Daily Real Estate News  |  January 5, 2009  |   Help Buyers Narrow Their Options
With so many homes for sale, some potential home buyers simply don’t know where to begin, says Sid Davis, a real estate practitioner and author of “A Survival Guide for Buying a Home.”

Here are some things Davis says shoppers can think about, so they don’t waste either their own time or that of their real estate professional by looking at every property.

• Consider square footage. On a square footage basis, small homes tend to cost more than large ones. In general, mid-size homes offer buyers the most space for the money.

• The more baths the better. The ideal is to give every member of the family his or her own bathroom.

• Curb appeal counts. Look at the address on a map and see how close it is to busy streets, big-box retailers and other neighbors that may not be attractive.

• Instincts matter, so trust them. If the buyer doesn’t like what they see in the first five minutes, it probably isn’t the home for them.

Source: Universal Press Syndicate, Ellen James Martin (01/02/2009)