We have all done it. Browsing online at pretty homes that catch our eye or trying to get inspiration on how to update our own.
Home hunting online is a great place to start your search, but it should not be your main home search.
When you begin your home hunt, you will want to make sure that whatever website you are using pulls up-to-date listings directly from the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), as this is where real estate agents post their current homes for sale.
Most of the online websites that potential buyers use do not update in real-time, portray false information, or fail to remove listings that are off-market.
It is easy to get caught up in mainly searching for homes online, but keep in mind that listing photos are meant to highlight the best features of the home. This is why I always tell my clients that photos can be deceiving.
Photographers are experts at showing a home in the best possible light, and sometimes this includes making spaces look larger, changing colors, or overediting to boost the home’s appeal.
Some of the items you may not see photographed online and would need to see in person (yes, in person), would be smaller closets, outdated bathrooms, laundry rooms, and garages.
You need to 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 time to view it. You will want to take the time to vet the home in person and explore every part of it.
This real estate column is brought to you by Kylah Artz, a local real estate agent with Texas Urban Living, serving the DFW area.