THE CONSEQUENCES OF CURB APPEAL – The Mommies Reviews

THE CONSEQUENCES OF CURB APPEAL

Real Estate Expert Shares How to Avoid the Pitfalls of
Buying & Selling in the Age of Zillow,

The season of home sales is upon us! Right now people across the country are staging their homes, sifting through listings, and comparing Zestimates all in the hopes of buying or selling a house this spring.

While digital platforms like Zillow and Trulia augment many aspects of real estate, navigating the housing market is not easy. Whether you’re selling, buying or staying put, OR if you are using an agent or not, here is what you need to know about buying and selling in the digital age.

According to luxury real estate expert, Eddie Perez, a digital desire to find a dream home may cost consumers additional time and money.

“Understanding yourself is a huge part of home buying. Thinking about your lifestyle and the micro-dynamics of the market is crucial and that is the downfall of these autonomous sites…”

…says Perez, who has seen first-hand the pitfalls of buying and selling in the digital age. A seasoned realtor, Perez stresses the importance of understanding the person before the property.

First-time home buyers– primarily millennials– are used to purchasing everything online and on their own. They are drawn to the aesthetics, attracted to the curb appeal offered by Zillow and Trulia. It’s useful to compare these platforms with dating apps, with too many options. Swiping furiously to choose the Perfect House could actually paralyze decision-making. Before getting sucked into this vain cycle of home shopping, ask yourself important questions: What do you like to do? Do you like to entertain? Are you a homebody, looking for space or convenience? What kind of lifestyle do you want? Do you have pets or kids?

Digital home buying obscures the little things that make a big difference in home quality. Rather than focusing on the visual details, Perez says to focus on the micro-dynamics of the market. You may not know that your dream home’s garbage pick-up is scheduled for the wee hours outside your bedroom. Knowing the right questions to ask is vital. What’s around me? How is it going to change throughout the day? Will a church bell ring every day? Is this street an ambulance route? Digital home buying won’t answer these questions.

On the flip side, selling your home is no easy process, in terms of both the actual logistics and the emotional connection you often have to your home. The internet disproportionately rewards those who don’t need help in the first place (of course the prettiest biggest houses with the most curb appeal sell.) Pricing a home is another huge issue. Often sellers overprice. Of course, people want to make the most they can from selling their house, but putting a higher price doesn’t necessarily do that. When pricing a home you have to do it in the context of supply and demand. Platforms like Zillow are often inaccurate which can mislead buyers and sellers.

For sellers, it is very difficult valuing homes on your own because every house is in a different location, is in a different condition, and every seller has different motivations. Digital platforms may end up costing the seller even more money because they sell their house for less than market value without seeing comps or getting an expert opinion.

“No matter what side of the transaction you are on, navigating a real estate purchase is very tricky. In a worst-case scenario, your deal would be for the wrong home, at the wrong price, with the wrong terms…”

…says Perez who is on a mission to educate home buyers and sellers on the pitfalls of real estate purchasing in the digital age.

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