By Brian McKay
One of the most daunting things in life is moving. Believe it or not, it is ranked the third most stressful thing one can experience in life. Moving to a new city can create a host of new considerations that can ratchet that stress up even more.
Photo courtesy of Flickr
Finding the right home and knowing it is waiting for you to move into can be a huge relief. Moving to a city of which you might know little, means a need for good guidance in order to match the lifestyle you want to have in a new environment. Schools, commute times, living space, outdoor activities, proximity to shopping and entertainment options, are all considerations that must be considered. Finding the right home can be even more challenging when you have limited time to search in the new city.
Ready to get moving?
zenruption decided to do the work of finding the most important tips to make your move easier and help you find the best new home.
The most important asset you can have when starting the search for a new home is a great realtor. Finding a realtor that specializes in helping those new to the area is essential to make sure everything is done right.
So… we went out and found on of the premier realtors in assisting those relocating and asked her for her tips. Greta Mohr is a specialists in relocation to the Boise, Idaho area and we thank her for helping us compile this list of tips.
Greta Mohr
Get as Much Information as Possible
Before even considering a visit to your new city, it pays to have an idea of home type, prices and some specific homes to check out. A good realtor will ask questions to get a basic idea of what types of areas and homes would be a fit. Greta told us that she makes sure all of her sellers have HDR interior photography, exterior drone footage and even Matterport 3D renderings of the home done by PureView Drone Imaging, so that a remote buyer has a true feel for the property. When searching for homes, she requests that the seller’s agent provide as much imaging and information as possible.
Why does she advocate going this in depth with imagery. “I don’t want a buyer coming into town to look at properties that aren’t what they thought they were from the initial images. Our goal is to find the right place, not waste time looking at all of the wrong ones. If needed, I’ll even have services go get better footage for my out of state client.”, according to Greta.
Get a Lay of the Land
A first visit should involve getting a lay of the land and pin pointing the desirable areas of your new city. According to Greta, “I find that one of the most important things I do is give a tour of the city and discover what is important to my clients for the area they relocate to. It’s just as important to point out the nearby coffee shop and show recreational areas as it is showing the home itself.”
A great realtor gets to know their customer and their lifestyle. Developing personal knowledge of a client and what matters to them is more important than just bombarding a client with a ton of listings.
See the Property at Different Times of Day
Greta says, “My clients are best served not just from seeing the property during the day but also seeing the property and surrounding area at night. It gives them a true feel of the area.”
An area might reflect the calmness a buyer wants during midday and be totally different during commute times. Make sure that your perfect house also reflects the right feel around it during different times of day.
If possible, it can also be worthwhile to experience the area on both a weekday and the weekend.
Know Thy Neighbor
Greta makes sure to investigate the surrounding area when she takes a client out to look at properties. As a realtor, it is easy for her to identify properties that are rentals or lacking in upkeep. If properties are not properly maintained in the area, it could impact the value of the home on down the line.
Take a Walk
Walking a neighborhood is essential to getting the lowdown. Asking questions of the people in that neighborhood can reveal a wealth of information about the area. Realtors, such Greta, make it a point to walk the neighborhood with their customers and ask the right questions.
“If you really want to find out about a neighborhood, it is great to take a walk and get all of the good and bad gossip. Meeting potential neighbors and hearing their stories can tell you a lot.”, says Greta.
Check Zoning
It might be a residential area currently but has there been zoning for mixed use or commercial use in the area? It’s always great to know that a night club won’t go in behind you in five years. This is something your realtor is always happy to assist with.
Know the Stats
Your realtor can show you crime statistics, traffic stats, average emergency response times and vital information regarding things like flood hazard. Rely on them. The more armed you are with such things, the fewer potential surprises you need to confront in the future.
Once you’ve found the right house you have cleared the biggest hurdle to relocating to a new city. Packing everything with a vision of the great house and neighborhood awaiting you can make all the difference.
Enjoy your new home and your new city!