COVID-19 has changed the way we do most things, including buying a house. Sellers are cautious about who they let in their house – reserving times for only serious buyers that already did the preliminary work of viewing the home.
So how can you find a home with little to no contact?
Try these tips.
Look at Photos
The internet makes it easy to get a feel for a home without seeing it in person, starting with photos. Real estate agents are great about taking photos that showcase the house the best and sites like Zillow and Realtor.com have numerous photos for each listing.
Carefully go through them, looking at the home’s features and conditions. Write lists about what you like and don’t like when viewing the photos so you pay careful attention to those areas in the next steps.
Watch Videos
Videos tours are becoming more ‘normal’ today. Many listings already include them, which is great to get even more detail about a home. There’s something about seeing a video versus still pictures.
Using your list from above, pay close attention to the areas that caught your eye. You may get more details from the video, helping you form a decision one way or the other.
Check out the Neighborhood
When you invest in a home, you buy more than the property itself – you invest in a neighborhood too. You can easily check out the neighborhood or even the exterior of the home just by driving by (no contact).
I recommend viewing the home and neighborhood on different days of the week (a couple of weekdays, and at least one weekend day) and varying the times between daytime and nighttime. This gives you a good idea of what the area is like including the noise and traffic level, as well as the interaction between neighbors and the overall atmosphere.
Work with your Real Estate Agent
Once you find homes that interest you, work with your real estate agent. Many agents offer tours via FaceTime or Zoom. They visit the house while talking to you on a video chat. You can ask the agent to look at certain areas, show you certain features or just watch as the agent walks around the home, checking it out as you would in person.
Stay Contactless When Finding a Home
It may seem weird at first, but everyone’s health is of utmost importance even when buying a home. Technology makes it easy to have contactless viewings. When you find a home and are serious about buying it, ask the seller about visiting it. Use common sense while there, including having only one person touch door handles and light switches (preferably the real estate agent), and keep your 6-foot distance. Together, you and your real estate agent can stay healthy and find the perfect home and I’ll be there ready to help you get your financing. With a pre-approval in hand, we can move you through the home buying process quickly once you sign a contract.
