Some Thoughts to Keep in Mind When Househunting on the Illinois North Shore

Househunting can be quite a chore, but learning to do it the right way can make it a bit easier. Here are some things to keep in mind while searching for that perfect home:

Even though you have a realtor working to find you the perfect home in Glenview or Wilmette, a sign in the yard of a nice-looking place may tempt you to pick up the phone and call to see the home on your own. Don't do it! More likely than not, it will be a waste of time because if it were something that fit your criteria, your realtor would have already shown it to you.

Once you and your realtor plan to look at some homes, don't plan to do something else two hours later. It may take longer than expected to look at the listings, especially if you find something you're really interested in. And what if you decide to go ahead and make an offer? If there's something else on the bill for the rest of the day, you may not have the time and might miss a great opportunity to evaluate while the property is fresh in your mind.

Even if you're meeting the realtor at a home you're going to be viewing, drive to the next stop in the realtor's car. (It's even a better idea to meet the realtor at their office and drive from there.) This is a great time to compare notes on what you've just seen and to tell the realtor things you did or did not like about the homes you've toured. This way you also won't run the risk of getting lost searching for that Glenview address.

Some homes require that lookers take off their shoes before entering. This is much easier to accomplish when wearing some sort of slip-on shoes rather than shoes that must be tied every time they come off and go back on. If you don't want to have to tour a home in your bare feet, be sure to wear socks with the slip-ons.

Be sure to look in drawers, closets and cupboards, especially if you're really interested in the home you're touring. There's no other way to get a feel for the size or shape of a closet or how the drawers work.

If you're not into the decorating style of the person whose home you're visiting, don't say anything till you're safely tucked back into your realtor's car. Then be sure to tell your realtor, especially if what you didn't care for are things that can't be changed. A good realtor will take these things into account when determining what houses would interest you.

For a realtor who will take the time to understand just what you want, and only select houses to show you that fit your criteria, check out the Marla Schneider Team. With beautiful homes available in Glenview, Wilmette, Northbrook and the North Shore, let Marla and her team guide you every step of the way.