10 Tips to Finding a Great Home in Scottsdale

 

Over the last 20 years negotiating purchases of some of the most beautiful homes in the world, I have learned a number of invaluable tips for home buyers that I will share with you. These 10 Tips to Finding a Great home in Scottsdale will help you find not only the best home for you and your family but best long term investment.

 

1. Tip #1  When relocating - The first step is, have fun and explore.  And yes, having fun should be part of the Home Search process.  So Guide Tip #1 Explore and explore some more...Often time home-buyers relocating from a new city will call a Realtor and because that Realtor lives in...OR likes a certain area, the Realtor will, suggest and promote that area. Remember, "that a Realtor may have an entirely different interest and lifestyle than you". I have met many home buyers dismayed after buying a home in the Realtors preferred city or community;  because they discover a new area they love. An area, that unfortunately was never introduced to them. With this in mind, I always offer my clients tours of various communities, cities and areas with different lifestyles and conveniences. The more you know, the better your home buying experience.

Quick analogy; My favorite home stager is a the sweetest, most well traveled person ever,  so when I went on a weekend excursion to a city she often visits... I asked her for her restaurant recommendations..."she raved" about one restaurant and said," I had to go ! "  So I went, and long story shorter,  the food was greasy and had no flavor except 'grease & salt' . Then I remembered, my wonderful stager friend loves greasy - salty food. Moral of the story is this...What is GREAT for someone else, may not be for you. So Explore.

 

Exercise for Tip #1 is make a list.. It doesn't matter if you are as smart as Albert Einstein, are a CEO of a Fortune 500 Company or a world renowned celebrity ... write a list of your TOP TEN most important wishes for your home in order of priority. For Example #1 1. Kid friendly community 2. Four or more bedrooms - plus office 3. Large yard #4 Close to shopping and restaurants .. etc   Example #2  1. Gated community 2. Views 3. Five car garage
4. Guest house etc.. Make a written list in order of priority, I promise,  you will thank me.

 

*Once you discover the city/community that feels good to you.  You can start with the search tips below.. however similar to finding "love",  sometimes you will find perfect home outside your parameters. So stay open. So although there are 10 great tips to finding a great home in Scottsdale, there are sub-categories and nuances.

 

2. Tip #2 Go for the Gold - Once you discover the area you want to be in, whether you have a luxury budget or first time home buyer budget;  #1 Find the best, most expensive community, then neighborhood within the community you can afford comfortably.  Or if you are younger or older with an adventurous spirit that enjoys seeing change and growth and the "vibe of trending areas".  Look for areas having significant signs of transformation with large influxes of capital. In other words and again.., Once you discover the area you want to be in - Rule #1 Best Area - #2 Then the best street

#3. Then best lot - #4. then the best house !!  All four ! Following this guide will help you protect the investment aspect

of your dream home. Remember - Achieving this goal, going for the gold is 100% attainable for you -  especially with patience and a talented, honest, knowledgeable real estate agent.

 

3. Tip #3 Touch & Feel   Familiarize yourself with the areas of interest, once you've narrowed it down. See as many homes as you can  comfortably view that match your goals or are similar to those.  Even homes that are not a match will help you by 'comparison analysis'  help you secure and negotiate the Best Home. Home shopping can be like any other shopping. For example,  I wanted to buy a new Black BMW... As basic as that sounds, it took 4 months to get the exact one I wanted... and I called every dealer in California and Arizona.  Point being, You may look at every new listing that comes on the market and it may take months or even a year to find the perfect one; especially if you have good taste and are looking between 1.5 and 10 million. However, in spite of the time expended,  never settle.. if you are not "excited" about a home you see, it's not the one. To emphasize, if you don't love the home you are considering, keep Looking.

 

4. Tip #4  BEST KEPT SECRET . One of the very best and least used tools for finding the very best home for

sale...and an "Exclusive Service"  I offer every client is to search "Exclusive Off Market Homes ". These are the "Best of the Best homes" that may never reach market before selling to a private buyer. Your perfect home may ... or may not be in this shadow inventory...but search here too!  You never know where your jewel home will show up. Call me at 480-4504632 (or click link) so you may view  EXCLUSIVES/Privately Listed - Off market homes.

 

5. Tip #5 Home Search Web Site tip. My clients sometimes look at dozens of sites looking for homes. It is important to realize, ALL LISTED homes on ALL sites come from one source - The MLS.  My site is a direct feed from the Realtors MLS . You have the access to every home listed within a hundred of miles of Phoenix. Are all search sites the same ?? No... for example, some of the national big name sites etc .. have filters that actually prevent some listings from showing up.  It is not uncommon for Phoenix and Scottsdale home listings NOT to show up on the big national web sites.

 

Home Search Sites such as - Scottsdale-Homesforsale.com  and  ParadiseValleyHomes-ForSale.com are the best because, they are exclusive with direct Realtor feeds from the Realtor MLS and have no filters. Every home listing from every Real Estate Broker in the State of Arizona is on this Scottsdale-Homesforsale site. A Sotheby's International Realty Site. The #1 Luxury Home Broker in Arizona.

 

6.Tip #6  How about " Homes For Sale by Owner " or "Make me an offer- homes for sale" or Craigslist homes for sale?  These are all additional viable searches; It does not hurt to search all of these, However BEWARE.

Often times, you will be dealing directly with the seller and his idea of a fair price or the "seller's agent" idea of a fair price may not be true market value. More importantly,  there are dozens of additional pitfalls and dangers. A whole book can be written on the concern issues. Unless you're the type to risk representing yourself in a serious legal proceeding, always have an honest agent, with ten or more years experience represent you.  For example, some of the many details home buyers do not place enough emphasis on, is,  the home inspection, title issues, disclosures. Only the very best, most experienced Realtors are qualified to guide you through that process. Furthermore, there dozens more contractual items to contend with. Always have an experienced 100% honest Real Estate Agent represent your interest.

 

 

7. Tip  # 7  New Construction Homes for Sale. How to acquire the very best NEW construction homes for sale. For access to all the new construction homes available in Phoenix - Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. Please call me. I could write a book on this tip alone. I will be happy to discuss all the options and available inventory with you. In my case , I have many of the best luxury builders and production builders on speed dial... so in a short time I can give you the locations of upcoming new construction homes before they hit the market.

 

 

8.  Tip #8 _ Consider Grandmas house... Can't find what you are looking for in your budget.. consider a home needing remodeling for sale in the area you want to live in. I can't tell you how many times I have sent a client a home in a great area needing a little updating that they passed on..then sending them the same home 45 days later after a remodeler literally painted the house & cabinets and changed the flooring & raised the price $300,000 and they would say, " OMGoodness.. that the perfect house" !  Feel free to call me and ask me about those. Homes for sale from $500,000 to 5 million needing a little updating TLC.  Of the 10 Tips to Finding a Great home in Scottsdale this one will be most important for those looking to build equity in a home.

 

9. Tip #9 - Be a Team Player with your Realtor.. and keep him/her informed on any changes you are feeling or goals that may have changed as you search. Noting - You should never feel pressured or rushed.. until you actually find the home you love.. then yes... hustle up!  and get your offer in..

 

10. Tip #10 - Maintain your Character and Integrity.. A home is a special place on so many levels, Look for it with kindness and decency towards everyone involved in the search and transaction. In my entire career, I have worked with the most successful, amazing, wonderful people in the world... I only had one instance where a buyer was just very immoral and indecent during a search...and I will always remember how I felt thinking, "Wow! Is this how he wants to buy a home for his family to live in?"

Have every aspect of your search be special with love and kindness and that is what will be imbued into your home.

Your goodness really does come back to you.
Call me , It would be my honor to help you find that very special home.

Michael Chaisson, Realtor
RL Sotheby's International Realty
Premier Client Services
Ranked Top 1% Nationally
Circle of 26 Excellence Award Recipient

TOP 50 Realtors - Phoenix Magazine 2022