Online House Shopping
Finding your dream home has gone virtual over the past couple years, and for good reason. House hunting is a lengthy and involved process, requiring a lot of travel, time, and energy. Utilising the online space has become the way of the future in home buying, saving time and making the entire process easier.
Where to Start
Now that you’ve decided to buy a house, it’s time to think about what you need in a home. It’s important to determine things like how many bedrooms you need, how many bathrooms you’d like, and what type of house you’re looking for. Is it important for you to have everything all on one level or to have a big backyard? Make note of these things before starting your house search and be sure to let your REALTOR® know exactly what you’re looking for.
Scoping out potential homes online is the best way to get a feel for the house and neighbourhood, and you can do this from the comfort of your own home. Gather your family and scroll through the listings, pointing out things you like or dislike. Viewing homes online is a quick and simple way to view many houses in a short amount of time; think about the amount of time saved by not driving around to multiple houses in various neighbourhoods in an afternoon, or over a couple days. Utilising online listings is the best way to look at as many houses as possible, before narrowing down your search and actually visiting potential homes.
Utilizing Resources
Once you find a listing you’re interested in, look at the neighbourhood with Google Maps. Take note of the surrounding areas and how they fit into your “must-haves”. Look at things like your commute, the proximity to schools or parks, and the type of lifestyle that neighbourhood offers. Sproat Lake and Port Alberni call to a lifestyle rooted in the outdoors and living on “island time” (an imaginary clock where time moves a little bit slower for us Islanders). Taking this extra step and utilising online resources, will allow you to have a bigger picture before even stepping foot in a neighbourhood or home.
Virtual Showings
If viewing your potential home in person isn’t something you can easily do, ask your REALTOR® to do a virtual showing for you. Have them video call you and walk through the house, just as you would if you were viewing it in person. This is a fantastic way to get an idea of the layout of the home, take a closer look at anything you’re curious about, and see the outdoor space. It is important for these viewings to have open communication, this is your time to view a prospective home; be sure to ask your realtor questions or to get a closer look at something.
Online house shopping can take a lot of the heavy lifting out of home buying. Look at as many homes as you can, compare prices, compare neighbourhoods, and have fun.
Click here to start the process and search the most recent homes for sale in the Port Alberni Valley and on Sproat Lake or contact us here:
- P: 250.723.7653
- T: 888.246.8695
Written by Megan Warrender, at The Valley Vibe. Port Alberni’s fast growing community and online magazine. The passion here at the Valley Vibe is to showcase the beautiful of our valley for all who live here, and travel through. Working together with many talented writers, we at the Valley Vibe love to explore, discover and uncover secret jewels about Port Alberni and Sproat Lake.
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