Don't House Hunt in Highland Park Without These 5 Fun Ways to Stay Organized

It might be a little gloomy of late LA but summer is on the horizon - and that means house-hunting season. While the terms “fun” and “house hunting” might not often go hand-in-hand, here are 5 fun ways to stay organized during your Highland Park house hunt this summer. It may be novel but you can actually enjoy the process of finding your new home by streamlining everything from details on open houses, your financial info, your renovation to-do list, and more.

# 5: Pin Your Must-Haves

As you make your list of must-haves for your Highland Park home, start with the basics: square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, storage space, etc. Then expand your list to include the amenities that you want: a garden, a den, a basement, quartz countertops, etc. Not only can this list help you stay on track during your house hunting, your real estate agent will use this information to find homes that meet your needs. Streamlining this process can also add a little eye-candy to your everyday – using technologies like Evernote or Pinterest can help you organize your notes and inspirational photos for the must-haves that make you swoon.

#4: Race to the Finish

Once you’ve found the Highland Park bungalow of your dreams, the worst thing that can happen is having someone else lock-in the deal while you’re still fumbling with paperwork. While most top real estate agents have a virtual contract system in place like Docusign or NuOffer to help you submit offers quickly, it doesn’t hurt to ask your agent in advance if they have the tools necessary for you to complete purchase and sale agreements online. It can save you valuable time, allowing you to come in #1 in the house hunting game.

#3: Browse and Brunch

Is Highland Park a new perspective neighborhood? The only way to know if it’s really a fit for you is to spend time there. Go for a stroll, talk with with locals, and patronize some of the local stores – that will give you a good feel. Even make a date with the neighborhood after some open houses. Find a great spot to do brunch, like Sonny’s or El Faisan y el Venado, and that can then become your weekend tradition when you do move in. Truly immersing yourself in the culture and amenities of a prospective neighborhood can be more telling than any internet search.

# 2: Make a House Scrapbook

As you explore open houses and view properties with your agent, be sure to take notes and photos in order keep organized. It’s easy to forget little details about the homes you’re viewing when you see several in a weekend. Even sketching up a quick layout of the house can be helpful. Often photos alone fail to show the home’s floor-plan. Snap a photo of the sketch and then create an individual scrapbook for each of your top contending homes. Consider using the House Hunter app to make all this house hunting just another excuse to play with your iPhone. With it you can track, evaluate, and compare homes while keeping notes and pictures at your fingertips.

# 1: Share the Journey

Lastly, having someone to share your house hunting journey with can make the experience more enjoyable. Whether it is your mom or dad, your sister or brother, your husband or wife, your best friend, or even your trusted real estate agent, having someone with you who shares your excitement and passion can make the house hunting process memorable. And, don’t forget to thank the people who helped you through the process. Check out fun apps like Postagram and Handimail for a cool way to say thanks to you agent!