In order to find the “perfect” house for sale in, you need to know exactly what you want. Your real estate agent will help you focus your search by discussing the following points with you. In the long run, spending this time now before you look will save you time, frustration, and money.

Some locations are great for one person, but not as good for another. Where do you want to live? Do you have small children? If so, maybe you need to be within walking distance of a park or a school. Do you mind commuting to work? If yes, then perhaps you need to live close to your place of employment. A great location is a critical factor to finding your perfect home. That’s why I’ll want to talk in detail with you about your preferences in this area. And this will be our first step in focusing your search.

What features do you need? As with buying a car, houses come with certain features. Once you’ve settled on possible locations, make a list of “must-haves” (a large kitchen, a garage, etc.) and “nice-to-haves” (a first-floor laundry, a finished basement, etc.) and “don’t needs”. Ask me for my Home Wish List where you can jot down all these features and share them with your friends and family.

What do you know about the neighborhood? “Knowledge is power,” as the saying goes. You can go online and find lots of useful information about a neighborhood and even specific houses you might be considering. You’ll learn about the school system, public services, the crime rate, demographics, etc. The Chamber of Commerce is a great resource for you, and will have free visitor packets available, chock full of useful information. Another great resource is the local newspaper. Visit their website and scan some month’s worth of headlines. This will tell you all kinds of information about the health of the area.

Are you working with a local realtor? It’s important to use a realtor who knows the area really well. It’s also important to feel comfortable with your realtor. After all, you’ll be sharing personal information with her. You can find the names and contact information for realtors in the local phone book or online.

Have you visited the neighborhood? While you can learn all sorts of things about an area online, there’s nothing to replace visiting it in person, seeing what potential properties look like in context of their surroundings, checking out noise levels at different times of the day, etc. This is the only way to get a real “feel” for a place.

Are you pre-approved for a mortgage? The pre-approval process saves you a lot of time, since it determines the price range of property you can comfortably afford. Your loan officer will provide you with a letter you can have on hand to show potential sellers that you are a serious buyer. Such a letter may also give you an advantage in case the seller gets multiple offers.

If you do the preliminary work described above, you’ll be in a great position to jump quickly on the perfect opportunity!

About the author: Susanne Novak is a full time Columbus real estate agent who helps home owners buy properties at discounted prices. Her blog shows how to find and buy the best Columbus OH Homes for Sale.

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