House hunting during lockdown | 4 smart tips for finding your dream home online

There are actually some very good reasons to keep your residential property listing active during the remaining one-week nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, says Tony Clarke, managing director of the Rawson Property Group.

"Firstly, buyers will not be making the rounds to show houses during this time, but they're definitely going to have plenty of time to browse online listings while keeping their distance at home," says Clarke.

Start your property search here
 

Mike Greeff, CEO of Greeff Christie's International Real Estate says now is the ideal time for buyers to continue looking - the repo rate has dropped by 1% making it the perfect time to get a home loan at a favorable interest rate and due to the lockdown, buyers have more time to look for properties online.

As convenient as searching online is, there are things you could do to maximise your search and help you find the perfect fit - without having to waft through multiple listings.

Technology allows property experts to value a home digitally. "We encourage real estate agents to be ready to accommodate any situation thrown their way, including moving their show houses into the virtual space," says Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, Adrian Goslett.

"To combat the spread of this disease, open homes will soon take the form of Facebook Live tours. Events could be scheduled and a live walkthrough will be held by the homeowner through a virtual watch party."

Antonie Goosen, Founder and Managing Director of Meridian Realty agrees saying, "We live in the digital age, and it is incredible what can be done these days through online systems and platforms. Use it! This may just be a game-changer during the pandemic."

Read: Should you be hosting virtual show houses during Lockdown? What the experts suggest
 

Greeff offers these useful guidelines:

1. Determine your ideal home

The first step to finding your dream home is knowing what you want and what you're looking for. Make a list of the must-haves, deal-breakers and non-negotiables that you're looking for in a property.

Ask yourself:

- Free-standing or sectional title?

- How many bedrooms/bathrooms do I want?

- What is my preferred erf size?

- Do I want a 'ready-to-move-in' property or am I looking for a fixer-upper?

- Are you wanting to live in a gated estate?

Once you have determined what kind of home you want, you can narrow down your online search even more.

2. Decide on a budget and stick to it

Second to knowing what you want, is knowing how much you're willing and able to spend. Most online property portals have affordability calculators which can be used to determine an estimated home loan amount that you would qualify for.

Calculate what home loan amount you can actually afford
 

Tip: The best way to know the home loan amount you qualify for is by getting pre-approved from either your bank or bond originator. The pre-qualification certificate is cost-free and obligation-free and is solely there to help you know what you can afford. It also speeds up the process when you do find your dream home.

Once you know what your budget is, it will make your online search much easier as you will be able to filter the listings according to your price range.

Greeff suggests that you make sure that when searching for your home, you are within your budget but also leaving some room to negotiate in case there are multiple offers on the property you want. By leaving some room to negotiate, you will be able to put in your offer, without adding financial strain, and you will be able to secure the property.

3. Location is everything

Knowing what you want and knowing your budget are the key essentials when searching for a home but so is the location you choose. Every neighborhood has its own qualities and they each cater for different lifestyles and in turn, different buyers.

"When searching for a home, you need to consider the type of lifestyle you have and if possible, try to gauge any changes in lifestyle for the next 5 years," says Greeff.

For example, if you have a family, you might consider an area where good schools are located whereas if you are just starting out and have no dependents, you might choose an area close to the CBD.

Once you have found the property, dig a little deeper into the area and ask yourself the following questions:

- Will it be an easy commute to work and/or the kids' school?

- Is it close to a shopping center?

- How close is it to the major freeways?

The above are just examples of the factors you should consider when looking for a home. They play a very important role in the value of the home over time as well as aiding in your overall wellbeing.

4. Set up alerts

It's not likely that you'll find your ideal property on your first search but do not give up hope. The beauty of online searches is that you are able to save your filters and set up email alerts so when a property that fits your profile is listed, you will be notified. This is a sure-fire way to ensure that you're the first to know when a potential property becomes available - making it easier for you to be one of the first to place an offer.