Many industries have efficiently adapted to remotely conducting business, and real estate is one of them! Buying a house remotely can be very convenient as it can save valuable time. Buying a home virtually has become more common than you may think. No matter where you may be right now or what you’re looking for in a house, there’s a procedure you can follow to conduct the transaction virtually. Video conferencing, virtual tours, and walkthroughs along with wire transfers and e-signatures made the process of buying a house from afar simpler and easier than ever. If you want to use that advantage, here are a few tips on how to buy a house remotely.
Find an experienced local agent
When you’re buying a house remotely, an experienced real estate agent is your best asset. An agent who knows and understands the local market and the current situation with property values should be your guide for:
Home browsing
Virtual showings
Home inspections
Virtual closing
You can find a good agent through a referral from a trusted person, such as a family member, friend, or colleague.
Did you know? We are your experts on the ground in New York City, we can connect you with the best agents Nationwide thanks to our extensive network of Compass Agents. No matter where you are looking to purchase your next property, let us guide you in the right direction.
Determine what you want
Find a local agent with good referrals and experience in remote sales.
It’s crucial to know what you want and what you do not want when purchasing a home. So, be clear when you make a wish list and discuss it with your real estate agent. Define your must-haves and nice-to-haves, and you’ll significantly narrow down the choice of properties. Clarify your preferences around:
Location
Home size
Property type
Home condition
Amenities, such as smart home technology features, energy-efficient appliances, etc.
Also, make sure to mention what your dealbreakers are. Be very direct when explaining what you’re looking for in a home, so your agent can understand your priorities and preferences and find only homes worth pursuing and those that match your criteria.
Understand the market
Buying a house remotely doesn’t mean you don’t need to be competitive. The main thing you need to check with your real estate agent is whether the market you’re considering buying a house in is a buyer’s market or a seller’s market. There is an extensive inventory of available homes and fewer buyers looking at them in a buyer’s market. If that’s the case, you will have more flexibility and more time to learn about a property before deciding if you want to put in a bid. On the other hand, there are seller’s markets, where there is more competition, and the inventory of homes is much smaller. That means that buyers need to act fast if they’re really interested in sealing the deal.
When you're buying a house remotely you need to understand the local market and current real estate trends.
Tour homes virtually
Your agent should schedule a virtual showing for the properties that you like. Use the video call as an opportunity to see the house up close, pay attention to details and ask any important questions that you might have. Even though touring a property over a screen isn’t the same as being there, it’s still very valuable. It can even be a make-or-break factor. That’s why you need to ensure that you’re not working with the wrong real estate agent, but a reliable one whose opinion you’ll trust. It’s also essential to establish clear and easy communication with them. They will help you decide whether a particular property is a good fit or not.
Make an offer
Once you find a house that speaks to you, you can move on to paperwork. Luckily, all steps of making, adjusting, and accepting an offer can be done remotely. We handle all the aspects of submitting your offering, helping you negotiate the best deal possible knowing
Have a home inspection
A home inspection is always a good idea, especially when buying remotely. A qualified home inspector will check the specifics of a property and find out if there are any significant issues. Your real estate agent can attend the inspection with you on a video call. The inspector and agent are there to work on your behalf, so you don’t have to deal with any unwelcome surprises after closing the purchase.
Appraise and close easily
You and your agent don’t need to be present for the appraisal. When it comes to the closing, digital signatures are as valid as physical ones. You can sign all closing documents virtually, and they will all be legitimate. Closings are done online in many cases, so you being far away won’t make any difference.
E-signatures have made the home buying process much easier.
Relocate to your new home stress-free
When you’ve gone through all previous steps, it’s finally time to organize a relocation to your new home. It would help if you decluttered your former home before you even start packing. Don’t bring any broken, damaged, or rarely used items into your new home to avoid creating a mess right away. To pack your belongings quickly and easily, you can contact Capital City Bins NYC. That’s where you’ll find quality moving bins as well as other moving supplies that will help you pack in no time. Then you need to organize a transfer of your belongings and your trip to the new home.
Organize your new space like a pro
Once you and your items safely arrive at the new house, it’s time for unpacking, decorating, and making your new place look and feel like home. That process requires some time but, in the end, it will all be worth it.
Store your items wisely
Everybody’s goal is to live in a highly functional, organized, tidy, and cozy home. To reach that ideal, it’s crucial to use every inch of space. If you’re creative, there are many ways to create hidden storage or multifunctional storage areas. It’s always a good idea to use shelves, storage bins, sofa storage, spaces under the bed, etc. If there’s no clutter lying around, your home will look tidy from the very start, and that will positively affect your mood.
Final thoughts
When you know what to expect and what steps to take, buying a house remotely isn’t complicated at all, especially when you have a reliable real estate agent by your side.