Don't trust all you see online

With our busy lifestyles it’s easy to take short cuts to speed up the process. In real estate I’m finding more and more buyers are relying heavily on internet searches to find their new home or investment property. While the real estate internet sites are a good starting point they cannot replace physical inspections.

For starters, the photographs used will show the property in the best possible light. Wide angle lenses may be used and the so called view may not be directly out the living room window but only visible when standing on your toes while leaning over the edge of the balcony! By looking at the photographs alone, how will you know if your neighbour looks directly into your kitchen window or if you have a private or exposed back yard? And how will you get a good feel about the neighbouring properties and the overall suburb?

You will only get a good understanding of this if you go and look at the property yourself. The internet sites only go so far – don’t make the mistake of buying sight unseen as many do by thinking that everything you see and read online is truly reflective of the property you’re interested in.