This weekend I am taking a couple out looking at houses.  In two days we’ll cover a lot of ground as we have over 30 homes on our list that appear, on paper at least, to meet most of their “must have’s.”  In this type of scenario, with so many on our showing itinerary, we may find several that seem to be a perfect fit. If this happens, how do you decide which home to pursue and which one(s) to leave behind?

It’s not a hard solution, but one I’ve found quite effective with my clients over the years. Develop a ‘pros and cons’ list. In truth, the list works best for small family groups – singles and couples – as the more members of a family there are, the more compromises as a group you’ll no doubt need to make.

Location, Location, and Location some more ..

Since location normally is the most important factor in determining a home’s market value, let’s start here to determine if location also offers a functional value to you.

If you have children, choosing between neighborhoods is sometimes a factor that’s made a bit easier. Many with kids want a neighborhood with other children and a reasonably close proximity to the best schools, along with parks and recreation. These many times will top the list within the decision-making process.

Other homebuyers desire to go deeper in their due diligence. For example, what do you know about the neighbors? It is true that by looking at how well the neighbors keep up the exterior of their home and yards will tell you a great deal about them, but a trip through each neighborhood of interest during different parts of the week and especially during the evening hours when kids are home from school and after the work day will tell you even more about whether this is the community for you. Depending on when you do your drive-by you may be lucky enough to hear or see something that you’d find undesirable — such as that yapping dog, rooster crowing from behind the neighbors house or loud music — that will knock the home out of consideration.

I’d definitely suggesting using schooldigger.com and greatschools.org to research the local schools. You may not be thinking about future value right now, but that doesn’t lessen its importance. My wife, for example, tells me every time we’ve bought a house that before we even close, I’m thinking about “resale” value.  That’s because homes near quality – high rated – schools hold their value better than those near poor-performing schools. Not just that, they appreciate more in value too!

Additional considerations about a homes’ location include:

• Commute time to the office.
• Is the neighborhood near amenities you like to frequent?
• If homes in one neighborhood are selling faster and at a higher value than the others, make note of that.
• If you’re concerned about crime, contact local law enforcement with questions.

To read this Blog post in its entirety, find it on the FindmyhomeGA Blog here!