Top 3 Tips for Silicon Valley Home Buyers

I have tips that I give to all of my buyers, and these three tips are some of the most important. They'll help you learn everything you need to know about a home you're thinking of buying.

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report.

Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale.

Today I wanted to give you three tips to help find the right home for you. Some may seem like common sense, but some are tips that you may have never thought of.

1. Do your research. What I mean by this is check out the neighborhood, see what the other homes in the neighborhood look like, and check out the school district (even if you don't have kids, schools will affect resale value) on greatschools.org. You also want to drive around the neighborhood and see what amenities the home has to offer. Are there parks and shopping centers nearby? How close is it to the freeway? Also figure out what your commute would be if you lived there.
2. Visit the home at different times. When you view a home, you'll probably go with your agent or see it during an open house, both of which typically happen during the day. What you want to do is drive around the neighborhood at nighttime to get a sense for the neighbors and how the neighborhood is at night. During open house times, people will see the open house sign and be on their best behavior, but come nighttime on a Friday or Saturday, you'll really be able to get a sense of what the neighborhood is like. Is it quiet? Is there partying? Are there nuisances nearby?
3. Ask for the reports. Most sellers these days are doing reports like termite reports, property inspections, and roof inspections, which are usually available to buyers. Your real estate agent is not a property report expert; they may have some general knowledge, but not as much as an inspector. For that reason, you want to look at those reports and consult with an expert in the area. If you don't understand something in a report, you can also call the inspecting company with questions. You can ask for the specific inspector who checked the home out and ask them questions to shed more light on the report.

“

Viewing the neighborhood at night can shed new light on what it's truly like.

”

These tips are handy for anyone buying a home, and I always tell them to my buyers. If you have questions about this topic or about Silicon Valley real estate in general, give me a call or send me an email. I'd love to help you out.