| Would you buy a car because your friend liked it? | | | | generate sales leads on potential clients. Many are |
| Would you ask a car salesman which vehicle is | | | | affiliated with real estate companies. Did you |
| best for you? The answer to both questions is | | | | know that real estate salespeople are limited by |
| probably not. | | | | the US Fair Housing Act in what they can tell you |
| How many people would move to a locale | | | | about a locale? It's not that you aren't allowed to |
| because their friends liked it? Lots. How many | | | | know (the information is available through the |
| people would ask a real estate agent which locale | | | | Census bureau), it's just that they cannot be the |
| is best for them? Plenty. | | | | ones to tell you. |
| Why is that? It's because people are only now | | | | So look for independent, unbiased, unaffiliated, |
| becoming aware of the resources available to help | | | | unrestricted advice to inform your decision. How |
| them find the best place to live. In the past, we | | | | can you tell? To be sure, review the legal |
| didn't have any alternative to seeking the advice | | | | disclosures on the web site to determine if it's |
| of people we know or had met and then guessing | | | | affiliated with a real estate or relocation company. |
| about whether a locale was really right for us. | | | | Reorder your search process. Start by |
| Imagine: you're moving to a new area. There are | | | | determining which locations are best for you. |
| dozens, perhaps hundreds of locales around the | | | | There are several web sites that provide |
| area. During your relocation, you ask friends and | | | | independent recommendations. They range from |
| colleagues who live in that area where you should | | | | asking a few simple questions to having you |
| look for a new home. You might get suggestions | | | | completely lengthy questionnaires. Pick one that |
| like: "look here, it has good schools", or "I live in X | | | | makes it easy for you to get what you need |
| and I really like it", or "try Y, there are a lot of | | | | without overwhelming you. |
| transplants there". | | | | Once you've done that, or if you already have a |
| Not being satisfied, you get in touch with a real | | | | few places in mind, get reports on those areas so |
| estate agent or relocation service and ask them | | | | you can compare and contrast each locale. Look |
| to help you find the best place to live. They start | | | | at housing, school, and demographic data to |
| asking you a lot of questions about what you like | | | | validate which locales are most appealing. |
| or don't like in a locale. Then you go out and drive | | | | Now you are ready to contact a real estate |
| around. You're still not sure. It's not that you're | | | | agent or relocation specialist. Use the information |
| indecisive; it's that you don't have the right | | | | you have to interview them. Make sure they |
| information to make the decision. | | | | know the locales you're interested in and have |
| What's more, the real estate agent may steer | | | | experience there. If they don't, find someone who |
| you to locales they know well and where they | | | | does. This is a very important decision. Make sure |
| have a lot of experience. It's not because they | | | | any professionals with whom you're working are |
| are unethical; we all tend to gravitate to that with | | | | properly qualified to help you. |
| which we are most familiar. But is that the best | | | | Once you've settled on a locale, get in depth |
| thing for you? No. | | | | information on the place. In addition to being a |
| Choosing a locale and buying a home is one of the | | | | home, your residence is a huge investment. Would |
| biggest decisions in your life. That's a lot of | | | | you invest $250,000 in the stock market without |
| pressure. Add to it the stress and uncertainty of | | | | knowing a lot about the companies in which you |
| moving and you are really in a difficult spot. | | | | were investing? No. Then, do the same with the |
| But there is an easy way out. Do your | | | | investment in your home. Review real estate, |
| homework first before contacting a real estate | | | | school, demographic, and cultural facts for the |
| agent or relocation service. Get unbiased | | | | locale to make a fully informed decision. |
| advice--use the Internet for research, the same | | | | Does that make it a sure thing that you will make |
| way you would if you were buying a car. | | | | the best decision? No, but it does maximize the |
| There are many web sites that offer "relocation | | | | possibility of being happy with your decision. |
| advice". Be careful which ones you use. Some are | | | | Knowledge is power. Use the web to put yourself |
| affiliated with relocation services and serve to | | | | in the power position when you move. |