5 Ways to Get the Most From Your Virtual House-Hunt

If you’re like many people, you’re hanging out a lot closer to home these days – in fact, you might only leave to stretch your legs on a walk around the block or pick up some essentials from the grocery store. But what if you need to buy a home?
The good news: You can safely check out homes from your own living room.
Here’s what you need to know.

If you’re in a position to buy a home right now, here’s how you can successfully hunt for houses from the safety of your sofa:

Learn how to read between the lines on listings
Use virtual tours
Ask about disclosures
Check out the neighborhood
Stay safe when you make your visit

Here’s a closer look at each.

#1. Learn how to read between the lines on listings

You’ll see hundreds of golf course homes for sale in Scottsdale, and they all have great descriptions – but you can still learn to read between the lines. Here are a couple things to look for:

When there are more pictures of the outside and the neighborhood than there are of the interior, the house you’re viewing might need a little TLC.
Something listed as a “fixer-upper” could go either way – it might be a great investment, or it might be a huge resource drain.
When you see terms like “cozy” and “adorable,” those are signals that the space is probably small.

Your agent can help you sort through homes, too, based on what you’re looking for.

#2. Use virtual tours

Lots of homes for sale feature video and virtual tours. Some even have 3-D tours you can scroll through at your own pace. When you find a property you like, ask your agent to see if more footage is available – sometimes there’s extra footage that doesn’t make it into the property video because of space and time restrictions.
You can also ask your agent to walk through a home while using FaceTime, Skype or Facebook Messenger. That way, you can see the house in real-time and ask your agent to show you specific parts.

#3. Ask about disclosures

When you find a home you like, ask your REALTOR® to get ahold of the seller disclosure. That document will tell you about any known problems in the home (really, anything that could affect its value), as well as whether any improvements have been made.

#4. Check out the neighborhood

Zoom in on the neighborhood through Google Earth to see what’s nearby – grocery stores, schools, shopping centers, restaurants and other amenities. When you’re ready, drive through the neighborhood and check it out yourself. You don’t have to go into the neighborhood (many of Arizona’s golf communities are gated) to get a good feel for what’s close by.

#5. Stay safe when you make your visit

When you do visit a home you’re interested in buying (some sellers aren’t allowing in-person tours right now), be careful. Ask your agent to verify that nobody who lives in the home is sick – and then take precautions anyway. Your agent can ask the seller to leave closet doors, cabinets, bathroom doors and drawers open for you to check out. And while you’re there:

Maintain social distancing from your own real estate agent
Wear protective booties if available
Don’t touch anything
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water when you leave

Are You Buying or Selling a Golf Course Home in Scottsdale?

If you’re buying or selling, we are always here to help you. Our agents are taking all the proper precautions to keep our clients safe – and we can help you through every aspect of a real estate transaction, from walking through homes while you’re on Skype or FaceTime to explaining how you can keep your home clean and sanitized for showings.
Call us right now at 480-405-4228 or get in touch with us online to schedule a consultation with a Scottsdale REALTOR now.
While you’re here, you can also check out:

Don Matheson
REALTOR® | Founder
The Matheson Team – RE/MAX Fine Properties
21000 N. Pima Rd., #100, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-405-4228
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