Everything You Need To Know Before You Start Looking For Homes during the Ongoing Pandemic

-From visiting properties to credit scores and everything in between. 

The ongoing pandemic has changed a lot for all of us. Almost every business is facing a wrath of loss due to the lockdown. Real estate industry is not foreign to it. While we all wish for situations globally to get better soon, it is wise to find out ways to make do with whatever we have with us at present. Real estate portals are also equipping themselves with modern methods to keep up with the present times. If you are looking to rent or buy a flat but do not know how to proceed with it during a pandemic then, Don't worry! We are here to help you. 

Here are a few important points to keep in mind when hunting for a new house:

Since the government advises us to stay home as much as possible to prevent getting infected with the virus, we suggest you take your search online. The internet has everything. Well, almost everything. Look for housing opportunities online. Most property selling portals have high functioning websites that give you all the information on the property in just a click. Do your research efficiently and take time in doing so. There are numerous real estate websites. Go through each one of them thoroughly before choosing the perfect house for yourself.

Found the perfect 3BHK flat in North Kolkata that meets all your criterias but don’t know how to view it? The lockdown has made it impossible for us to hop from one property to another. But thanks to technology we can drop by anywhere without even leaving our houses. Video calls and pre-recorded videos are efficient ways to check out a property without having to visit them physically. This way before booking a flat you can take the opinion of other family members as well. Video tours also give you the allowance to view a property more than once so you can make a careful decision.

Since all the work has moved to digital platforms, many real estate agencies in Kolkata have started to be more active on their pages. Don't hesitate to post queries and ask questions about the property before finalizing it. You can post as many relevant queries and they shall reply in no time. It's a good way to get complete closure about the property.

While colours say a lot about a person, paints don't say everything about the house. When going on a virtual tour of the house online, Don't forget to ask about the space and amenities in detail. A lot of things look good on the camera. While bright coloured rooms might catch your interest instantly, focus on other things such as the age of the property (i.e. when was the property built), layout, ventilation, water supply, the structure of the house etc.

Of course, it is easier to understand an area or locality when you visit it but skip the question when you're posting queries or taking a tour of the house over a video conference. Ask to see what the view outside the window is like and what kind of neighbourhood the house is in. If possible, do a digital drive by.

One thing this pandemic has surely taught us is that anything can happen suddenly. Hence, we advise you to not spend every penny of your savings on your house. While a piece of property is the best asset to invest on, it's not wise to wipe your bank account clean for it. Instead, opt for a loan. Before finalizing a property, make sure you can sign out a loan on it in future. 

If you don't know what credit scores are then don't panic! We are here for you.

Credit scores are an individual's financial capability to pay back a loan. It is an important factor to consider before buying a house. Your credit score decides your interest rate on the loan. If your credit scores are too, the bank may hesitate to sanction your loan or they may even keep the interest rates too high.

They say slow and steady wins the race but it might not be the best thing to do in the given circumstances. While we do suggest you take your time, make sure you don't wait for too long. A hundred other people are viewing the same property on the same website while you are. If you truly like the house, make an offer. If you don't, someone else you act quick will. 

These are the few things to keep in mind when buying a house during a pandemic. As a bonus to our readers, we'll also answer three most frequently asked questions about buying a property.

No, it's not necessary but is advisable. If your financial condition can allow you to make such an investment then you should surely go ahead. Real estate industry offers steady returns and it is a lot more trustworthy than the stock market.

If the property you are planning to move to is totally different from the one you are currently living in, or if it requires fixing then we suggest you hold on a bit. Building a home right now is difficult firstly for health reasons and secondly due to lack of workers. Let situations get a little better and then move into your new home. Do not move in unless it's absolutely unavoidable.

if you're making the deal with a reputed and reliable real estate agent who has bagged some good testimonies from clients in the past and if the papers seem fine then go right ahead and make the payment. Make sure you get the papers checked by your lawyer to be on the safe side. The last thing you'd want during a pandemic to be scammed.