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04 Mar How Much Time Should You Spend Viewing Homes?

Posted at 09:34h in Blog, Press by

Looking-for-a-Home

How Much Time Should You Spend Viewing Homes?

Asking how much time you should spend viewing properties and houses for sale in Kanata, Stittsville, Ottawa and surrounding communities is a little like asking, “How long should I spend trying on shoes?”

The answer seems obvious: As long as it takes to make a decision! However, in the present competitive market and viewing times limited due to covid, having a prioritized list of key criteria that are important to you is vital and it will also make the decision process easier.

Buying a home is significantly more complex than purchasing shoes – and the stakes are higher too! You need to make sure you have all the information necessary to confidently make the best decision.

There are basically three stages to viewing a property:

  • Macro
  • Micro
  • Professional

As a homebuyer, when you view a home on a macro basis, you’re looking at it from an overall perspective. For example, you may do a general walk-through to get a first impression and determine if the property has the basic features you need, such as the number of bedrooms and the size of the backyard.

Macro viewing is often the fastest stage in the viewing process and can sometimes take just a few minutes.

If you like what you see, then it’s onto the micro stage. At this stage, you take a closer look at the details of the property. You might, for example, spend extra time in the master bedroom imagining how your furniture would look and fit or looking at the home’s foundation.

The micro stage takes longer simply because the home is now on your shortlist. You’re interested and are considering making an offer. If you can, second showings of the property can assist in making a decision and collecting more information.

Finally, the professional stage involves getting a qualified home inspector to go over the property. With the high degree of competition in the present market, you may consider doing a pre-inspection before submitting an offer.

Looking for a new property can be demanding. Working with a real estate agent who knows the area you want to live in and understands your needs will greatly simplify your search. The Joan Smith Real Estate Family can help you at every stage of your property search process. Contact our team of knowledgeable Ottawa and Kanata REALTORS®, we will be happy to make your life easier.