Moving to Portland: Deciding to Relocate and then Making it Happen
Deciding to move is life changing. Scary for some. Invigorating for others. It can come about for employment, education, better climate for health conditions, or just a deep-rooted itch that needs a good scratching. Making that decision and then buying a home via remote tours? Now that is some next level stuff.
In 2020 I met a family living in Indiana – two separate households – both looking to relocate to Portland, hopefully within the same neighborhood. They sought a fresh start in an inclusive community, walkable to eateries and shops and parks. They had visited Portland previously, so they knew they loved our Pacific Northwest climate and location.
I affectionately dubbed these clients The Indiana Sisters, and via a series of phone calls and texts, I developed an understanding of who each of them is individually, and what their respective families were looking to find here in Portland. We set up customized searches for each household. Everyone got their mortgage pre-approvals lined up first because this market moves super fast. Without a pre-approval, buyers lose out. A big scouting trip was planned for mid-March 2020. You know what happened next. All travel halted. The state shut down. And we suddenly needed to alter course drastically to keep them on schedule.
At first, we kept pushing the scouting trip back. A week. Two weeks. A month. Clearly this was going to drag on for a while. We needed a different solution. We needed to think outside the box to stay on schedule. What about video? We could do remote tours. Who says you need to be here to make the biggest purchase of your life? Do you trust me?
Moving to Portland: If You Trust Your Realtor, Remote Tours Are Your Tool for Success
When it comes to video tours, or remote tours, everything is possible. We conduct remote tours via FaceTime, Facebook Messenger Video, WhatsApp, Google Duo, etc. When a client is unavailable for a live video tour, we can construct a video tour and send a private YouTube link to view later. It is as simple as our walking through the home to give you a sense of the space, the flow, the storage, the amount of lighting, the true condition of the finish surfaces, etc. You get essentially a raw video of our reactions to what the home has to offer.
These videos are not splashy (at all). They are usually unedited (unless we add some text comments to correct a misspoken element in the audio or point out some features). The idea is that these videos are genuine; they are raw; they showcase the home for exactly what it is.
Searching for real estate from afar always starts with a good, careful review of photos, and if the listing agent has provided a video tour or a 3D walk-through, these are also super helpful. But having someone you trust walk through and chat with you about the feel, the light, in some cases the smell, where the home sits on the lot, in the neighborhood, etc. All of this is valuable information.
We are in a rapidly rising market right now. So every month of delay on a purchase can cost a buyer between 1% – 1.5%. It can mean the difference between buying in the neighborhood you want or being priced out of it entirely. Trusting in remote tours can be the edge that gets you into your desired area.
For The Indiana Sisters, it took a little while, but we found homes in neighboring neighborhoods. One of the homes was listed in the RMLS. The other required more sleuthing and beating the bushes around the office as it was an off-market, pocket listing. It was also a difficult tour because the first time we went through it, the tenants were in the process of moving out, so you can imagine how difficult a decision would be to buy a home based on a remote tour with piles of boxes, laundry, and takeout containers strewn about. But we got there after a second tour and maybe a tiny amount of arm twisting that was a little annoying at the time, but fully appreciated today for its successful outcome. I embrace the feedback, but I appreciate more that we were able to get everyone into terrific homes!
In both cases, the families saw the homes for the first time in person only after having closed on their respective purchases. I worked so closely with them and had such a strong sense of duty to them and a great sense of what they wanted. Their locations are both top notch. In fact, when their mom came to town to visit, she decided to also purchase a home near both of them. She had the luxury of seeing her home first before placing an offer, but the remainder of the purchase was done successfully from afar, with me guiding her all along the way.
We are in strange times in real estate. If you are in a position to buy from afar, you could not be in better, more discerning hands working with me and my colleagues. As Realtors in Portland, Oregon, we counsel people weekly on the ins and outs of relocating here. Having relocated here ourselves, we are deeply connected to our clients who move here, and we have a strong sense of purpose in helping them understand the neighborhoods, the geography, the vibes, the various business districts, the parks, the opportunities, and the wonderful, glorious enigma that is Portland.
We like to say, “Not all Oregonians are from Oregon.” We ourselves are from a collection of places, including California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. But our love for Portland and Oregon runs deep. And helping others find their happiness here is a purpose that drives us to give you the very best of ourselves. Every. Single. Day.
Moving to Portland? Or already here? We are Here to Help
Danni Duggan, Dana Smith, and Charles (Bud) Garrison, OR Brokers, Premiere Property Group, LLC
Danni: 503-719-2279 | danni@dannipdx.com
Dana: 503-805-0569 | dana@dannipdx.com
Charles (Bud): 503-679-1893 | bud@dannipdx.com
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