Lets get started on finding that home.
Today we're going to talk about getting started on the Internet. That's where over 80% of you will start your search, and if you know how to navigate all the resources that are available, you'll simply enjoy the process more, learn faster, be smarter, and buy with more confidence.
You probably know that buying a home by looking at information about the homes that are for sale in the area you want is a really smart way to get started. What you may not know is where to look, what to look for, and how to match up the information that's on the Internet with the knowledge of an experienced Realtor, Lendor, Inspector, Escrow and Title person.
So, let's get going. First, let's understand and talk a bit about transparency. That's a buzz word for the way all of us want to do business today. It means that the best Internet sites will be those that let YOU decide what information is important to YOU, not push or pull you to information that vendors, sellers or other businesses want you to utilize before, during and after you buy your home. All good sites (and their are plenty of them!) have in common the purpose of giving you information that you want, and how you want it.
Go to my website, and what you'll see is the basic information you'll need to get started. Let me say that most good real estate agents and companies have web sites that provide information in various styles and formats. Take me, for instance. While DonReedy.Net is my "base" site, providing all you'll need to find an area, select criteria about the home you want, set up searches and be contacted ONLY if you want, I also write and provide information on this blog, and on my companion site Buy Half A House. The difference is worth noting. Using my sites as examples, here's what to look for.
Can you "Search for properties?" This is the mainstay of all good real estate sites. As you probably know, almost all real estate companies now share information about the listings they take (that is, homes that they have contracted to sell), and all this information is presented in a fashion that lets you see pricing, specifications, and just a tiny bit of marketing by the listing company so that you have an opportunity to see why the seller thinks his or her home is just the right one for you.
Also note on my site that I offer "VIP" services. That means that I'm not going to invade your privacy and ask for your phone number or email address unless you decide that the additional services I can offer make sense for you. Always look for a good site to allow you to search for homes without asking for information, and then provide lots more information and services if and when you decide to take the next step.
Okay, enough for tonight. In the next post we'll talk about how my two web sites differ, how to take advantage of the best real estate sites, and we'll also talk about real estate blogs and how they can add to the information you can get about real estate agents and their services.
Today we're going to talk about getting started on the Internet. That's where over 80% of you will start your search, and if you know how to navigate all the resources that are available, you'll simply enjoy the process more, learn faster, be smarter, and buy with more confidence.
You probably know that buying a home by looking at information about the homes that are for sale in the area you want is a really smart way to get started. What you may not know is where to look, what to look for, and how to match up the information that's on the Internet with the knowledge of an experienced Realtor, Lendor, Inspector, Escrow and Title person.
So, let's get going. First, let's understand and talk a bit about transparency. That's a buzz word for the way all of us want to do business today. It means that the best Internet sites will be those that let YOU decide what information is important to YOU, not push or pull you to information that vendors, sellers or other businesses want you to utilize before, during and after you buy your home. All good sites (and their are plenty of them!) have in common the purpose of giving you information that you want, and how you want it.
Go to my website, and what you'll see is the basic information you'll need to get started. Let me say that most good real estate agents and companies have web sites that provide information in various styles and formats. Take me, for instance. While DonReedy.Net is my "base" site, providing all you'll need to find an area, select criteria about the home you want, set up searches and be contacted ONLY if you want, I also write and provide information on this blog, and on my companion site Buy Half A House. The difference is worth noting. Using my sites as examples, here's what to look for.
Can you "Search for properties?" This is the mainstay of all good real estate sites. As you probably know, almost all real estate companies now share information about the listings they take (that is, homes that they have contracted to sell), and all this information is presented in a fashion that lets you see pricing, specifications, and just a tiny bit of marketing by the listing company so that you have an opportunity to see why the seller thinks his or her home is just the right one for you.
Also note on my site that I offer "VIP" services. That means that I'm not going to invade your privacy and ask for your phone number or email address unless you decide that the additional services I can offer make sense for you. Always look for a good site to allow you to search for homes without asking for information, and then provide lots more information and services if and when you decide to take the next step.
Okay, enough for tonight. In the next post we'll talk about how my two web sites differ, how to take advantage of the best real estate sites, and we'll also talk about real estate blogs and how they can add to the information you can get about real estate agents and their services.
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