How Do I View a Home That I Like?

If you’re a prospective home buyer, you might be wondering, “How do I view a home?” If you’ve been house hunting online and have found a home you’re interested in, you may not know what next steps you should take.

Do you let your realtor know you found a home you like? Do you reply to the listing directly, or reach out to the listing agent?

In this post, our realtors at Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty - Phil Aitken Home Team will answer some common questions about viewing homes. That way, you can confidently view and make an offer on a home you’re interested in.

What Is the Best Way to Schedule a Viewing of a Home That I Like?

The answer to, “How do I view a home that I like?” depends on your situation. You have a few options:

• If you’ve already hired a realtor, let them know so they can schedule a showing and accompany you to the home.
• If you don’t have a realtor, schedule a self-tour directly online through the listing
• View a virtual 3D or video tour

Typically, the buyer’s agent will schedule and show the home and the listing agent won’t be present. However, it’s possible to have the listing agent perform the showing instead, or work out an alternative plan for who will handle showings.

Can I View a Home Without My Realtor?

Yes, it’s possible to view a home without a realtor, whether you’re already working with one or not. Depending on the listing, you can schedule a home tour on your own. 

In some cases, once you submit your information, you’ll be assigned a buyer’s agent. In other instances, you can view the home completely on your own. 

If you do have a realtor, it’s important to keep them up-to-date about any open houses or showings you attend on your own, so they have a better understanding of what you’re looking for.

Can You View a Foreclosed Home?

Yes, you can view a foreclosed home before purchasing it. In fact, it’s especially important to tour a foreclosed home. 

Seeing the home in person will give you an accurate idea of its condition, since foreclosed homes are sold as-is. To set up a tour, you’ll reply to the listing or have your buyer’s agent reach out to the listing agent.

Can You View a Short Sale Home?

Yes, you can view a short-sale home before purchasing. Short-sale homes aren’t listed any differently than typical homes for sale. When you find a home you’re interested in, you’ll go through the same process as you would for any other home.

Can You View a House Without Pre-Approval?

Yes, you can view a home without pre-approval, particularly if you’re early on in the home-buying process. But if you find a home that you’re serious about making an offer on, it’s important to have a pre-approval letter in hand to help you stand out from other buyers. 

In addition, getting pre-approval before house-hunting can be beneficial, as it helps you know how much home you can afford. It also makes it easier to make a competitive offer right after viewing the home.

Can I View a House Without Selling Mine?

Yes, you can view and purchase a house without selling your current one. If you do plan to sell yours but just want to buy your next home first, you can include a sales contingency in the contract. 

This contingency will mean the purchase of the next home is dependent on the sale of your old home closing. That way, you can use the profits from the home sale to purchase the new home. 

However, contracts with contingencies are usually less desirable to home sellers, so you may have a harder time getting your offer accepted.

Can I View a House That’s Under Offer?

It is possible to view a house that is under offer or has a pending sale, as long as it isn’t officially marked as sold. Whether a home is still open to showings while under offer is up to the seller. 

If the seller has agreed to allow viewings during the sale process, then you can visit the home. Sellers might do this so they have a backup option in case the current deal falls through, or to create more competition in hopes of finding a better deal. 

But keep in mind that if the sale is already in progress, you may not have much negotiating power or time to make an offer.

How Long Does a Typical Home Viewing Last?

Depending on the size of the home, a showing can take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. But there’s usually no hard limit about how long you can stay in the home, unless another showing is scheduled right after yours.

Can I Take Photos or Videos of The Home During the Viewing?

No, home buyers typically aren’t allowed to take photos or videos of the home during a showing, unless the home seller states otherwise. If you’d like to take any photos, you’ll need to get permission from the listing agent.

What Should I Do If I Like The Home After The Viewing and Want to Make an Offer?

Once you find a home you like, let your realtor know so they can help you make a strong and competitive offer. If you don’t have pre-approval yet, get it as soon as possible. It can take seven to ten days to get pre-approval, so be sure to get the process started so you can have your letter in time to make an offer.

Once the offer is accepted by the seller, you’ll need to put down earnest money and work with your lender to finalize the financing. Your agent will guide you through the entire process until the transaction is closed.

How Do I View a Home in Jacksonville, Florida? – We Can Help

If you’re wondering, “How do I view a home?” reach out to Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty - Phil Aitken Home Team. Our realtors have been serving Jacksonville, Florida, for years. During that time, we’ve built a reputation for our selling speed. On average we sell homes four times faster and for 2.7% more money than other realtors in Jacksonville.

On top of that, we offer unique seller guarantees, such as our Guaranteed Sale Program. With this guarantee, your home will sell within your desired time frame– no matter what. If not, we’ll buy it ourselves.

To learn more about working with our team, give us a call at (904) 544-5252. You can also fill out the form below for more information.