Shopping for a home sometimes feels like dating. Does the property in question measure up to your “wants” list? Can you see yourself celebrating holidays in the living room? Entertaining in the backyard on a summer night? Prior to Covid-19, you could walk into as many homes for sale in Lake Tahoe to get an actual feel while now, the home shopping game usually starts virtual. Additionally, it stays virtual for a large part of it unless you are serious about purchasing. With the current pandemic, homeowners are wary of letting just anybody come through their Lake Tahoe real estate. As a result, a lot are requiring buyers be pre-approved in addition to taking all the necessary steps of wearing booties, not touching anything, limiting the amount of people coming in at any time and more. Thankfully, technology has provided a virtual option to at least get buyers started. Here are some great tips for how to make the most of your house hunting, touring and video watching.
First you may wonder: Should I schedule virtual or in person? Thanks to Zoom, FaceTime, Google Hangouts and other online resources, you can tour properties from the comfort of your own home. Not only is it quicker, easier and the safest option, but you aren’t spending an entire day driving around. If it is your first time seeing the home, virtual is a great place to get started. If you like what you see, schedule an in-person tour next.
Next, you may be wondering how to schedule touring homes for sale in Lake Tahoe. A simple call to your Lake Tahoe Realtor will get the ball rolling.
Have your tour set up? Here is what you need to look for, whether you are viewing Lake Tahoe homes for sale in person or virtually.
The HVAC, electrical, and hot water systems can be expensive, so the age and condition of these items are necessary to know. Also remember to view the exterior the same way you would the interior. Roofs, windows, landscaping, additional buildings such as carports or sheds should be in good condition as well. Be sure to cruise around the neighborhood. While the house itself is important, so is the area. Is there a lot of street noise, heavy traffic, could you get blocked in during a holiday weekend, how quickly are the streets paved? These are all things to ask yourself and your Lake Tahoe Realtor so you don’t buy your dream home in a neighborhood that will drive you crazy over time.
No matter what kind of home tour you have set up, you want to make sure you are making the most of it and asking the right questions. Find out how old the home is and the various systems (as mentioned above: HVAC, electrical, etc. etc.). Find out if upgrades have been made, if there are warranties, how old the upgrades are, if there are any previous insurance claims or special policies, the average cost of utilities, any HOA fees and what the next-door neighbors are like. If the Lake Tahoe real estate in question has been listed several times before or fallen in and out of escrow, find out why. Sometimes it is as simple as the buyer not having the right funding while other times it can be an issue with the house itself. Also be sure to keep notes on each property. After a while, they can blur together, and you want to make sure you are keeping everything straight.
For more information on buying Lake Tahoe homes for sale in the era of Covid-19, feel free to reach out to me. I would be happy to help!
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