Brought to you by Scott P. Rogers, Funkhouser Real Estate Group, 540-578-0102, scott@HarrisonburgHousingToday.com
Brought to you by Scott P. Rogers, Funkhouser Real Estate Group, 540-578-0102, scott@HarrisonburgHousingToday.com
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
If you're looking for a four bedroom home, it might be worthwhile to look at a few homes with three bedrooms.
If you plan to buy a home under $300K, it might be worthwhile to look at a few homes priced between $300K and $325K.
If you prefer homes built in the past 20 years, it might be worthwhile to view some homes that are 21 - 30 years old.
If you know you need 2400 SF, it might be worthwhile to walk through some homes that are 2200 - 2399 SF.
If you only want to live 10 minutes from where you work, it might be worthwhile to look at a few homes that are 15 minutes from your job.
Sometimes buyers draw firm lines around what will and won't work for them. This is fine, but there is definitely value in walking through some homes that are close to but not within those parameters.
Here's why...
- First of all, it might give you some houses to actually go see. These days, inventory levels are quite low. Looking at homes that are close to what you're hoping to buy, but not quite there, can actually give you some homes to consider.
- You might be surprised when a home that won't work "on paper" based on its specs actually works quite well in reality. You won't figure this out just by looking at it online - but walking through some houses just outside your typical search parameters can reveal these possibilities.
- The more homes you view, the greater context you have for how much homes are worth in the current market. Having seen more homes, and the prices for which they were listed, and how quickly they went under contract, will start to create a meaningful and tangible framework for you to well understand the value of a home when you are walking through one that really will work for you.
So -- loosen up your parameters a bit and look at some houses that are close to what you're looking for but not quite right on the money.
