Keep them straight

Looking at a bunch of houses? With digital photography making it easy and inexpensive to record images, be sure to take a digital camera along, first taking a picture of the listing sheet so you can remember which pictures go with which home, and then key elements of each home.

Work with your REALTOR to make a list of your "must-haves" before you visit the first house. For example, fireplace, master bath, walk-in closet, two (or three) car garage, dining room, open floor plan, eat-in kitchen, screened-in porch, large (or small) yard are typical "must-haves". You will also want to create a list of features that are important but not necessarily a "must-have" so that you can take notes in such a way that allows you to compare apples to apples later. Buying a home is an emotional experience. Doing this will help take some of the emotion out of the process.

Here is a list of items might want to include (rank each as either excellent, good, fair, needs repair soon, needs repair now).

• Kitchen

• Bathroom(s)

• Roof

• Windows

• Furnace

• Air conditioning

• Floors (rate by each level of home)

• Closet/storage space

• Plumbing

• Electrical (does it have 60, 100 or 200 amp service?)

• Basement

• Master bedroom

• Siding

• Garage

To reduce the number of homes you view, it is also a good idea to sit down with your REALTOR for a buyer's consultation before you start looking at properties. I do this with all of my clients. The consultation takes about 45 minutes but it takes weeks off the home search process.

David Edwards

Real Estate Agent & REALTOR®

Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound

425-890-8045

E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.com

Website: http://www.davidjedwards.com

Blogsite: http://www.davidjedwards.com/renton-info-blog.asp

David J Edwards is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Renton and Newcastle Washington.

• Community Reports – You can now take advantage of access to detailed statistics and amenity information about a ZIP code. Your have the option generating a report about one area or compare two different communities. Community reports provide the details you need to make clearer decisions about your next real estate purchase. Community Reports can be found at: http://www.davidjedwards.com/community_report.asp#
• School Reports – Your now have access to information about school areas according to ZIP code or street address. Your have the option of generating a report about one school area or compare two areas for information. The information provided is critical to determining your next real estate decision.  School Reports can be found at: http://www.davidjedwards.com/community_report.asp#
• Interactive Maps - Community and School Reports offer detailed and interactive maps. Icons are used to reflect different community amenities and schools. You can easily find school and service locations with these visual cues.
• Search Tool - An easy-to-use tool that enables ZIP code lookup based on state, county, and/or city for Community Reports. School Reports offers a choice between the ZIP code lookup or a street address search.
• Online Help - Key screens and sections provide a simple help icon. Your now have access to detailed procedures, definitions, and guidance.

Landscaping: Does it look like a park or a landfill? Landscaping not only includes the grass, bushes and any gardens, but also the hardscape – the sidewalk, deck and/or patio. People are spending more time outdoors now that Spring is upon us and you’re likely no different. Landscaping improvements can be costly, but is one area in which homeowners often tackle projects themselves. If you have the time, energy, and expertise you can save money by doing some landscaping improvements. But costs can add up here – be sure to factor that into your decision and/or bid.

David Edwards

REALTOR®

Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound

425-890-8045

E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.com

Website: http://www.davidjedwards.com

Blogsite: http://www.davidjedwards.com/renton-info-blog.asp

David J Edwards is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Renton and Newcastle Washington.

What’s the condition of the home’s exterior? Does it need painting, or is it sided? Does it have painted brick that’s peeling? Is the aluminum siding chalking? Improving the exterior can be costly. Check the exterior walls carefully before putting in a bid.

David Edwards

REALTOR®

Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound

425-890-8045

E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.com

Website: http://www.davidjedwards.com

Blogsite: http://www.davidjedwards.com/renton-info-blog.asp

David J Edwards is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Renton and Newcastle Washington.

Take an inventory of what needs fixing.

Good news: With more houses on the market than in the past several years (676 active Renton Real Estate listings and 70 active Newcastle Real Estate listings), you’ll likely be able to look at more houses before making a decision to put in a bid.

Bad news: That means it can get quite confusing to remember the details of each. Develop a list of things you like in the house as you walk through each, and also make a list of things that might need fixing

David Edwards

REALTOR®

Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound

425-890-8045

E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.com

Website: http://www.davidjedwards.com

Blogsite: http://www.davidjedwards.com/renton-info-blog.asp

David J Edwards is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Renton and Newcastle Washington.