Some buyers have a hard time finding even one listing that they like, so it seems like a happy occasion when you find multiple listings that meet your needs. However, this can quickly turn into a frustrating situation, as you may find it difficult to make a choice based on all of the available options. There are several techniques you can use to compare several homes and figure out which one is right for you. Ask your Malibu real estate agent how to use these tips for finding the best home.

Meet the Neighbors

If you end up with bad neighbors, it does not really matter if the home is beautiful or if it is close to the beach. If you plan to spend the next several decades in one of these Malibu homes for sale, you need to live near neighbors you can trust. You do not have to be best friends, but you should not have to put up with neighbors that do not keep their property neat or neighbors who regularly disturb your enjoyment of your home. If possible, meet the neighbors that surround your favorite listings. Ask them how long they have been in the neighborhood and talk about your shared interests. This can help you get a good sense of which neighbors would be most compatible with your lifestyle.

Read Reports

Comparative market analysis reports contain valuable information that you can use to make a buying decision. These detailed reports give information about the sale prices of similar homes in the same neighborhood. You will not find pricing information for a 5,000 square-foot home with pricing for a 1,000 square-foot condo since these are not similar, but you will find information for very similar listings. Read these reports to find out if sellers are asking too much for their properties. You can use these reports to narrow down your list of suitable properties.

Visualization

Savvy sellers are now using home staging to help buyers figure out if they can see themselves building a life in their homes. You can use a similar technique to determine if a home would fit your lifestyle. Look at photos of each home. Can you see yourself eating breakfast in the kitchen or reading the newspaper in the den? Do you think you will be able to get up and down all of those steps when you are older? Does the home have enough room for all of your furniture and personal belongings? Using this technique can help you eliminate homes that just do not meet your needs.

Once you have narrowed down your list of options, you can work with a Malibu real estate agent to find additional information to help you make your final buying decision. In addition to helping you find this information, an experienced agent can use his or her considerable marketing expertise to help you negotiate a good deal. This is just one of the ways a real estate agent can help you save a lot of time and money.

Russell Grether of Compass Real Estate is a real estate agent based out of Malibu, CA. He specializes in Malibu real estate, Malibu homes for sale, Malibu properties, Malibu Land for sale, Malibu rentals and surrounding area real estate from Montecito to the Pacific Palisades.