Sure, you can browse, but understand that some of what you’ll see online may have been manufactured. In other words, take what you see, and read, with multiple grains of salt.
Browsing for homes online can be a window shopper’s Shangri-La. Elegantly decorated rooms, sculpted gardens, colorful front doors that just pop with those “come hither” hues. Browser beware, though… while online listings may be seductive, your “browse” will likely not provide you a complete picture.
Pictures Tell a Story, Just Maybe Not the Whole Story.
That perfect split-level ranch? Might be too close to a loud, traffic-choked street. That handsome colonial with the light-filled photos? Might be hiding plumbing problems that you DO NOT want to wind up knee-deep in. That attractively priced condo? Might not actually be for sale. Imagine your despair when, after driving across town to see your dream home, you realize it was sold.
The Most Current Listings May Not Be Where You Think
First things first: You wouldn’t read a Sports Illustrated from 2005 for the latest NFL Power Rankings. Or last month’s Vanity Fair for the latest cafe society gossip. Similarly, don’t browse property sites that show old listings.
An on-the-ball agent like Karen updates her listings immediately. Karen’s team updates her personal website, and social media platforms immediately with any changes to price or availability.
Beware of Online Resources
There are multiple places that you can browse listings, but don’t set yourself up for disappointment over a house that could very well be off the market. Realtor.com pulls its information every 15 minutes from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), regional databases where real estate agents post listings for sale. That means that realtor.com®’s listings are more accurate than some others, like Zillow and Trulia, which may update less often. There are other property listing sites as well, including Redfin, which is a brokerage and therefore also relies on relationships with brokers and MLS for listings.
Be Mindful That the Best Properties Aren’t Always the Best Looking
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. But what they don’t say is a picture can also hide a thousand cracked floorboards, busted boilers, and leaky pipes. So while it’s natural to focus on photos while browsing, make sure to also consider the property description and other key features.
Each realtor.com® listing, for example, has a “property details” section that may specify important information such as the year the home was built, price per square foot, and how many days the property has been on the market.
Stay Close To Your Agent. She/He Can Be Your Best Friend
At the end of the day, property sites are like CliffNotes for a neighborhood: They show you active listings, sold properties, home prices, and sales histories. All that data will give you a working knowledge, but it won’t be exhaustive.
To assess all of this information — and gather facts about any home you’re eyeing, like how far the local elementary school is from the house or where the closest Soul Cycle is — talk to Karen. As a long time resident and agent of nearly twenty years, Karen can easily and accurately paint a picture of the neighborhood.
An agent like Karen who can go beyond that and deliver the dish on specific properties is a true friend indeed, more likely to guide you away from homes with hidden problems, and more likely to save you the time of visiting a random listing.
Want to go deeper? Consider these sites and sources:
- School ratings: Data from GreatSchools.org and the National Center for Education Statistics, and the school district’s website
- Crime rates and statistics: CrimeReports.com, NeighborhoodScout.com, SpotCrime.com, and the local police station
- Walkability and public transportation: WalkScore.com and APTA.com
- Hospital ratings: HealthInsight.org, LeapfrogGroup.org, and U.S. News and World Report rankings
No Substitute for Looking in Person
Just remember: You’re probably not going to find that “perfect home” while browsing listings on your smartphone. Instead, consider the online browsing experience to be a sort of home-buying entree — a good way for you to get a taste of the different types of homes that are available and a general idea of what else is out there.
Once you’ve spent that time online, you’ll be ready to share what you’ve learned with an agent. Ultimately though, ask Karen to help you interpret what you find. Her hyper-local knowledge of the market may even include details and histories of some properties. If a listing seems too good to be true, Karen will likely know why.
