Warning: pictures can be deceiving.

Have you ever seen pictures of something that you thought was going to be the greatest thing ever only to find yourself highly disappointed when seeing it in person? And no, I’m not talking about your Bumble date from last night…

I was recently catching up with a dear friend of mine and gawking over her in-laws new construction home in Augusta, GA. I saw a few pictures of it featured on Facebook, but I wanted more. She happened to be there visiting at the time, so you know what we did? We hopped on FaceTime! Oh, the wonderful world of technology. Whether you see it as a curse or a blessing, there is no denying that it makes a difference in our way of life.

I was able to SEE the details as she virtually walked me through the beautiful, wood front door off the spacious front porch. I could get a feel for the actual size of the yard, how close they were to the neighbors and how open the floor plan was upon entering. Better yet, I could get a feel for the floor plan as a whole! I had her zoom in on the countertops and the hardwoods and show me the various fixtures. And to top it all off, I could envision myself enjoying a glass of wine on the patio by the outdoor fireplace and immediately wanted to invite myself over to do so. Now, that is how a home tour should feel!

You know what can’t show you all of these details? Pictures.

Needless to say, I had an epiphany! Why not use FaceTime (or video tours, if you haven’t jumped on the Apple bandwagon yet) for out of town clients and go on home tours with them from afar?

There’s no denying that Atlanta is a hot place to “eat | play | live”. It is almost always ranked as one of the best places to live and/or relocate to for work and recently scored a slot in Forbes Where to Invest In Housing In 2017. That said, if there is a new job opportunity or relocation calling you to Georgia, one of the big questions running through your mind is probably where you are going to live. Whether you want to be ITP (Inside The Perimeter) or in “the burbs”, how do you know you’re moving to the right place when you’re from out of town?

If you are single and ready to mingle, your “must-haves” may include things like good a walk score and great nightlife. If you have a family, your “must-haves” may include a neighborhood with a pool, good schools and a fenced-in back yard for your dog. What do you both have in common? The need for a Realtor who will go above and beyond to help you find you the perfect place to call home while you’re navigating the home search from another state.

Since the housing market is so hot these days, it is not unheard of to have someone put an offer on a house sight unseen so they can scoop it up while they can. Although some are probably very against this, it does work out for others (check out this story). If you’re already spread thin trying to keep up with your current work+life balance, hopping on a flight every time you want to see a house probably isn’t in the cards. Not to mention, the market doesn’t leave any room to wait these days.

So if you’re ready to buy and don’t want to get yourself in a temporary living situation, what do you do? By making sure you have a Realtor who can get honest with you and is willing to go the extra mile to make sure you find what you’re looking for, you may just save yourself from a good bit of unnecessary stress.

Stay tuned for more neighborhood spotlight blogs to see if there is a specific area of town that calls your name! OR task me with a new area of town to feature in my next blog if a move is on the horizon! #challengeaccepted