My house, where can I find you?

In a market moment where the quantity and quality of supply are increasingly lacking in the face of (an obvious) increase in demand and prices, it becomes important to know which channels to use in order to search for the home that suits your needs. Here are some tips: - First of all you need to have clear ideas; therefore, when you have decided to embark on the "adventure" of purchasing a new property, it is a good idea to establish (in agreement with your family, preferably) the priority parameters (area, square footage, some essential characteristics).
- Patiently read the specialized newspapers or those newspapers that dedicate a page or inserts to real estate ads, trying to "get" them quickly as soon as they come out given that never before in this period, as we know, the "best products" are the first to go; read carefully but be wary of those ads where a brand is not mentioned or where only a mobile number is listed: behind these there are often "bad surprises" hidden.
- Pay a visit to real estate agencies (and not just those in that specific area) and have them explain their offers; the agent can also be assigned, more or less informally, to search for the house with the characteristics you have chosen; However, it is good practice to leave your details to the agencies that give you the most trust so that you can be called back immediately if an opportunity like the one you are looking for comes up on the market; almost all agencies today are equipped with sophisticated know-how with databases that allow them to always keep you updated. Do it yourself buyer? Of course it is always possible and it is part of the Italian "art of making do" to save some money (generally that of the agency) but it is not always, or perhaps almost never, worth it given that by doing so you give up the many services that a modern real estate agency can provide, not to mention the guarantees; Today, those who purchase from one of these service companies will have increasingly greater certainty about the urban planning, cadastral and ownership situation of the property through the surveys which it is now common practice to give to the customer before signing the preliminary contract. It should be noted that a sensational (and right) innovation is also gaining ground to guarantee the buyer which consists of an insurance guarantee on the sums paid as a confirmation deposit or first advance payment; rather than taking risks today it is better to rely on serious professionals in the sector, especially since individual agencies or "networks" are now often connected to firms of lawyers, accountants and architects who assist them (and assist their clients) with every doubt and problem: in practice, you only pay once for the services that you would have to entrust to three/four different professionals. Do it yourself seller? In general, what is stated above applies (services in particular), but in this case there is a fundamental element that should make the seller decide (rather than improvise) to rely on professionals in the sector: it is the filtering and selection function that a real estate agency carries out. Have you ever tried to place a real estate ad for sale? You will be "bombarded" with phone calls at all hours without having the fundamental possibility of seeing the face of your interlocutor who unfortunately is often a time waster, a curious person, a businessman or.... worse. More and more often, the agencies themselves no longer trust themselves in making appointments directly over the telephone (it involves taking people to visit other people's homes, you need to know who they are), but with the excuse of showing floor plans and photos they call them to their offices with the dual purpose of evaluating who the aspiring buyer is and, through the graphic illustration of the apartment, understanding whether they are really interested in them or whether they are just curious, only then possibly making an appointment. In short, for buying and selling properties, there is nothing better than a serious real estate agency! Arch. Paolo Padovani

source: Grimaldi Editorial