Real EstateThe Benefits of Looking at Homes in Person vs. Online

By Terri Seignious, Guest Contributor

Moving to Charleston SC from out of town often means a buyer can be thousands of miles away from their future home location. And when buyers search for homes online, they rely on photos and descriptions from various real estate websites to accurately showcase the potential property.  It is not unusual for buyers to eliminate multiple homes and even entire areas based solely on their “internet perception. ” But unfortunately perception is not always reality, and that’s where the experience of a local “boots on the ground ” Realtor can be extremely important.

Searching for homes online has its advantages. It’s easily accessible, timely, and the options are virtually endless. However, there are some big factors to consider that you may miss by not viewing a property in person – factors that can greatly affect your purchase decision. Make sure to keep these 5 items in mind when searching for Charleston real estate online.

Photos and Marketing

Some real estate agents are very good at marketing their properties. They use professional photography and sometimes can over-enhance photos, so you end up disappointed when the property you see in person looks nothing like the photos you saw online. The opposite is also true – some listing agents will choose to use cellphone images, in which case a very nice property will be overlooked simply because the listing agent did not spend time or money presenting the home in its best light. If a home meets your specific buying criteria, but does not look great in photos, consider leaving it on your “see list. ” This is where an experienced and knowledgeable real estate agent can help you.

Geographical areas and zoning

A major factor that is often overlooked when searching for a home online are the neighbors and the surrounding area. Sometimes buyers are shocked by the surrounding properties, which would not have been obvious online. The neighborhoods around Charleston can be a bit eclectic – changing from one neighborhood to the next. A buyer may want to ask the local agent just what the overall look of the neighborhood is, especially if it is a neighborhood in transition.

In addition, area zoning restrictions can also be overlooked when doing online home searches. In Charleston, there are certain areas where it may not be unusual to hear fireworks, farm animals or the occasional shot ring out from a hunter. If any of those things are off putting to a buyer, you may want to ask your Charleston real estate agent what zoning allows in the area you’re looking to purchase.

Odors

This is something you can only experience when viewing property in person. I have walked into homes before that were stunning online, only to find out that they had 1) animal smells, 2) smoke smells, or 3) mold smells.  Strong odors are definitely a turn off to most buyers and may come with an additional cost if you’re looking to rid the house of it. There are homes that have been on the market for an extended period of time for this reason alone. Having a local real estate agent can immediately red flag this issue, as they may already be aware of this type of issue in a particular home.

cleanliness

Sometimes homes that are well-photographed look very clean and tidy in online photos. If the home has been professionally staged it will look even more well kept than it really is. HDR (High Dynamic Range) is a tool that real estate agents use to make a house shine online. This creates a beautiful story about the house, but it is very difficult to see how clean a home is from the online photos. When a buyer goes to see the house it may be far from clean. 

Finishing details

The photos online usually show the main rooms and occasionally, the outside landscaping. Many times, the details that can make a house “the house ”  are missed online. If the agent or photographer did not specifically take photos of the soft-close drawers, (or hand-crafted moldings, or floor-matching register covers) a buyer may miss the intricate details of a house that pushed it higher than its competitors. Custom-built homes have what I call “hidden benefits” like heavy insulation, steel foundation pilings, or an expensive water filtration system – benefits that aren’t highlighted in online photos. The buyer may view a home as overpriced when in fact it is just extremely well-built and has expensive features that are not cosmetic in nature.

Note: There are aspects of  looking at homes in person that just can’t be captured when searching for homes online. When you’re ready to take your search “off the screen, ” our Luxury Simplified realtors are well-versed when it comes to homes, zoning, finishing details, and neighborhoods in Charleston.