Home Shopping in a COVID-19 World

HOME SHOPPING IN A COVID-19 WORLD

-The digital buyer-

Choosing a home in a new market

Moving to a new city is hard enough, add moving during a pandemic and it’s downright overwhelming. But rest assured this blog will give you a few tips to make a successful and educated move. Step one is hiring the RIGHT agent. In metro Atlanta there are thousands of agents to choose from. But like a good car, it’s hard to find the right one and you get what you pay for. Realtors are not free! Do not believe the adds, choosing a Realtor that knows their value and their community will save you thousands of dollars and countless headaches. All Realtor’s are not created equal. Thankfully, Red Barn has an amazing group of agents committed to putting the client first in ALL we do. Your goals are our goals, and we are invested in our communities in order to provide to optimum buying experience. I would love to help you transition as a true Georgia Native!

Typically, you have some idea of the neighborhood you want to be in or which local school you want your children to attend. However, with a long-distance home purchase, especially if you’re moving to a totally new area, you may not know where to start searching for a home. Fortunately, your real estate agent in the new market can offer some guidance, pointing you to all the right resources to find information crucial to choosing the right community.

There are a variety of factors to take into account when choosing your new neighborhood. Your search may be based on any of the following:

Commute-based

You may want to choose your new neighborhood based on your commute. If you are not going to be working from home, it may be important for you to find a residential neighborhood that’s conveniently close to your new office. If public transportation or commuter rail is popular in your new area, you may want to live near a station for additional time-saving convenience.

Amenities-based

Alternatively, amenities may be at the top of the list for your new home search. You may be focused on recreational options, parks, or other outdoor areas. You may want to live near the best shopping, dining, and nightlife in your new city. If you’re moving to a resort area, you may be more focused on a waterfront location or a neighborhood that includes amenities like swim, tennis, and golf.

School-based

If you have young children, you may be primarily concerned with searching for your new home by evaluating the schools in the area. There are many online resources that rate schools according to performance and assessment standards. However what makes a good school can vary from place to place and from family to family. Decide what criteria are most important to you and your family—academics, clubs, arts, sports, or other factors—and make your decision accordingly.

 Home Inspection from a distance

You may be concerned at the idea of having a home inspection without your participation. However, rest assured that your real estate agent is more than willing to attend the inspection on your behalf. You may want to send along some questions for your agent to ask the inspector or you may want to request a video chat to allow you to ask those questions yourself. If you see anything on the inspection report that raises a red flag, ask for a secondary, specialty inspection in order to ensure that everything in your new home has been thoroughly evaluated. One of the things that I am most proud of is my knowledge of construction, design, and home improvement. Being a local business owner not just in Real Estate but also Maddox Mechanical Services, has given me a deeper knowledge of what to look out for in a home inspection. I use this knowledge to be able to pick out big concerns and to ease you mind on minor issues that can be addressed at a later time. 

Moving can be scary but we ensure it will be a successful transition by equipping you with all you need to succeed.