How to use MLS when buying or selling your home
Knowing how to use MLS will open a gateway to all things Real Estate in Canada, as well as real estate in Chatham-Kent. Whether you're selling your home, or buying a new property, realtors in Chatham-Kent use MLS, and so should you.
MLS for home sellers in Chatham-Kent
Most people visit MLS to search for properties in Chatham-Kent. While selling your home, however, MLS can be equally valuable. By searching through similar properties in Chatham-Kent, you'll be able to view a number of comparables (i.e. your competition) quickly and easily. This will give you a chance to get a ballpark price for selling your home, as well as give you an idea of features and amenities other home owners and realtors are highlighting.
Searching through MLS before putting your home on the Chatham-Kent real estate market will help you see just how long some homes remain on the market, and give you a realistic guide to how long it may take your Chatham Ontario realtor to sell your home.
MLS for home buyers in Chatham-Kent
Along with a trust Chatham-Kent realtor, knowledge of MLS should be a top priority when you plan to buy a house or property. Searching through MLS to find homes you would like to visit with your Chatham Ontario realtor will help guide your search. It will also help give you ideas that you can pass along to your Chatham-Kent real estate agent so that they can narrow their own search for properties that will fit your needs.
How to use MLS, a crash course
MLS is user friendly, but if you have any questions, don't hesitate to call or email me. First, check out these tips: When you visit www.mls.ca or www.realtor.ca you'll have a choice of clicking on several links. For most people in search of a home, you'll want to select "Residential Properties".
Now that you're in, it's time to fill in what and where you would like to search. Type in Chatham-Kent, or Blenheim, or Wallaceburg, or Dresden, or wherever it is you're hoping to buy. Narrow your search by price range, bedrooms, property type, and bathrooms.
You also have the chance to search by "Map" if you're interested in browsing a larger geographical area in Chatham-Kent. After you click "Search", you'll see a map with all of the properties in the area you selected, in the price range you selected, and with the features you selected, plotted. This will again allow you to narrow your search by neighbourhood.
If you want to move a little further from the area your original map shows, simply zoom out or drag your mouse across the map in the direction you'd like to move.
After you've found a property, or several you'd like to visit, it's time to call your Chatham-Kent realtor and set up a visit. Don't go alone; it's important to be represented by someone with your interests in mind. As well, realtors often are able to get more details and a background history on a property that would otherwise be left out of your visit.
Still struggling? Have a question about real estate in Chatham-Kent? Give me a call at 519-350-0141 or email me HERE. In the meantime, check out the rest of my Chatham-Kent real estate resources or start browsing Chatham-Kent MLS listings.