Home Buyers Guide

With your criteria and an established price range, your Realtor can then search the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island's database (MLS) for available properties that meet your needs. By having access to the MLS, your Realtor can offer the maximum amount of available homes to you. Realtors who work within the MLS share their listings with other participating real estate offices. As a result, the Realtor's computer takes your requirements and compares them to homes listed for sale on the MLS. An average inventory of more than 20,000 homes are searched through to find only the ones that meet your needs. A report of homes matching your criteria is ready within minutes.

Home Inspection Notes IN FRONT   Address:_______________   Condition:_______________   Style:_______________   Notes:_______________ INSIDE   Condition:_______________   Bedrooms:__ Bath: __ Living Room: __   Kitchen:__ EIK: __ Dining Room: __   Den:__ Basement: __ Heat Type: __   Taxes:__ Attic: __ Storage: __   Notes:________________ BACKYARD   Property Size:__ Fenced Yard: __   Pool:__ Patio: __ Other: __   Notes:________________

Your Realtor will arrange appointments to show the homes that fit your needs and interest you. They will usually drive you, in their car, to these homes. When you arrive, the Realtor will guide you through the home pointing out its features. Ask questions as you go through the home. It's also a good idea to take notes about each property as you view it.

Take Notes.

Take along a pad and make notations for the areas outlined in our notepad at right. An excellent way of remembering individual properties is to keep notes about things that will trigger memories, such as blue rugs, striped wallpaper in living room, big dog in yard. By the day's end, these houses have a tendency to blend together. This "association method" is one that many Realtors use, and can help you keep facts and figures straight when you go home to review what you've seen.

Keep in mind, no home will be perfect. Some things you should consider when viewing are:

• If the rooms aren't exactly what I need, can the home be modified?
• Is there room for expansion up, down, or out?
• If the condition is not good, does the price leave room for enough enhancements to make it a good deal?
• Location, Location, Location: Ask yourself, is this a nice spot? Location means a great deal. The house may be smaller, or not as nice, but if the location is ideal - this house might be worthy of serious consideration. However, if the house is great, but the location is not, you may want to think twice about this house. Optimally, you want to find a balance between the two - one that you can live with.

From The Homebuyers' Guide, by Laurie J. Bloom,
© 1999 The Multiple Listing Service of Long Island, Inc. All rights reserved.