By Lisa Iannucci
Traditionally, if you wanted to buy a home, you would take several in-person tours until you found the place of your dreams.
But what if you live in California and want to buy a home in New York or another state? And how can you tour an out-of-state home if that state has travel restrictions? Buying a home might look a little different today, but it can still be done.
Linda Anderson lives in Pennsylvania, but her mother, Rose, lives alone in rural Maine. Rose wants to age-in-place, so Linda and her husband decided to purchase a home near her where they could retire. The couple took a road trip to narrow down the places they liked, but after losing a bidding war on the home they wanted, they were back to square one. This time they looked for a home but decided not to make the trip. Instead, thanks to technology, buyers like Anderson could go along on a video walk-through with their realtor.
“Our Realtor did a video showing with us, and from there, we decided to make a full-price offer,” said Anderson.
That Realtor was Jessica Niles-McDonough with Niles Shedlarski & Co., Better Homes and Gardens, The Masiello Group in Windham, Maine, who said that she is the eyes, ears and nose of her clients who haven’t seen a house they are buying.
“It’s important to look for the minute things you personally wouldn’t necessarily think to mention if your client was present,” she said. “Anything that there might be to notice when considering your senses is worth mentioning. Some people have a sensitive nose or hate traffic noise, or don’t like to be on top of a neighbor. These are broad examples, but every house has its own set of characteristics to consider.”