Even during a pandemic, people still need homes. Just last month, 208 properties were sold in Lake Havasu City alone. But with social distancing orders in place here in Lake Havasu, REALTORS® no longer conduct open houses or offer in-house tours. Therefore, Virtual tours and on-line photographs become the only way for a buyer to see what a home looks like. In the age of Virtual Househunting, what do you need to watch out for and how do you navigate this new market?

Virtual Househunting

Reading the Fine Print

When you only have photos and words to describe a property (rather than a physical on-site tour), you need to learn to read the fine print. In other words, look for red flags such as more photos of the outside rather than the inside. Or covered windows (bad view?). And photos that focus on one element of a room rather than the entire room (small, cramped space?). Plus, look for descriptors like “cozy” or “fixer-upper” in the description. The agent may really be saying “small” or “money pit”.

Maximizing Virtual Tours

With the recent changes in allowing access to properties due to trying to limit exposure to COVID-19, many agents add virtual tours to the listing. This allows you a better view of the property. Sometimes, though, agents cut down the footage to keep the tour concise. (Shorter attention spans mean shorter videos to keep a viewer engaged.) Ask if the agent has any more footage you can view in your virtual househunting. Your agent might be able to arrange a walk-through themselves in which they can Facetime you at the same time to show you in real-time what the home looks like. This also gives you an opportunity to ask questions and conduct a closer inspection of areas of interest to you while staying safely at home.

Ask About the Seller Disclosure

When a homeowner sells their property, they must fill out a Seller Disclosure form (referred to as the “SPDS” form in Lake Havasu, pronounced “SPUDS”). This outlines any past issues that the seller knows about in regard to the property (flooding, electrical issues, foundation problems, etc). It also discloses the age of things like the roof, air conditioning, and pool equipment. If these things are older and might need replacing soon, that could factor into how much you offer or even whether you want to purchase the property at all.

Accepting That You Can’t Physically Visit the Home

I understand how difficult it is to fathom the idea that an actual visit to the house might impossible at the moment. Even if you’d be willing to risk the chances of visiting a stranger’s home during COVID-19, the seller might not be comfortable having you there. That’s why virtual househunting relies so heavily on things like a virtual tour to get a clear, concise picture of the property. Some options to consider if you want to look at a property include viewing empty properties (the owner has completely moved out of) or newly constructed homes that have never been lived in. Even so, make sure you protect yourself by wearing a face mask, gloves, and booties and limit what you touch when you tour the home.

Do a Drive-By Visit

Finally, take a trip around the neighborhood. While walls can be moved and flooring can be changed, the location remains constant. Check out the neighborhood from the safety of your car. Go back often, during different times of the day and on different days of the week to get a true feel for the neighborhood.

When you’re ready to do some virtual househunting, give me a call at (928) 208-5184. Or shoot me an email. I’d be happy to discuss what you want in a Lake Havasu home, come up with a list for you to check out, and help steer you in the right direction to find what you’re looking for.

Visit any of my Lake Havasu real estate sites below for more information on the Havasu market:

Liz Sells Lake Havasu
Homes for Sale in Havasu
Havasu Area Homes
Just Call Liz

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