7 Survival Tools for Whole Day House Hunting

99.co can help you narrow down properties to search; but in the end, you’re going to have to do some legwork. To make life easier for you first-time home hunters, here’s what you need to bring:

1. Download the 99.co app in your phone

Through the 99.co app, you can compare prices in the area, and check the price history for up to 15 years. For those of you with an investment mindset, don’t just look at the current prices – look at how the prices have moved over the past few years. You may notice a steady dip in prices for some places – such as if a new condo has come up, blocking the sea view.

Also, you want to know how many nearby listings are available. In general, more listings means more competition. It also gives you more options in the area, that you can (sort of) check out while driving or walking by. Who knows? A neighbouring development may have the same view and amenities, at a lower price.

It also helps to know the prices for other units in the same block – the unit just upstairs or downstairs might be a much better deal.

2. Get a Ride Share subscription plan

For the month that you’re house hunting, you’ll save a bundle with a ride-share subscription plan (if you’re using that option). For example, one particular company (there’s only two, you can find it) has a package where for around $60, you can get $10 off 10 rides.

Now when you’re house hunting, you’ll be moving up and down a lot. And comfort isn’t just nice, it pays off – because when you’re tired, you tend to be less thorough in your comparisons. Can you really be bothered to visit the same place twice  – once in the morning and once in the evening – to check noise levels?

That’s a pain to do; but if you can ride-share your way around the neighbourhoods, then you may be a bit more inclined to do it.

3. A good camera

You can use the one in your phone too, just make sure it’s good enough. The idea isn’t just to take pictures of pretty rooms (though by all means, do it to compare). You also want to take pictures of things like apparent cracks, discolouration, leaks, and so forth.

These can be referred to a contractor (or a very smart friend) later on, to get their opinion on the severity. You’ll also be able to raise the issues quickly when talking to the various property agents – trust us, after the 10th house, you’ll forger the problems you spotted in each one.

A good camera also helps if your spouse, children, or other family members can’t be present to view the house with you. It’s better to show a picture than rely on verbal descriptions of how “super awesome” the dining room is.

4. A checklist

It’s easy to get sidetracked when viewing so many houses. So bring along a checklist of “must-haves” for each unit. This can include things such as MRT stations, proximity to a certain school, a certain time to and from the office, and so forth.

In general, try to narrow it down to seven to 10 items on a checklist. Your first priority, when viewing any unit, is to see if it meets everything (or most things) on the list.

The list should take precedence over emotive responses – such as if you see a unit you love, but really doesn’t meet any of the essentials on your list. A one hour drive from work gets tiring a lot faster than a nice view.

5. Loose and comfy shoes

You won’t just be walking a lot; you’ll be taking them on and off a lot. Forget the high heels or stiff work shoes – go ahead and wear those worn out sneakers from your NS days.

Oh, and make sure you have socks on. We’d love to say everyone sweeps the floor before a viewing; but we’ve left a few units units where our feet look blacker than coal after we walk out.

6. Got children with you? Bring something to distract them

Do it so they don’t distract you. Children can get restless from looking at one house after another; and as anyone with a 10-year-old knows, boredom is the “on” switch for a chaos machine.

When you’re busy trying to entertain or control the children, you tend to pay less attention to the house. You’ll miss certain details, like a slight sag in the ceiling fan, or a moldy patch hidden behind a dresser. You also get tired faster, which diminishes your attention.

Another risk of having your children go crazy is breakage – you don’t want to end up paying when they smash someone’s piano, or knock over a vase. So being a toy, book, etc. to keep them engaged.

7. Try to bring at least one other set of (qualified) eyes

If you have someone who does handyman wok, or is a contractor or designer, do bring them along (bribe them with a Milo peng). They can give you a better rundown on what to look out for, as well as the likely costs for repairs, renovations, and so forth.

Even if you don’t know anyone in the industry, a friend coming along is a big help. They may know certain neighbourhoods better than you, and they may spot problems that you miss.

What do you look for when house hunting? Voice your thoughts in our comments section or on our Facebook community page.

Looking for a property? Find the home of your dreams today on Singapore’s largest property portal 99.co! You can also access a wide range of tools to calculate your down payments and loan repayments, to make an informed purchase.