For some people, looking at open houses is a fun, leisure-time activity. However, when you’re relocating to Winchester VA, a much more business-like approach is appropriate. You may have to complete your Winchester VA research and come to a decision in the space of one or two weekends.

The secret to a successful house-hunting trip to Winchester VA is to be as informed and organized as possible before you go so you can have a focused and productive trip. Here are some tips:

1. Essential house requirements: Make a list of the essentials you want in a home, e.g,: number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, square footage, age of house, style, number of floors, garage, lot size


2. Essential neighborhood requirements: Make a list of the critical requirements for your new neighborhood, e.g.,: commuting time to work, school, requirements, community demographics (age, education, lifestyle), population density (urban, suburban, rural), community institutions that are important to you (being close to entertainment, places of worship or other amenities)


3. City map: Obtain a map of your new city, and try to become as familiar with it as you can. Neighborhood research: Get an idea of which neighborhoods are likely to meet your requirements. If you can, talk with other people who already live in your new city.

Price range: Determine what price range of homes you want to look at. Do some research to find out what house prices are like in the area you’re moving to. It is important to arrive on your house-hunting trip with a realistic expectation of what you will need to spend in order to afford a home in a neighborhood that meets your requirements.

Real estate agent: Interview real estate agents by phone before you make your trip. Decide on an agent and work with that agent to plan your trip. Reality check: Make sure that the real estate agent understands your neighborhood requirements and your price range and that your agent believes that your price range is realistic.

Priced to sell: Tell your agent that you only want to look at houses that are priced to sell. Some home sellers over-price their listings. You don’t want to waste time or confuse yourself by looking at houses with unrealistic asking prices. Checklists and notes: When you go on your house-hunting trip, take along your lists of essential house and neighborhood requirements, your map, your research notes concerning communities (schools, amenities, etc.) and a house-hunting checklist. This checklist is a list of key features of houses, so that you can take organized notes on every house that you visit. You can use the map to mark locations of houses. With good planning and the right real estate agent, you can accomplish a lot on your house-hunting trip.

Posted by Beth Paisley on November 19, 2009 at 11:26 AM

About Beth Paisley
Let me tell you something about me. First I have 2 sons, Joe and Matt. I currently breed and own Paso Fino horse and enjoy trail riding. I also have a B.S. in Business Adminstration with a concentration in management and marketing. I am a full time realtor with a goal of helping you make "good decisions". Here you will find a wide variety of useful information and resources designed to help you buy or sell a home more effectively in the Winchester, Martinsburg, Charles Town and Stephen City areas. From information on the local community, to advice about finding a mortgage or preparing your home to sell, it's all available here on my web site. You can also search for your ideal home by viewing current listings with detailed descriptions and photos. Or you can get help determining the value of your home by requesting a report that includes the prices of similar homes that recently sold or are currently for sale in the Winchester, Martinsburg, Charles Town Stephens City areas. So whether you're buying or selling, feel free to contact me and I will be happy to help you with all your real estate needs.




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