Getting to know your possible new home

Though the amount of houses available to buy is low, real estate agents in the Five Towns said it is a good time to purchase a house and they remain busy as many people are in the market.
Historically, once the summer ended and school began, the fall season was not typically a time to sell a home, but Marsha Ander of Coach Realtors in Hewlett said that has changed.
“There is definitely a different mindset, as we are seeing the millennials and Generation Xers who have no children yet or younger children not yet school age,” Ander said. “They are looking for a superior school system and moving up from a starter home to middle-priced homes.”
Ander said that the Internet has changed shopping for a house with such sites as Trulia and Zillow having open house calendars. Those looking to buy a house do cost comparisons and can view virtual tours before heading out to shop, but she said there is no substitute for actually seeing the prospective home.
“You should stand in the house and see what it feels like,” she said.
Attending open houses also helps to create a bond between you and an agent, according to Susan Pugatch of Pugatch Realty Corp. in Woodmere. “It makes it very comfortable for a buyer to reach out and see the neighborhood, and it is a casual way to meet an agent and decide if you want to work with him or her,” she said. “It is a nice way of starting a client relationship and showcasing a property.”
To best showcase their house, Ander suggested that homeowners declutter and clean out their closets – no more than half full – remove family photos and paint, if needed. “If you can’t fit your stuff in the closest how would a buyer think they can,” she said. “Check your roof for leaks, check house for smells, clean up the landscaping, clean carpets, open the blinds, not too much drapery, have a light, airy, clean smelling house. You have one chance to make a first impression.”
Prospective buyers should look for defects in the house and look to envision if the home meets their lifestyle. Does it have enough square-footage? A den? What’s the number of bathrooms? Is it close to parks? What about the school district?