Steps to Buying a New Home Virtually
S
CAROL MORGAN, FOUNDER & PRESIDENT, DENIM MARKETING
pring is the time to start searching for a new home, and finding a home today is easier than ever. If you are worried about being exposed to COVID-19 (coronavirus), and not yet ready to leave home, then don’t worry, it is easy to search for your dream home from the comfort of your current residence. The bulk of the new home search can be completed online before getting in the car and looking in person. Here are steps for getting started.
Hire an agent. Depending on your level of comfort with the homebuying process, you probably want to work with a buyer’s agent. Your agent will act as a sounding board while walking you through the process and answering questions.
Get prequalified for a home loan.
Knowing how much home you can comfortably afford is crucial. Understanding this can steer the search in the right direction and price point. Most mortgage
companies and banks can complete this step 100% virtually.
Determine where you want to live.
Pick the city, county, and maybe even the neighborhood that fits your lifestyle and budget. This includes thinking about what community amenities are musthaves. Does your family want access to a neighborhood pool and walking trails? Or will your outdoor fireplace be enough of an amenity combined with the nature preserve down the street?
Narrow your search to a specific builder, community, and home.
Look at the home builder’s website and
start selecting communities and floor plans. Review videos of communities and homes. Take time to dig into renderings and floor plans. Once you have narrowed the field to a few choices, review all interior selections and options to determine which ones you like and what is in your budget. Some builders offer extensive options, and others offer packages. “Verify that they have options or don’t have options,” Kevin Weitzel, business development director for Outhouse (a virtual reality company), said. “Most builders with inventory homes can offer a realistic view of what they offer via virtual reality tours. If you are working with a custom builder, you need to know what those options are and the costs.”
Take a virtual tour. ‘Walk’ through the homes that interest you the most via Matterport or other virtual reality technology. As you walk through them online, think of how that feels to you and how the home flows, as well as how you’d live in it. Some builders offer interactive floor plans with space planning and the ability to add furniture. This is an excellent way to see if that king-sized bed fits or determine which room works best as a home office. Use live chat. As you narrow your
choices to the perfect home, reach out with your questions to each builder through the live chat on their website. Many builders employ an online sales counselor who knows the ins and outs of each community and is familiar with all the home plans. They can answer your questions about homes, schools, and nearby amenities, as well as tell you about any promotions or incentives that may apply.
Schedule a tour with the agent on site. Now that the search is narrowed Most of the initial work in searching for a new home can be done online. 16
Columbia Homes Magazine | Summer 2020 | biacolumbia.com
to just a few homes, reach out to the respective community agent and schedule
