Leveraging On the Time and Effort in Property Search

Maximum results with minimum effort in the quickest possible time sound like a near-impossible thing. However, it is definitely doable, particularly in the real estate industry. You can get top results with relatively little investment of resources, whether it's time, money, or intellect. Leveraging time and effort in property search is the trick to success.

Use Your Contacts and Social Network

Searching for the right property is the most time-consuming and stressful part of a real estate buying process. It is nearly impossible to find everything that you are looking for in a property in one place, unless lady luck showers liberal doses of good fortune on you. One form of leverage that you just can't afford to ignore is your network of contacts. Your mailing list or just your social network can be used to meet better suppliers, generate referrals, and find great investment deals. In most situations, your contacts could be the most valuable form of leverage you have.

Work with Proven Real Estate Professionals

Find an expert to work with a team of skilled and experienced individuals. A great realtor will shorten your learning curve enormously and make a significant difference to the amount of time and effort you would normally invest in a property search. Ask for referrals or go online, and then interview a few to find the best one. Your focus should be on finding a real estate professional that is experienced, ethical, and works full time.

Only Focus on Properties that Fit Your Needs

Most agents will try to encourage you to widen your range of search, so they can show you more variety. This can be a complete waste of time and effort, if you have pretty much decided on the kind of property you want to buy. Make sure your agent has fully understood your brief and instruct them to limit the search within those parameters. You may allow them some inventive diversion, which might lead to a surprising result.

Go with Your Gut Feeling

In order to get results faster, it is important to go with your gut feeling sometimes. You can be equipped with all the facts, floor plans, and flow charts but many a times, the clinching factor in any property purchase is human instinct. If your intuition gives you a strong ‘buy’ sign, there could be something in the property that is beckoning your senses even if you are unable to exactly pinpoint the reason. In such instances, it is better to go with your inner voice, if all other things look apparently good.

Use Technology to Make a Smart Buy

It is important to be tech-savvy, if you want to find the property you are looking for quickly and with lesser effort. Real estate tech tools and apps are being increasingly used by smart investors to cut short the search process and find the exact property they have in their mind. Quick Response technology is one of the most commonly used real estate tools. You simply have to hold your smartphone up to a bar code on the signboard or newspaper advertisement, and it links you straight to the sales brochure for that property. It allows you to examine a property in detail, if you happen to pass by one that matches your criteria and expectations.

Author Bio: Karrie Morton is an online marketing associate of HomePropertySearch.net - provides real estate services. Karrie’s interest range from providing improvement tips on home and yard. She also loves finding new ideas for home improvement projects. Connect with Karrie through her social media accounts. Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest

The Expat’s Guide to Buying a House in Spain

If you’re contemplating leaving your home country (or have already done it), you’ll undoubtedly need a place to live. For many expatriates, this means buying a house—perhaps a simple task in one’s home country. If you’ve got your eye on Spain, your dream of homeownership can definitely be accomplished, especially if you’re willing to do a bit of research and follow our handy suggestions!

Spain is the perfect place to get a great deal on a fantastic house. Due to massive overbuilding revealed by the credit crunch, there is an abundance of real estate to be had at reasonable prices—many offered for less than half of their original price. The Spanish market is certainly one meant for buyers.

If you’re ready to buy, you’ll first need to find a realestate agent with a reputation to back him or her up, as anyone can set up as an estate agent. Make sure that your agent is fluent in both Spanish and your own language to best meet your (and the seller’s) needs. 

Next, don’t worry about having a house built. Because there are so many sitting empty, you’re likely to find a much better deal if you’re able to find a house that already exists. Additionally, many builders go out of business quickly, and this might mean a lot of waiting for you.  When you find your house, insist on a surveyor’s report, which will ensure the safety, security, and quality of your new home. While some sellers won’t want to provide the surveyor’s report, it is important that you make it happen to best protect your investment—EUR 400 now is worth a lot more later. 

Make sure you’re set on a home before you offer a deposit too. In Spain, a deposit is a commitment and you’ll be required to complete the purchase. Otherwise, you’ll lose your deposit (10-15% of the asking price). Also remember that your property debt is now associated with the property and not you, so make sure your lawyer or agent has proof that the seller has fulfilled all of his or her financial obligations.

You’ll also want to make sure you have a Spanish bank account—it will be extremely difficult (read: impossible) to set up utilities without it. Find a bank with an English speaker, which shouldn’t be difficult, and ask if it might be possible to get bank statements in English too.  

Finally, make sure that you’re familiar with the 1988 Law of the Coast governing coastal development. Make sure to purchase a property that is unable to be reclaimed by the government. Also look into the Valencia Land Grab Law of 1994, as some properties, especially in rural areas, may be impacted.

As with any home purchase, make sure to conduct a variety of research and learn the basic vocabulary associated with buying a home. A well informed buyer is a good one! Happy hunting.

Heidi Andrews roots for the LA Dodgers and the freedom to eat chocolate for breakfast. When she isn’t learning to make those cool designs on espresso drinks, you can find her writing about financial freedom, new technology, and investment opportunities for Jason Hartman Media. 

Be Bold to be Sold

Selling a property is different from selling goods on eBay. Of course, eBay is a good way to be found. However, there are lots of things to consider. Remember that if you make a little mistake, your home might end up collecting dust or become ruins –a would-be UNESCO heritage site. The market value of the property decreases the longer it stays up for grabs in the market. It becomes overpriced, thus, losing potential buyers.

AGENT

007 might not be capable of selling properties despite his charm. Look around for an agent that is competent enough to do his job. You can contact an agency and select the best agent for you. Choose somebody who has the most excellent listings. Make sure to read the contract before giving the green light to the agency. Ensure that the length of the term is suitable for you. Also, check the fees for advertising and if it’s possible to cancel it. Once an agent is chosen, negotiate his commission. He might cut the amount because the competition among them is steep. Another thing to commit to memory is to listen to the agent. Nowadays, people think that they are geniuses when reading some articles on the web. Agents are there for a reason. They are professionals that can hold your hand as you go along the selling process.

PRICING

Look for comparables around your area. Comparables are properties that resemble yours. If you have a chalet type house, don’t compare it to a castle. Owners metaphorically regard their homes as castles that they get attached to them. Hence, clouds their decision to figure out the right price. Pricing is a tricky thing because it involves emotion at times. Real estate agents can guide you through it by teaching you about CMA (Competitive Market Analysis). Luckily, this service is likely to be without charge. They can also point out a unique feature at your property that can boost up its value. If not provided by the agent, ask him to give you with active and sold comparables, and market statistics. These will help you understand the pricing more.

FIRST IMPRESSION

Tidy up before an open house. Who would like to live in a place that is nasty? A place like a murder scene with bullet holes might be attractive to a few. The majority don’t want to see that, though. They want to see firework (or at least feel it) as they enter your house, feel like they are in Disneyland…well, that’s exaggerated. You get the picture, right? If it’s within your budget, hire a stager. Agents can be confused what to do or improve for home showings. Home staging is getting more and more popular. Professionals beautify the house by adding furniture and decorations that can amaze the buyers. Some would even bake a pie to stimulate not only the sense of sight but also the sense of smell. Don’t forget to take care of the outside as well. Mow the lawn is the least you can do.

OFFERS

Pick the best offer. Choose wisely not according to the price but the conditions. The highest bidder may not be the best if the conditions are at your disadvantage. The high price can blind you when deciding and the conditions may be concealed by the bright amount of hefty lot of cash. For that reason, a lower offer may be the finest option if it doesn’t have any conditions that would lead to your doom.

Bio:

Ernest works with home and real estate sites which really gives him the thought of materializing his passion about kitchen furniture and home designs especially in housesfor sale in Calgary.