When you are an Oakland County first time home buyer how do you pick the right houses to see. Do you make your judgement to see the house on the pictures alone? Some foreclosures have only one picture, some agents are lousy picture takers. So don't make your decision to see the house on the pictures alone.
Equally important is to read the description and the agents remarks. Many times that will tell you the highlights about the house.
For example if they talk about the outside of the house and say very little about the inside then I would bet that the inside needs work or updating. But if the lot means a lot to you then you should check out this house.
If they say the house needs tender loving care (TLC), loving touches, original owner, or needs updating it means it needs work and needs money to get it up to date. It may need carpeting or the bathroom to be updated, or the kitchen updated.
If in the listing description they list the updates they have done you have a general idea of what isn't done and what needs updating.
So my advice to you as an Oakland County first time home buyer is don't just look at the pictures read the description too. And then make a decision on which homes to see. And if you have the time punch the addresses in to Google earth and see where the homes are.
For more Oakland County First time home buyer tips read my other two parts of the series on how to buy a home
Oakland County first time home buyers part 1 - pre-approval letters MI
Oakland County First time home buyers part 2 - where to start and do next
Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate agent
Search Metro Detroit homes for sale
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My Month of April quote:
"Sometimes the only way to get to the far shore is to lose sight of the shore you just left"
Russ Ravary
"helping make your move easier"
your local Metro Detroit Realtor helping clients like you sell and buy homes through out the entire Metro Detroit suburbs. I love showing and selling Oakland County and Livingston County Lake front homes too.
Hi Russ, Very good points here. and even if the pictures look good, the house always seems different once you go inside.
Russ, these are things that buyers need to read and then do. Good post.
Good advice for any buyer to follow as they do their preliminary investigation of listings.
Not only are some agents lousy picture takers, but based on some of their descriptions, I would have to wonder if they ever went to the property or if they used Zillow to get their pictures and descriptions.