Tips for Home Buyers

My brother just bought a home in another state and commented that it was a miserable and stressful process. It doesn’t have to be, and I hate it that he didn’t have a better time!

Home Buyers need to truly PARTNER with their Realtor to make their home buying experience a pleasant and productive journey. Here are a few tips for home buyers shared by a top producing Tulsa Realtor whose production is made up of 80% home buyer representation.

Prioritize considerations. Do your homework on your important search criteria for your next home purchase. Is school district most important to you or is your commute to work most important? Would a longer commute be acceptable if you found the perfect home? Would private schools be an option if you couldn’t find a suitable home in a public school district? Write all of these considerations down and prioritize as best you can. In my brother’s case, he wanted a shorter drive to work and his 2nd highest priority was space – he didn’t want to be close to a neighbor. His wife, on the other hand, wanted to be closer to the University and the actual home updates (granite kitchen, open floor plan) were more important to her.

Consider multiple searches. If you are considering several options or scenarios, have your Realtor set up multiple home searches for you. For example, if you could find the perfect home in the Jenks public school district, have one search dedicated to that school district with the other amenities you desire. If you would consider a private school if you could find any home in the greater Tulsa area with two acres, have a search set up for the needed acreage plus other amenities you desire. My brother did wind up finding a home located in between his work and the University in a subdivision with large lots – and he found a home updated enough to please his wife.

COMMUNICATE with your Realtor. I am guessing that my brother and his wife were sending their Realtor mixed signals. If your home search is becoming frustrating, perhaps it’s time for everyone to sit together, review what you’ve seen, discuss what you didn’t like and did like – then formulate a plan to move forward.

Tips for Home Buyers

Home Buyer Etiquette. Please give your Realtor advance notice of properties you want to see so that he/she can map and make appointments. If you have children and are unable to find a babysitter, please watch your children as you go through other people’s homes. Advise your Realtor if you need to schedule time for lunch, or bring along appropriate snacks for the kids. It is never okay to take your dog along.

Just say NO to Zillow. I understand that many home Buyers enjoy Zillow for the history and maps it provides. The truth is, there is a lot of inaccurate information on Zillow, and it does NOT accurately reflect what is available for sale. A listing may show up on Zillow for months after it is under contract because it is not connected to our MLS (Multiple Listing Service). So, use Zillow if you must, but you’ll likely fall in love with homes already under contract and receive inaccurate Zestimates.

So, partner with your Realtor and by following these few simple guidelines, you can make your home buying journey an exciting and fulfilling experience. If you are ready to shop for a home in the greater Tulsa area, let’s get started shopping together!

Content written and published by Lori Cain.