Moving to St. Louis and Buying a Home Remotely
Embarking on a journey to relocate to a new city and purchase a home remotely, especially if you’ve spent very little time there, can be both thrilling and daunting. St. Louis, Missouri, with its rich history and diverse neighborhoods, offers a unique set of considerations for prospective homeowners. As you navigate this exciting adventure, it's important to understand and be prepared for the challenges that come with it.
In this article I'll highlight the important themes that come up for my clients time and again, the significance of working with an experienced real estate agent, and the need for performing due diligence throughout the process.
If this is your first time visiting my website I’d like to invite you to sign up for my newsletter at the bottom of this page which is full of resources to help you with relocating to St. Louis and the many decisions you’ll have to make along the way. My name is John Voirol and I’m a real estate agent in St. Louis who has helped countless families relocate here from around the world and from countless cities within the United States. If you’re searching for an agent to help you, you can learn more about my process here.
Partnering with an Experienced and Trustworthy Real Estate Agent:
Choosing an agent to help you navigate the market, evaluate homes, and ultimately make an offer may be the most important decision you make in the process of purchasing a home remotely. While there will be many others involved (e.g. lender, title company, inspector, movers, etc.) your real estate agent is the glue that holds everything together, especially when unforeseen challenges arise. A seasoned agent familiar with the St. Louis market can provide invaluable insights into various neighborhoods, hyper-local pricing trends, and the unique intricacies of purchasing a historic property.
When it comes to purchasing a home remotely, having a knowledgeable and trustworthy real estate agent by your side is absolutely essential. Here a few points worth discussing/considering as you interview agents:
Do they practice real estate full-time and sell at least 12 homes a year? According to NAR, the average REALTOR® completes a median of 12 residential transactions annually. It would be wise to partner with someone performing at this level or above, in my opinion. Selling less than 1 home a month may leave an agent with gaps in their knowledge and skills when it comes to helping a client navigate current trends and challenges in the market. At the time of the writing of this article, I personally sell 25-40 homes per year. Check here to peruse my portfolio.
Are they comfortable with technology and will they personally help you tour homes? If your home tours will be happening remotely, be sure the agent is comfortable making video calls and doing home tours on camera. I typically use FaceTime or WhatsApp and narrate to the client as I show the home. Since they can’t be there in person my goal is to convey as much detail as possible. Things I focus on include smells, natural light, cleanliness, quality of materials, fit & finish, age of systems, mold, pests, ceiling height and the list goes on. My goal is to help you feel the home, not just see it. Some agents use a Showing Assistant and don’t actually go on showings themselves so if this matters to you (it should!) be sure to discuss it upfront.
Do they have the time and capacity to be deeply involved in assisting you? Doing remote home tours the way I do is very time consuming. It takes a lot of energy to walk through multiple houses while holding up a camera and narrating the whole thing. It would be easy to disregard the important details in the interest of making a sale but I feel my role is to help buyers avoid pitfalls (e.g. failed inspections, insurmountable repair/maintenance costs) and do all I can to ensure they end up in a home they truly love. Any agent helping someone relocate to St. Louis should be equally committed to their client’s satisfaction and have time available to dedicate to providing the same level of service.
Do they have experience selling the type of home you plan to buy? St. Louis has an incredible variety of housing stock with most of the city having been built in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s, and the innermost suburbs between 1920 and 1965 (these ranges are approximate). Whether the home is a 1950s ranch, 1930s bungalow, or turn-of-the-century Tudor it’s important they’re carefully evaluated. A prospective buyer should work with an agent who can speak to the nuances of each type of architecture, including what expect from a maintenance perspective and how to perform thorough inspections in an effort to mitigate risk. An agent who sells homes exclusively in a certain part of the metro area may not have expertise in the others. Check an agent’s portfolio to see if they actually work where you want to live.
Have they demonstrated they are responsive? Few things can be more frustrating than seeing the perfect home come on the market and not being able to tour it to make an offer before it goes under contract. Set yourself up for success by choosing an agent who respects your style of communication and responds to you in a timely fashion. In my opinion a response should never take more than 24 hours and should be same-day whenever possible.
With an experienced, trustworthy real estate agent who has proven they will be responsive you can rest assured that you'll make informed decisions and receive guidance throughout the relocation process. Discuss your concerns and expectations with your agent upfront to ensure everyone is on the same page before the home search begins.
→ Schedule a consultation with John Voirol to get started on your home buying journey!
The Nuances of Purchasing a Historic Home:
Sold by John Voirol: 2335 Whittemore Place, St. Louis, MO 63104 is located in the Lafayette Square neighborhood.
St. Louis boasts a wealth of historic homes, each with its own enchanting charm and architectural significance. However, buying a historic property comes with its own set of considerations. From understanding preservation restrictions and compliance regulations to evaluating potential renovation or restoration costs, there are factors that require careful attention.
An experienced real estate agent well-versed in historic properties can help you navigate these complexities, ensuring a smooth and successful transaction while helping you to be prepared for the maintenance involved in owning a century-old home.
Don’t let maintenance responsibilities scare you away from purchasing a beautiful old home! They are such a joy to own and maintaining them is manageable so long as a few key items are kept up with. The thing to avoid is buying a poorly maintained home and spending years tending to things the previous owner should have done. As the saying goes, anyone can eat an elephant, one bite at a time!
Here are a few things I help clients evaluate when we’re touring homes:
Tuckpointing:
Over time the mortar joints between bricks begin to break down, become sandy, and crumble away. These joints keep the bricks in place and keep water out of the structure. Failed joints must be removed with a grinder and replaced with new mortar. This is referred to as “repointing” which can cost between $3,000 to $10,000+ per exterior wall depending on how tall the structure is and how difficult it is to access.
Foundation:
Most of St. Louis’s historic homes have limestone or fieldstone foundations constructed using mortar to bond the stones together as they were stacked. If these walls are not bowed or cracked their useable life can be extended by repointing, which is considered normal maintenance. It should be noted that these foundations were built when homes had dirt floors in the basement and by design they are meant to weep some water due to their porosity. Originally, any water would have been absorbed into the dirt floor whereas nowadays a dehumidifier should be running in your basement from April to October to mitigate any water intrusion. This also helps inhibit the growth of mold.
Age of Systems:
Whenever possible I try to determine the approximate age of heating and cooling appliances, the water heater, and the electrical system to determine whether replacement is imminent and/or whether they have been properly maintained. St. Louis’s many municipalities have different building codes making it important to hire a qualified inspector(s) who can determine whether these appliances meet with modern requirements.
Exotic Roofs:
Clay tile and slate tile roofs are not uncommon in St. Louis and when present they need to be carefully evaluated by a reputable expert. These roofs have incredible longevity, usually more than 100 years, but need to be carefully maintained at least every other year. Slate tiles are prone to slipping out of place and sustaining hail damage while clay tiles can suffer from being misaligned or cracked. Both have a waterproof underlayment which breaks down over time and may need replacement. These exotic roofs can cost upwards of $100k to be replaced!
An example of a slate tile roof.
An example of a clay tile roof.
Conducting Thorough Research and Due Diligence:
When buying a home remotely, thorough research and due diligence become even more crucial. You'll want to dive deep into investigating the neighborhood's amenities, proximity to essential services, and any property-specific challenges. Spend time using Google Street View to rule out properties that may have unexpected challenges such as being directly across from a school or business, adjacent to a parking lot, or in an undesirable location in the neighborhood.
Gathering information on local schools, transportation options, and community dynamics will contribute to making an informed decision. A trusted real estate agent can help you access accurate data, market trends, and relevant information to guide your decision-making process with confidence.
When people are unsure which neighborhood is right for them or how to navigate decisions pertaining to school districts, I like to connect them to my past clients who actually live in the neighborhood they are considering. This can help them get an unbiased and accurate understanding of what to expect.
Ensuring a Smooth Transition:
Relocating to a new city involves not only buying a home but also embracing a whole new community and lifestyle. To facilitate a seamless transition, it's important to secure local support services. Engaging with professional movers, municipal city halls, and local service providers in advance can streamline the process and alleviate some of the stress. Additionally, reaching out to local community groups or online forums can help you forge connections and gain insights into the unique culture and opportunities that St. Louis has to offer. I am accustomed to referring my clients to excellent service providers when ever possible, both before and after the sale.
My newsletter provides once to twice monthly updates which include a great deal of useful resources. If you haven’t signed up for that yet, I invite you to scroll to the bottom of this page to do so. Of course, you may unsubscribe anytime.
Conclusion:
Relocating to St. Louis and purchasing a home remotely is an adventure that comes with both excitement and challenges. Working hand in hand with an experienced and trustworthy real estate agent will be instrumental in navigating the complexities of the St. Louis market and ensuring a successful transaction. By understanding the nuances of purchasing a historic home (if applicable), conducting thorough research, and embracing a new lifestyle, you'll be well-equipped to make informed decisions and smoothly transition into the vibrant and historic city of St. Louis. So, get ready to embark on this remarkable journey and turn your dreams of a new home into a delightful reality.
If you’d like to get started on your journey home, click here to schedule a phone call, zoom call, or in person meeting.
