by Anthony Kellum, For New Pittsburgh Courier
In today’s technology age the way many Americans shop for homes has forever changed. Some people have resorted to purchasing their homes site unseen. With websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia and Homes.com (to name a few popular websites) have influenced how people are purchasing their homes. But this begs the question: “Although we can purchase our homes solely online, should we?” A great question to consider, especially since this is arguably the largest purchase most of us will make in our lifetimes.
Not only can you search for your home online, mortgage companies are bursting onto the scene faster than the speed of lightening. Which means you can even get pre-qualified without meeting face-too-face and before you have even found your dream home.
Let’s dive into this concept a bit further. Often the most commonly used websites are those recommended by friends, however unless those friends are in the real estate business you are probably being misguided. The truth of the matter is most homebuyers have not a clue and don’t really know where to find homes for sale. Many people think national websites are the best place to look for homes because they may have a lot of attractive pictures and some even answer frequently asked questions. But the truth of the matter is, national websites may not be your best bet for purchasing your home.
While it’s usually a good idea to hire professionals who are skilled in doing electrical work, plumbing or any number of home or car maintenance that you need. Because if you do it yourself, you might make it worse and a simple problem could end up costing you hundreds if not thousands.
Well, it’s the same concept when buying a home.
The steps in real estate are constantly changing, therefore it is in your best interest to have someone on your team who can explain the many nuances, is well versed in the terminology and can help you get the best deal. Although the option is there for you not to use an agent, if you are unfamiliar with the process you could miss necessary steps to save you money or protect you from unlawful real estate practices. Granted, even if you can do all this upfront work yourself/you still may need the help of an agent to finalize the transaction. Even if you bring in an agent towards the end of the deal, she/he will still charge realtor fees and they earn the same 3-6 percent commission as if you used them from the beginning of your purchasing process, for doing a fraction of the work. (Typically, the seller pays the 3-6 percent commission and they build this fee into the price of their home, which means you might pay more for the house.)
Therefore, when making the decision to buy your home solely online or not, first weight the pros and cons.
Pros of buying house online:
If you know where you want to live you can narrow down your search area. You might want to live in a specific area or school district, or maybe you are drawn to a particular neighborhood. Whatever your criteria you can go online and look at everything from crime rate statistics to population to school district. You can also make comparisons to similar neighborhoods.
You can browse the houses where and whenever you desire online. You do not have to communicate regularly with a real estate agent to see what’s new on the market or what has recently sold in the neighborhood(s) you are interested in moving.
Two important things you do not want to waste are: money and time. So, the economy is important, online shopping can help you decide which houses are worth looking at in person.
Cons of buying a house online:
Online shopping can be a great starting point, but chances are it won’t tell you everything you need to know so, buyers beware. Looking at a house in person allows you to roam around freely in the house and so you get a feel for the house and the neighborhood.
When you start out working with an agent you can get personal insight that you can’t get with a website. Although the photos may look amazing on the site, the personal touch from an agent may tip you on zone changes, or potential problems or even/incompatible issues with your neighbors.
Visualizing your future in your home can be challenging if you only view it online. It’s important to stand in the house and look out of the windows, test the cabinets, doors, garbage disposal, etc. prior to buying your home. Checking out a home in person gives you a good idea whether it’s the right fit for you and your family.
Sometimes unethical people will place false advertisements to get your personal information. You must be very careful of scams. Never provide personal or financial information online.
Basically, the Internet is a great resource when purchasing your home and can make the process a tad bit easier. But use it as a tool and not your only way to make your buying decision. It’s a good idea to use an integrated buying process (using several sources) to make your final purchasing decision.
Do it—not everyone will. The only question is: will you?” Gary W. Keller
(Contact Anthony O. Kellum at 248-599-1624.)
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