I Saw a House for Sale in St. Louis. I’m Interested. Now What?

Has a “For Sale” sign popped up in the yard of a home you’ve always admired? Or has a house just become available that looks perfect for you and your family? Even if you’re not already in the process of house hunting, you might be intrigued enough to take a closer look. 

But how do you begin that process, and do you need a real estate agent to do so? Here’s how to tour homes in St. Louis so you know just how perfect that property is for you.

A good place to start researching a listing is to look online. You should be able to find information on the website of the real estate agency named on the For Sale sign, you can search for the address on Realtor.com. Online listings provide a lot of general information such as the price, square footage, and number of bedrooms and bathrooms. You will also be able to tell if the house is already under contract with another buyer. 

If the property is still available and seems to be within your budget and preferred size, keep scrolling to learn more about special features and recent updates. Real estate agencies invest heavily in online marketing, so you’re likely to find professional photos and a virtual walk-through to get a sense of the layout and condition of the home. This makes it possible to get a good look at a house for sale before scheduling an in-person showing.

While online listings can tell you a lot, there’s nothing like walking through a home in person. There are a few ways to tour a property you’re interested in seeing:

Attend an Open House

An Open House will allow you to walk through the home without an appointment. You might see the date and time of the open house listed on the sign, or you can find details on the listing realtor’s website.

Most often, someone from the listing office will be present during the open house. They are there to answer questions you may have and provide general information about the home. However, as a potential buyer, you will need to look for further details that will tell you whether this property is a good fit for your needs and budget. It’s a good idea to go through a checklist that includes:

• Taking note of any updates you would want to make, since those will involve extra costs. 
• Inquiring about the age of the roof as well as the HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems. You could end up with a money pit if any of these are in need of major repairs.
• Measuring the size of rooms to see if your current furniture will fit. 
• Asking about property taxes and HOA fees.
• Asking what the current owners plan to leave behind, such as window treatments and appliances. 
• Noticing signs of structural issues, such as wall cracks or water stains, that might serve as red flags. 

Make an Appointment to Tour the Home with Your Buyer’s Agent

If you’re working with an agent but you found a home on your own that you’d like to see, your agent can make an appointment to tour it. There are definite advantages to having a realtor on your side, as they will be knowledgeable about how to tour homes in St. Louis.

Your agent can help you determine if the house is fairly priced, since they have inside information about the neighborhood and recent homes that have sold there. They will also be able to warn you about potential problems. For example, certain areas might be prone to flooded basements or cracked foundations.

And, if you decide the house is worthy of an offer, your agent will negotiate the price and take charge of all of the inspections and paperwork. 

Contact the Listing Agent

If you don’t have a buyer’s agent, it’s perfectly acceptable to contact the listing agent directly to see a house for sale in St. Louis. It’s best to be honest if you’re in the early stages of looking or are just mulling over a move and aren’t completely committed. Agents know that the potential for a casual shopper to become a serious buyer is always a possibility, so they’ll still be happy to show you the house.  

When showing interest in a house on your own, the seller’s agent might present you with a Missouri Broker Disclosure Form. This is simply a disclosure of their professional responsibility to the seller. If you end up hiring a buyer’s agent, your agent will have you sign the same form to indicate that they will act in your best interest.

If the sign in the yard says For Sale By Owner, you or your agent will need to contact the owner for a showing. Sometimes, By Owner sellers have no problem working with a buyer’s agent, but sometimes they refuse to show the home if a buyer is working with a realtor. If that happens to you, it might be a blessing in disguise. 

Besides wanting to keep more profits for themselves, a By Owner seller who refuses to work with a realtor could be overpricing the property, hiding important things about the history of the home, or refusing inspections. It’s well worth it to have an agent involved who knows the current value of area homes and can ask for proper disclosures.

In St. Louis’ hot housing market, buyers need to be ready to act fast. Low inventory means that a desirable house might get several offers, so you’ll need to move quickly if you’re serious.

First, you’ll need to meet with a lender as soon as possible. In a perfect world, you’ve already been pre-qualified for an amount you can afford, which is how you know the house you love is within your budget. If that hasn’t happened yet, your realtor can point you in the direction of a great lender that will get you the best rate. Agents at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties have an partner lender, Nations Lending, who can get you pre-qualified right away.

Next, you and your agent will write up an offer. Another great thing about working with a good  realtor is that they know how much other buyers are willing to pay, so they will advise you on whether to stay below, right at, or above asking price. They will also write any other requests you have, such as for the seller to pay closing costs and what kinds of inspections you’ll need before closing.   

If the seller chooses your offer, your agent will set up all inspections and schedule a closing date that works for you. If the seller doesn’t accept your offer but is willing to negotiate, your agent will keep working until you reach an agreed-upon price to make the home yours.

If or when you find the perfect home, you will want an agent on your side who knows the St. Louis market. Our team is here to walk you through the home buying process from beginning to end. Contact us today and we’ll be ready when you are.