Even at the best of times, searching for a new home can be stressful and overwhelming. Add house hunting long-distance into the mix and you may feel like you’ll never find the perfect home! Luckily for you, our team of RealtorsⓇ have a wealth of experience in helping homebuyers search for a home from out of town, other provinces, or even from overseas. We will do everything we can to make the process as stress-free as possible for you!
Here are a few ways in which we can work together to make the long-distance home buying process go smoothly:
Ask for a referral
If you know someone who lives in the town you are moving to, ask them for a referral for a trustworthy and reliable RealtorⓇ. If you are not familiar with the town, you’ll want to work with a RealtorⓇ who knows the current local housing market well. Look at online reviews and testimonials from past clients to get an idea of how a RealtorⓇ works.
Interview your RealtorⓇ
As you won’t be physically meeting with your RealtorⓇ, you want to find someone that you can trust. Make sure you shop around to find the perfect fit so you can feel assured that your RealtorⓇ has your best interests in mind. Interview two or three RealtorsⓇ via video call to ask a number of questions to get a good feel for their expertise and how they’ll work for you. You may consider asking if they have worked with long-distance buyers before and how they handled the process. It is also important to ask about your their availability — as they will be serving as your proxy in your absence, you need to make sure they will be free to visit properties (sometimes on short notice) and will be available to connect with you by email, phone, or video call when required.
Know your needs
Your RealtorⓇ will be able to search for homes most effectively for you if you can be specific about your wants and needs. Do you need to be close to a school? Transit links? Would you prefer a rural area or a more urban environment? How many bedrooms and bathrooms will you require? Giving your RealtorⓇ as much information as possible will assist them in finding the best property to suit you and your family, without wasting time looking at homes that don’t fit your needs.
Do some research
While your RealtorⓇ will be able to give you plenty of information about the city, it will benefit you to do some of your own research as well. Take a look at a map, read the local news, view some guide books and talk to people or relatives you know that have visited or lived there. Any additional information you can gain will help advise your decisions.
Plan a visit
If possible, arrange a visit to the city before purchasing a property to meet with your RealtorⓇ, take a look around, and view potential properties. Your RealtorⓇ will be able to take you to neighbourhoods of interest, which will help to inform your home buying decisions.
Video views
If you aren’t able to view a home in person, have your RealtorⓇ view the home on your behalf. Additionally, if you have a friend or relative in town you could ask them to accompany your RealtorⓇ on the viewing as well. As they view the house, get them to video call you to show you around and walk you through the property. This way, you can ask any questions while your RealtorⓇ is physically inside the property, and can focus on specific aspects of the property that appeal to you.
Are you planning to move to Ottawa soon and require some assistance with purchasing a home long-distance? Our team is ready to help you! Contact Royal LePage Performance Realty today.
