When you set out to buy a home in Atlanta it is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. You do not want to take this decision lightly or rush through the process. At the same time, buying a home can be quite emotional so you don’t want to ignore those feelings, they are important. So how many homes should you view before buying one? I’ll walk you through your options.
The 12LUXE Process
The first thing we do with all our clients is understand as much as possible about your needs and wants in a home. What are your needs? What are your wishes? Should a commute be considered? Is walkability or access to specific amenities important? What are your deal breakers?
The number of bedrooms, school district, and whether you are interested in a Condo vs Single Family Home vs New Construction is usually a good start to help me narrow down what will work well for you. If you have nothing specific in mind or are new to the Atlanta area I can virtually show you different neighborhoods, comparable past sales (or “Comps”), make suggestions for neighborhoods through which you should do independent driving tours and teach you about the Atlanta market to get you up to speed.
Next up is going on some visits. In the old days there were lots of Open Houses on weekends but lately with Covid protocols it is more usual for us to attend a private showing or even virtual showings.
When You Know It’s Right
It may be surprising but I’ve had plenty of clients buy (and close on) the very first property we visited in-person or toured virtually. When you know, you know. And when you know it’s right it is usually right...and this is not a market that takes kindly to “sleeping on it”. As I mentioned earlier emotions run very high during the house hunting process, but you often to be be able to make decisions quickly.
When should you ignore emotions? During negotiations and inspections it is best to let me handle all the stress for you. However, when stepping into a home in the flesh listen very carefully to emotions. Could you imagine brewing coffee in the morning and drinking it on that wonderful deck? Or perhaps those walking paths that connect to your community would be the perfect way to unwind after a long day at work? Or did you simply walk through the front door and felt like you were home? These signs probably mean it is the right one!
Even if you have only looked at one home if you know in your gut it is right then there is no harm in going for it.
The Long Road
If you follow our 12LUXE social media and blog you know how crazy the Atlanta market is right now. This is a very different time to shop for a home. In the past it wouldn’t be unusual to spend months (and even years) searching for a home that ticked every one of your boxes. However, homes are frequently selling hours after being listed. Some homes never even make it to the MLS. (side note: A nice perk of working with 12LUXE is we have a giant network of other realtors so we are often some of the first to hear about a home and can get you in early!)
I’m telling you all of this so you know that with this current real estate climate you have to jump a little more quickly if the home feels right.
Conclusion
So what is that magic number? The answer is it is different for everybody. Whether you want to look at one home or a thousand homes I will be with you every step of the way. I’ve even had out of state buyers who didn’t need to visit in-person and I conducted the tour virtually for them! Want to take the next step on your home search? Contact me today and let's get started on your search.
