view as many as you possibly can from 1p.m. to 4p.m. In your search, you see many that are too small, require too much work, or is too expensive. But you persevere and you find a home you like, then speak with the attending realtor about the possibility of purchasing that home. Sounds like a great way to find a home, right?
The Problems:
A)
Driving around looking for houses can be fun, but it can
also be unproductive. Most people have a targeted price range and desire
certain features, amenities, size, rooms, etc. Because you likely will
visit all open house you see, you will be wasting lots of time looking at homes
that are outside of your targeted criteria. While it is always a good idea
to see the competing properties on the market to ensure you will ultimately pay
the right price for the property you wish to buy, this is only meaningful if you
compare like properties. Another problem is that you are limiting your
search to only open homes. At any given time, there are 10 times as many
properties for sale in the area that are not holding open homes. Any one
of them could be the perfect home for you at the perfect price. Some
homes, at the request of the owner, don't even place For Sale signs on their
property.
B)
Open homes
are almost always held from 1 to 4 p.m. This window is not as large as you
might think and you may not be able to view many homes meeting your needs if
you visit all open homes in the area. The best properties always sell the
fastest. While you are viewing a $799,000 home with a $499,000 budget,
someone else may already be submitting an offer on your would be home.
C)
You find the
home that you wish to pursue and negotiate with the attending realtor to start
what may be the beginning of a transaction.
But is this really wise?
The realtor you are speaking to already has a contractual relationship with the
seller. He is bound by law to protect the seller's interests. If the
realtor is not representing you exclusively, he may be prevented from sharing
certain information with you.
A better way:
A) Look, your time is valuable, and to help you make the most of it, a tour of homes tailored to your preferences (bedrooms, baths, pool, garages, size, location, etc.) would be the most efficient way to view homes. This way, you will not be wasting time viewing homes that simply doesn't suit your needs. Because I have access to resources listing virtually all of the homes on the market, active and sold, I will compile a list of homes that meet your specifications and make all arrangements to show them to you. This tour can be conducted at almost any reasonable time, including days, nights and weekends. You will not be limited to only those homes that conduct open home showings. You will have access to occupied homes and vacant homes as well.