Six Essential Elements to Any New Home Search

Congratulations! If you’re reading this, chances are you are about to embark on the exciting journey to find a new home! Since it’s likely one of the largest investments you will ever make, you’ll want to be prepared on all fronts. To help you get started, Green River Builders has pulled together a list of Six Essential Elements to Any Home Search that span the gap from finding the ideal agent and builder to researching the quality of local schools and convenience of area amenities. We wish you the best of luck as you find your way “home” …

1. Find an Agent Who Has Your Best Interests in Mind: While exciting, searching for a new home can feel overwhelming. It’s important to have an experienced “sherpa” on your side who can not only guide you to the communities that check all your boxes but can also help you navigate all the processes that lie in between signing a contract and the closing table. Green River Builders is proud to partner with Platinum Key Realty of Georgia to represent home sales in the communities where we build, but did you know that they are also a full-service real estate agency representing both buyers and sellers. While we hope your home search leads you to a Green River Builders home, you can rest assured that the Platinum Key team will have YOUR best interests in mind.  

2. Discover a Builder You Can Believe In: Not all builders – or the homes they build – are created equal. Beyond the appearance of the homes a builder builds, once you’ve found a builder you think you like, you’ll want to look a little deeper than their photo gallery. Talk to your agent about the quality of construction and materials used, visit the builder’s website to learn if their brand resonates with you and view their floorplans to see if their homes are laid out in a way that will serve your family’s needs. We invite you to explore the Green River Builder website, particularly our Green River Difference and Giving Back pages to see that we’re not your run-of-the-mill new home builder.

3. Have Your Pre-Qualification Letter for a Home Loan in Hand: When searching for a new home, it’s always wise to not only have an idea of how much home you can afford, but also be assured that you have a mortgage company that pledges to back your new home loan. A great way to do both is to approach your current mortgage company for a pre-qualification letter. This will give you a competitive advantage over other homebuyers who DON’T have a pre-qualification letter in hand and might be eyeing the same home or homesite. It will also reassure your builder that you’re serious about this home purchase. If you need the name of a great mortgage lender or two, Green River Builders is happy to point you in the right direction.

4. Become “Educated” about the Quality of Local Schools: Whether you have school-aged kids, are planning to have children or know that you’ll want to sell in several years, it’s important to have a read on the quality of the schools that serve the community you’re considering. GreatSchools.org is a terrific resource for test scores, student progress, equity, academics, environment and more. It also offers parent reviews for a more candid perspective. If you’re not happy with the quality of the public schools, explore private schools in the area.

5. Explore the Local Area: Quality of life should extend beyond the four walls of your home and the amenities your desired community has to offer. Make a list of things that are important to you and explore what options are available in the local area. For instance, if you love to golf, research the golf courses and country clubs nearby. If dining out is big for you, peek online for a list of restaurants nearby and peruse their menus and reviews. The same holds true for fashionistas who love to shop. Any great boutiques within a 15-minute drive of your new home? Got little ones at home? You might want to discover the parks that are convenient to your new home. Once you’ve compiled your list of wants, as well as the potential answers, plan some fun, first-hand experiences at those locations. This can help ramp up the excitement on your upcoming move.

6. Safety Matters: Last, but certainly not least, you’ll want to ensure the safety of your family. Does your neighborhood feature a neighborhood watch? What about the safety of the local area? There are several crime-tracking websites you can check, including Spot Crime, City Protect, Family Watchdog and the National Sex Offender Public Website, just to name a few. To enhance the safety of your home, you can explore available options in security and camera systems – many of which are now digitally based and easy-to-install.

If you have any questions about launching a new home search or wish to explore one of our exciting new communities – like Trove in Watkinsville – we invite you to contact Green River Builders. Simply call us at 770-790-1096 or send us an email at greenriverbuilder@gmail.com.  

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