Hunting for a new Ventura County home online is a great place to start your search. In fact, the National Association of REALTORS® found that 90% of home buyers used their computers at some point during the home buying process to look at properties for sale. But this should not be your end all be all. Good listing agents are excellent at highlighting the best features of the home, However, you need to keep in mind that there may be more than meets the eye. To make the most of your time and efforts and gather a well-rounded picture when house hunting online, keep the following three things in mind.
Top Tips for Ventura House Hunting Online
Stay Up to Date
When you start your search, make sure you find a site that pulls up-to-date listings directly from the multiple listing service (MLS) where real estate agents actively post their most current homes for sale. Many online resources update less often or fail to remove listings that are off the market. This makes it more difficult to sort through the clutter.
Pictures Can Be Deceiving
Real estate photographers are experts at showing a Ventura County home in the best possible light. Many use tools and strategies to boost appeal, such as a fisheye lens to make areas look larger and creative editing to make colors and textures really pop. However, often listings will not contain photos of unappealing parts of the home, like small closets or outdated bathrooms.
See It to Believe It
Once you find what appears to be your dream home online, call up your real estate agent and schedule a showing. You want to take the opportunity to vet the home in person and explore every part of it before beginning the offer process. Your real estate agent will help you cover all your bases and will ask questions you may not have thought of.
Dave & Pat Zumbrun, your Ventura County real estate specialists
