Starting your home search? Follow these seven tips to make sure your home search is set up for success.

When it comes to home searching, there is no shortage of tools out there. Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com are all quick and easy options–just to name a few. But how do you efficiently narrow in on your home search? How do you make sure you are seeing homes that fit your search criteria before anyone else in the market? How do you know if a home’s list price is a fair price to pay? 

These are all important questions to consider as you think about purchasing your first home or consider selling your current one to make a move. Here are some tips to help you get started on your home search in the greater Indianapolis area. 

1. Utilize a search platform that can be personalized. While many search platforms like Zillow allow you to set general search criteria and filter the results, you can get a leg up over other buyers in the market by using a search platform that can be personalized specifically to you. At Neighbors Home team, we set up every client with a customized home search set specifically for them that they can access right on their smartphone through an app. The app makes it super easy to favorite houses and communicate directly with your Neighbors Home Team realtor. Each time you favorite a property or make a comment, your realtor can interact with you in real time to set up a showing that day!

2. Start broad and narrow in. It is important to have some initial conversations with your realtor to define what you are looking for. We recommend starting broad and then honing in your search with your realtor as you go on your first couple of showings! Things you like in a home or layout might surprise you! Casting the net wide and honing things over time is super helpful to ensure that you aren’t passing over something that could be a great fit for you and your family. 

3. Consider your budget. Don’t know what your max budget is or what you can afford? This is where our years of expertise come in. We can connect you to our network of trusted lenders and help you calculate what your monthly mortgage payments will be based on a home’s purchase price, current interest rate, etc. Don’t worry if this information isn’t something you know as you consider getting started with a realtor…which leads us to our next tip. 

4. Don’t let the numbers scare you. Purchasing a home is one of the largest decisions most of us will make in our lifetimes. Purchasing a home, especially if it is your first one, can feel overwhelming. We’re here to help answer any questions you may have and want to make the experience as smooth and stress free as possible. We want you to have fun on showings with us as we walk through homes and as you imagine the possibilities! When it comes to the numbers, we will sit down with you to discuss your financing options and what you can afford based on your income. What you might be able to purchase may surprise you! Many of our clients are paying less on their mortgage than they were paying in rent prior to working with us. 

5. Weigh the amount of work you feel comfortable putting into a home. Whether you are feeling like channeling your inner Chip and Jojo or are looking for something turnkey, we can help you find and purchase the right property for you with the right amount of work. Our team of realtors have helped our clients purchase everything from a downtown condo steps away from Bankers Life to a complete gut job that looked unrecognizable at the end of the renovation. We can help you assess your level of comfortability when it comes to handyman projects. We can also provide you with contractor contacts and price quotes if you are looking to update a home’s cosmetics or take things full fixer-upper! 

6. Use an experienced realtor who can offer you first access. In today’s market, speed is the name of the game. Buyers that are prepared to walk through a home in the first two days of it being listed on the market have the best chance of getting an offer accepted. Our team of realtors can show you properties the day they come on the market and are prepared to help you write an offer if a home is the right fit! In addition, our team gets exclusive access to Compass listings that are only visible to clients who have downloaded our app. When you are set up on a home search with Neighbors Home Team, you are able to view homes before they are even listed on the MLS (central Indiana’s syndicated listing platform.) Compass listings often appear on the app well before they show up on Zillow or Trulia. You can truly have the first look at homes before other buyers even know it’s for sale! 

7. Know that using a qualified and experienced buyer’s agent to purchase your home comes at no cost to you! Many buyer clients wonder how much it costs to use us as their real estate agent. The short answer is nothing! When you use a buyer’s agent to help you purchase a home, both the buyer and seller agent get paid by the seller of the home at the time of closing. Our job is to help you find your perfect home, no matter what your budget is. Not only can a buyer’s agent help you purchase your home, but we can also recommend qualified vendors, mortgage lenders, trusted home inspection companies, and more to help you through the process! 

Consider setting up your home search with a realtor at Neighbors Home Team. Our team of licensed Indiana real estate agents is here to make sure each move is a smooth and successful one using our transaction expertise, proven negotiation strategy, and leading market knowledge of greater Indianapolis. At Neighbors Home Team, we are on a mission to help our clients find the perfect place to call home. We’re here to be a resource in any and every way possible, and help provide the right guidance for one of life’s biggest decisions. Contact us today to get started setting up your personalized home search.