4 Ways to Conquer Virtual House Hunting

Written by Veterans Florida Team | Aug 20, 2019, 4:12:49 PM

Military life is unlike anything else. Whether you are active duty, separated or retiring, some of our needs as military families are only fit for a real estate agent who understands our unique circumstances. Finding a real estate agent that you can trust is one of the most important steps in the process. If you are virtual house hunting, you will need your realtor to view the home for you, assess damages or minor issues, and consider your family’s space needs. There’s nothing worse than arriving at a new home only to realize that it’s not what you need or expected.

Tip: Ask your realtor to conduct a virtual chat with you such as Facetime or Skype. This is not a perfect solution but it will give you a better perspective of the new home space and can do a better job than pictures.

Make Use of Your Network

Home searching is such a personal experience, but sometimes you have to call in reinforcements.  Do you have a close friend, relative or someone you trust in the area in which you’re moving to? If so, be sure to call on them to review your new home in your absence. Go a step further and ask them to take important measurements for you. It’s crucial that your furniture fits in the house, which is sometimes hard to accomplish with moving so frequently.

Tip: Don’t have a network in your new area? Simply ask the seller or management company for a copy of the blueprint and square footage. This can solve most problems with measurements.

Start Saving Early

Searching for a home via purchase or rental requires quite a bit of money. If you know you are planning to move soon, start saving early! Being able to access money quickly for your move is essential for things like down payments, closing costs, and other fees. This fund can also assist you in travel to see the home or attending closing in person.

Update Your Power of Attorney and Research POA for Home Buying

Did you know that your standard power of attorney is not enough to purchase a home without your spouse? In the military, anything can happen and your spouse could be absent when closing comes around. Be sure to have an updated POA and POA for home closing plus a notary scheduled for closing day. This will allow you to use the VA loan and sign all closing documents without your spouse being present to sign their share of the documents.

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