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Buying a home is big endeavor when you are doing it in an area you know well. So, it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed when you are planning to move somewhere you have spent very little, if any, time. Due to it’s immense size, this is especially true when relocating to Northern Virginia. Whether you are doing a military PCS or just have a great new job offer, there are steps you can take to ensure a smoother experience.

HIRING AN AGENT

I am (obviously) going to suggest finding a real estate agent in the area. Hint: If you are relocating to Northern Virginia, please reach out! There are so many benefits to hiring an agent in general.  Therefore, when you know little about the area where you are looking for a new home, finding a local expert is going to be crucial. They will typically know the best neighborhoods to match with your priorities and can help organize your search so that when you come to pick a home, it can be done quickly and efficiently. For example, relocating to Northern Virginia can be extremely intimidating due to the fact there are so many different areas that could work for every base.

I am happy to assist you in your home buying search whether it is relocating to Northern Virginia or elsewhere. As a military spouse and “brat” I focus on helping people with relocation! However, if you are not moving to Virginia, that is okay too. I have a huge network of realtors across the country who focus on relocation as well. 

USE SOCIAL MEDIA

One fantastic way to get information about the area where you are going is to join Facebook groups. For instance, if you are being stationed at a new base, there is almost always a spouse group specifically for that base. If you are not going to a base look for a community page, for example my city has a group called “Manassas Chatter”.  These groups are fantastic places to ask questions and get answers from people who truly know. They can tell you about commutes, schools, and other neighborhood ins and outs that you may not be able to find online. There is no better source than the people who live it every day.

HINT: If you are relocating to Northern Virginia keep an eye on my website and send out a “like” on my Facebook page for a new feature I will be offering highlighting specific neighborhoods. It will include virtual tours, featured businesses and more.

PLAN A VISIT

My best advice is to visit the area to find a home approximately a month before you plan on moving there if you can and spend at least 3 days there.  Talk to your agent (hopefully me!) and let them know what those dates are so they can plan to spend every day with you. It may be best to know these dates before you decide on an agent, as you don’t want to start working with someone only to find out they won’t be able to help you when you are in town. At this point you can have a virtual consultation and let your agent know exactly what you are looking for and your biggest priorities as far as home and neighborhood. This way they can get to work for you right away.

I also highly suggest getting a pre-approval before you arrive to look at houses, the market moves fast and having this done will offer you a huge advantage. Plus, many top agents and even some sellers require this before showing homes. Check out my article on pre-approvals here. 

IF YOU CANT VISIT

If you are unable to visit and look at home before you move to the area there are other steps you can take. I still highly suggest picking out an agent and getting a pre-approval before you arrive. Having everything setup before you get there can potentially save you a lot of money in temporary housing. The home buying process is still going to take time, but if you are ready to put an offer in right away, you will speed that process along. Your agent can do virtual tours of homes with you via video chats before you arrive. This can help you narrow down the homes you want to look at in person. I even have close friends who chose their home this way and had everything done virtually before their move.

CONCLUSION

While moving to a new area can be a scary experience, it has become a bit less tedious in the current times. Technology has made it so much easier to do research and prepare for a move. Be sure to take advantage of it every way you can! If you are relocating to Northern Virginia or need help finding an agent where you are going, please give me a call at 703-969-4677 or abbiesroadtohome@gmail.com. Feel free to check out my website or follow along on Facebook for future tips on home buying!I