Moving is never easy, but when it’s a long-distance move, it can be even harder. Finding the perfect new home can be one of the biggest challenges you face. It’s much harder to feel confident buying a home you may never have seen in person before. Fortunately, there are some things you can do that will make finding the perfect new home easier, even when it’s a long-distance move.
Determine Your Home Needs
Determine what your home needs are so you can tell your real estate agent and so that you have a checklist to keep in mind when you’re looking at listings on your own. When you’re looking at new homes, you should already know some basic specifications you need.
For example, how many bedrooms will you need? Do you want a garage? Does the area you’re considering have easy access to public transportation, shopping, and entertainment options? Do you want a lot of land, or would you prefer something smaller? You have a lot of options to consider and decisions to make when it comes to buying a new house. You can make the process easier by narrowing down your options and having a clear checklist of needs and wants for your new house.
Hire a Real Estate Agent
You might be able to go it alone when you’re house-hunting in familiar territory, but when you’re moving long-distance, you need an accessible, real estate agent to help you find new homes for sale. Look for one with excellent reviews, experience, and knowledge with the area you’re moving to. They should also be responsive to your calls and emails and willing to immediately go look at homes when they come on the market to see if they meet your needs.
Do Your Own Research
Your agent can only do so much. In the end, this is going to be YOUR home. Do some research on the area you’re planning to move to. Use guide books, maps, and websites to learn about crime rates, schools, job markets, and the housing market itself. This will help you when your real estate agent presents you with home options. It will also help you tell your agent where to look for homes that will best meet your needs.
Plan a Visit
Before your big move, if you can plan even a short visit to your new area, it can make a huge difference in your purchasing decisions. Even something as short as a long weekend can allow your agent to gather several homes for you to tour quickly. You should also dine out, explore entertainment options, and check out the area as a whole so you have a better feel for the area. This will help with your decision about where to move and what kind of house to purchase.
Be Open-Minded
You might be very certain about the type of house you want or the neighborhood you want to live in, but it’s best to keep an open mind. You’ll find many more options, some even better than what you have in mind, if you’re willing to expand your horizons. Your agent will have more flexibility too, so they can give you more houses to choose from within your budget.
A long-distance move is never simple. Finding the right home for you when you’re not there to look at it yourself can be tricky, but with some careful planning, clear communication, and full understanding of your needs, you can make it easier for yourself and your family. And once you’re living in your beautiful new home, you’ll be able to relax knowing you found just what you were looking for.
