Tips for Viewing Homes Online.

It is a well-known fact in the real estate world now that most buyers search homes online before they engage an agent. Long gone are the days when buyers would contact an agent, identify with the agent what they wanted and then the agent would set up the showings based on what was available in a listing book.

Now it’s easy to spend hours looking at home after home with beautiful photos of gorgeous kitchens, well-manicured lawns, modern kitchens, and giant bedrooms. Although this is a great place to begin, it’s important to keep in mind that all may not be as it seems.

Here are some tips to avoid getting duped by listings online.

• Caveat Emptor! You’ve heard it said, “If the price seems to be too good to be true, it probably is.” This certainly applies to online home shopping. More than once I’ve had buyers ask me about a property they have seen on Zillow or another home search website. They’ve noticed it because it seems like a great buy. Sadly, after researching the property I have to tell them that the home is not for sale and some scam artist that doesn’t own the property has posted the home online. 
• Photos can be and usually are deceiving. Real estate photographers are very good at highlighting the best features of the home and often use wide angle lenses to make spaces appear larger than they really are. But, be aware that there may be less photo-worthy features they aren’t displaying. Don’t forget to look at the property features listed below to gather a better idea of what the home has to offer. Even if the photographer is not intending to deceive, it is amazing how different a room can look compared to the picture. 
• Ensure you are looking at current listings. Nothing is worse than falling in love with the perfect home, only to check out the listing date to find it was posted two years ago. Make sure you use websites that are pulling information daily from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and have your real estate agent verify it is available. An alternative is to ask your agent to set up a specialized query of the MLS for you, This way you will only be looking at homes that are available.
• Use your real estate agent as a resource. If you find a seemingly great listing online, always run it by your agent to confirm you aren’t missing something important. They can also provide neighborhood details, price comparisons for similar properties just sold in the area, additional listings that match your criteria, and more. Once you a find a home you’re ready to view, make sure you bring them with you to answer questions and be an extra set of eyes.