REFINE YOUR OPEN HOUSE STRATEGY, AND MAKE A OFFER

Are you ready to make a judgment? Now it’s time to go and see the houses and decide how much you think they are worth.
When you have saved a decent deposit and are about to have your real estate loan sorted, you can start visiting open houses more seriously.
It’s also a good idea to start doing this earlier in the process, when everything is a little more hypothetical, so you can get an idea of what is open the houses are like and how the prices the houses are priced in the current market.
But when things start to fall into place, it’s time to put in your efforts up to another level.
You will probably start by browsing all the real estate ads that you can find in your price range. There are a few things to consider to identify the kind of place that might suit you.
1 – The region
The suburb or even the group of streets in which you are looking for a house could be really important for you, maybe to maintain links with a network of friends, a local school or your family. You might be willing to sacrifice other aspects from your wish list to get a place in the right neighborhood for you.
On the other hand, you might think that it is not very important for you exactly where you buy, provided that it is usually in the right area. Maybe you’re working remotely so that you don’t get stressed out by a commute and think the area is less important than the type of house you can afford to buy. You could check school zones – even if you don’t have children-because these zones may affect the resale value.
For what it’s worth, many investors recommend buying in areas where infrastructure development is planned, but not necessarily yet in place.
If you can identify a part of your city, or another city, where there is significant amounts of money spent on the development of amenities, you will probably find it becomes a more pleasant place to live over time. It’s not foolproof, however!
When you think about an area that you don’t know very well yet, look at what is nearby. Not just the things you need now, but the ones you might want in the future, such as schools, shops, public transport and the road and cycling connections. What does the mix of housing around you look like? Are there any any planned developments for the region that could significantly change it?
(Remember Waterview in Auckland before the tunnel and the motorway any connections have come in?)
2-Size of the house
Generally, the amount of the house that you will be able to get for your money will be increase as you move away from the city center. Think about how you want to use the house, now and in the future. If you work from home, you will have to make sure that you have space to do this. You might consider the resale value of the property too. A larger house in the suburbs will be usually, but not always, appeal to more families than to a smaller one, so that you might find it easier to sell when the time comes. But, on the other hand, there are is usually less demand for two-bedroom houses, so you may find yourself facing less competition if a smaller place meets your needs.

3-Type of property
There are many reasons to choose different types of properties. You could you want an apartment so that you can be at the center of the action in a particular city or suburban, or you may want a lifestyle block so you can make your dream come true of alpaca breeding. There is no right or wrong answer to this, but you will want to to compare properties of a similar type when you do your search in order you have a good idea of what represents good value.
4-Section size Large sections can mean more competition from developers, which can push prices up. If you don’t care about subdivision potential, don’t you particularly want a garden, you might take your best shot if you aim properties that are too small for people who want to turn a house into multiple housing units.
5-Price range If a house whose appearance you like does not have an indicated price, you can contact the seller and ask for a price guide. They must give you a realistic idea of what a property could sell for, even if they are not sure of the exact amount this will secure it.
6-Attend an open house
Some properties will have opening hours and dates indicated while others you will have to make an appointment to see. If you don’t have kids towing, it might be reasonable to stack a weekend day with open houses, maybe with a stop for coffee in between. But if you have young children with you, it is likely that everyone will be happier if you limit the number of places you view to no more than two or three per day. There’s nothing quite like a bored two-year-old to help you identify the security risks of a property. When you arrive, it is useful to have a clear idea of what you are looking for. When you get out of the car, look around. What is neighborhood envy? Is there parking on the street, if it’s important to you? Does this seem like the kind of place that would be quiet, or is it a busy thoroughfare? When you are inside, take your time to look around and ask the seller a lot of questions. If the property has been staged (where hired the furniture is set up to show what a house could look like) check that the suggested configuration would actually work. I know a house that had a veranda converted into an office with a computer and a desk in the corner. But the room had no power anywhere, so it would not have worked as an office in reality. Real estate sellers should inform you from the outset if there are any problems with a property. Some people recommend asking questions by e-mail, then you have a folder of answers to questions such as: “What do I need to know about this property?’, ‘Why is the owner selling?’, ‘Are there things I should know about the neighborhood?’ , ‘Is this a leaky house?’or’ Have you had any offers and why haven’t they progressed?’. The latter could highlight something like a major problem in a construction report that you will need to be prepared for. If you like a place, you should feel comfortable asking to come back and see what it is like at different times. For example, a property next to a daycare can feel very different on a Saturday than at 7:30 a.m. on a Friday.
7-When you find the right one
You might have the feeling that it is the one and fall madly in love with a house. But you may also find that you end up choosing one that ticks the boxes enough, fits your budget and will work for now. Both scenarios are completely correct. In fact, if you’re not emotionally invested, you may find it easier to get a good deal on a house because you won’t be so alarmed at the prospect of walking away if it doesn’t work out. Provided that the house is listed with a fixed price, or for “superior offers” or “by negotiation”, the next thing to do is decide to make an offer. The first step you will have to take is to get in touch with the seller real estate, if there is one, or the seller if it is a private sale. The seller will usually come to you with a sales and purchase contract ready to fulfill. Sometimes they will ask you on the phone what you plan to offer and sometimes they leave the conversation until your in-person meeting. Be prepared for them to put pressure on you to raise your offer as high as possible. This is because they work for the seller and it is their job to get the best possible selling price. They will usually say things like ‘”If you missed $5000,

how do you feel?’ The problem with this strategy is that you could keep increasing by 5000 increments forever and end up spending a lot more than planned. Be be clear about what you are offering. Back it up with clear reasons if it helps you stand your ground. You can give yourself a little leeway to negotiate by offering slightly below your maximum, but you will have to be careful with this strategy if you are in a multi-offer scenario. You can ask the seller for an indication of what the seller would have the seller accept but they are required to present all written offers. Many even see a low offer as a way to start a negotiation process with a buyer. (People who try to negotiate hard sometimes talk about this obligation to present all offers as a victory for them, but I’m not so sure that’s it cuts clear. Nothing prevents a seller from advising against a particularly low offer, and if you choose one that is ridiculous, it can put a seller is willing to consider another offer from you in the future.) If a property is listed with a price, or “buyer’s request completed”, this must be an amount that the seller would seriously consider accepting. (If a property is listed with a price lower than the price desired by the seller, this is called “bait price” and is not allowed.)