7 Strategies How to Look for New Homes When You Don’t Have the Time

Finding a new home can be a daunting task. Between scheduling showings, making offers, and going through the entire mortgage process, it’s no wonder why so many people put it off for as long as possible.

But what if you don’t have the time to do all of that? Here are a few tips on how to look for new homes without taking up too much of your time.

7 Strategies How to Look for New Homes When You Don’t Have the Time

1. Talk to Your Realtor or Call Up a Development

The first thing you should do is talk to your realtor and find out what’s available in your price range. If you want something newer, give the developer a call and see about any new-in-the-box units that might be available.

This way, you won’t need to spend hours touring homes and putting in offers when something newly built might be available to you almost immediately.

2. Don’t Forget the Classifieds

Craigslist and other online classifieds are great resources for finding new homes that don’t necessarily fall into the category of newly constructed or with your realtor. A lot of times, people list their homes for sale in these places before they get an agent or get on the market.

You can find some great deals here that are perfect if you’re looking for a home but don’t have much time to spend finding it. Just remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is! Be sure to take all classifieds with a grain of salt and do your research before you sign any paperwork.

3. Visit Open Houses

Sometimes, you can browse listings online or call around to different agents, but an open house is a free place for you to scope out new property all in one place!

Open houses are also great places if you’re looking for someone who can show you around from agent to agent as you narrow down your search. Look through listings beforehand so that when you go, you know what kind of properties are and which one’s interest you most. That way, you can make the most of your time there.

One of the best options is to use a real estate selling app, which can connect you to sellers directly. You may be able to schedule a visit even before the property goes into the market listing. It’s an amazing chance to attend a show without other potential buyers and make your offer with the least competition.

4. Reach Out to Friends and Family

If you know anyone who has recently purchased a home in the area, ask them how their experience was. They might let you know about another newly built property available or even help set up appointments for showings so that no time at all is wasted by you calling around on your own.

Not only is this a great way to find homes you might not have known about otherwise, but it can also mean the difference between spending hours on the phone looking for houses and doing something more productive with your time.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Pay for Help

Sometimes there’s no substitute for professional help. If you’re buying a home in an area that you aren’t familiar with or if your realtor isn’t meeting your needs, consider hiring someone who can truly assist you in the buying process.

A good agent who knows the market inside and out can show you listings before they even go up on websites like Craigslist so that you don’t need to spend hours looking through places that might not even be available.

While it’s certainly possible to look for homes without spending money, sometimes it just makes sense to hire some extra help. With everything else going on in your life, why wouldn’t you give yourself this one break?

6. Be Patient

Finding a new home doesn’t have to be daunting if it’s something you don’t want to worry about. Just remember that real estate is a business, and people are busy.

You might not hear back from someone immediately or even know what’s going on in their lives that makes them not respond to you right away. Don’t get discouraged–just follow up with them later if they haven’t gotten back to you yet.

7. Don’t Forget about the Little Things

While all these tips are great for saving time on home buying, don’t forget about the little things that make a difference when you’re spending so much time looking for property.

Have everything lined up by your agents like appraisals and inspections beforehand, so that once they happen, you’re ready to go with no extra work necessary on your end. Keep an eye out for dates that closings are planned for as well since it’s easy to lose track of them if you’re not careful.

Finding a new home can be time-consuming and stressful, especially if you don’t have the time for it in your busy schedule. However, with these seven tips and tricks, you’ll be able to find a home in no time at all–and without having to spend an arm and a leg in the process.