House hunting is an exciting part of the home buying process. Each home you visit could be somewhere that you will build memories for the rest of your life. Hi I’m Michele Irizarry, CEO and Broker of Shore Prime Properties. For decades we have helped people to take that exciting step of finding their new homes for their families. We are so passionate about it that we post weekly content geared towards home buyers and home sellers. Please like and follow Shore Prime Properties on LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook to stay up to date. Before you start your house hunting expedition, it’s important to make sure that you’re prepared to make the most of the experience. Today we will discuss how to stay organized to help you find your next new home.
Notepad and Pen
While you may have a great memory, it’s easy to get confused if you’re looking at multiple homes in one day. Bringing a notepad with a pen or pencil allows you to take notes on each house you view including on things that you liked and disliked and you can even sketch the floor plan. You don’t have to be an artist to draw a floor plan. Just start at the front door and draw boxes for each room marking the location of windows, doors and stairs. If you don’t feel like bringing a notepad, take notes digitally on your phone. By jotting down your notes you’ll be ready for a deep dive if you come back for another view.
Checklist
If there are certain features that you’re searching for in a home, it’s helpful to create a checklist beforehand. Whether you want a certain number of bathrooms or a large backyard it’s helpful to have everything that your household is looking for in a new home in front of you. After you’re done house hunting for the day this is an easy way to separate homes that you’ll want to see again from the homes that don’t fit your needs or wants.
Listings
If you know the properties you plan to visit during your house hunting trip you can bring along the online listings of the homes. By doing so you’ll have a rundown of everything you need to know about the home from when it was built to how many square feet it is. Having this info readily available may reduce the number of notes you have to take giving you time to focus on features not in the listing that are particularly important to you.
Camera or Phone
You may have seen numerous photos of the home online before visiting the property but you’ll likely want to grab a few pictures of things that you didn’t see before. These may include small details like crown molding or flaws like a crack in the basement wall. If you’re taking notes you can match the photos to the things you wrote down. However speak to your agent before taking photos in a home because you are in someone else’s home and you should respect their privacy. So posting these photos is definitely not advised.
Measuring Tape
Whether it’s a sectional sofa or a grand piano you may have large or oddly shaped items that you’ll be moving into your next home. By bringing a measuring tape along and the item’s dimensions you’ll have an idea how your belongings will fit into the home. Even if you think your items will fit it’s better to make sure. This won’t be needed for every house but if you think it’s a contender, measure the space.
Flashlight
If you want a better look at a dimly lit area like an attic crawl space or basement a small flashlight can come in handy. While your phone has a built-in flashlight it is helpful to bring a separate flashlight that has more power.
Comfortable Shoes
It gets tiring going from house to house so wear shoes you’re comfortable walking around in. You may also be required to take your shoes off before going into some homes so make sure they’re easy to remove. Don’t forget socks so you’re not walking around a stranger’s home in bare feet.
Preparation is key when you’re searching for your next home so use this checklist to your advantage to make your house hunt a successful one. If you have any questions about getting your home search started feel free to reach out to us here at Shore Prime Properties. I’m Michele Irizarry selling prime real estate at the Jersey Shore.
