Five days. If you’re a member of the Canadian Armed Forces gearing up for relocation to CFB Trenton or another Canadian Forces Base, five days (and maybe a weekend) is all you get for your House Hunting Trip (HHT). That’s a lot of pressure to find your next home quickly, but as a leading Trenton-based RE/MAX real estate team on the BGRS third-party service provider list, HHTs are Quinte Living’s specialty. In the Quinte area and Prince Edward County, the regions surrounding CFB Trenton, there’s a lot of ground to cover, and we want your HHT to be as smooth and effective as possible. It all begins with the right preparation, so we’ve put together our top tips to ensure you and your family have a successful HHT.
Download our CFB Trenton Relocation Guide
Our FREE guide contains a ton of information about what you’ll find in the region, what you can expect from the current real estate market, and how you can best prepare for your relocation. Visit our military relocations page, and you’ll have the guide in your mailbox in no time!
Define Your Housing Needs
Before starting your HHT, sit down with your family and create a clear checklist of your housing wants and needs. Consider factors like proximity to CFB Trenton, school districts, amenities, commute times, desired property features, and your budget. Refine your criteria so you’re prepared to discuss them with the real estate agents you interview to represent your purchase. Having a well-defined list of priorities will streamline your search and ensure you focus on properties that align with your needs and make the most of your time with your real estate agent when you are in town.
Early Planning and Coordination
Start your preparations early by reaching out to experienced real estate agents well in advance of your relocation date. Military relocations present unique challenges and requirements for families and their agents, so connect with multiple agents to find the right fit for you as soon as possible. As you interview REALTORS®, factor in their knowledge of the local real estate market, understanding of posting dynamics, and whether or not you feel comfortable with your interview. Your gut will say a lot about whether a specific agent is a good fit for your needs.
Early planning allows time for your chosen agent to get to know you and your preferences for housing, schedule viewings, explore neighbourhoods, and gather information about suitable properties so that everyone is ready to hit the ground running as soon as you arrive. Ideally, you’ll want a 60–90-day buffer on the day you’d like to take possession of your new home as a generally expected closing timeline, but we also adapt well to working on the fly when posting messages come in at the last minute.
Ideally, you’ll want a 60–90-day buffer on the day you’d like to take possession of your new home as a generally expected closing timeline, but we also adapt well to working on the fly when posting messages come in at the last minute. If you plan to rent instead of buy, you can likely get away with a 30-60-day buffer. Most tenants in Ontario give 60 days notice to vacate their units, so that’s a good timeline to work with when looking at property options.
Optimize Your HHT Schedule
Time is of the essence during your HHT, so maximizing your schedule for efficiency is essential. Work with your agent to create a customized itinerary that includes multiple property viewings in a single day. A well-thought-out, strategic approach allows you to explore various options with as little travel time between locations as possible. You can make the most of your time on the ground and ensure you and your family can make an informed decision on your next home. It is so important to work with a REALTOR® who is able to prioritize your HHT, so be sure to ask about their availability and set clear expectations for your time in Trenton.
Your HHT is About More than A House
Finding a new home is the crux, but an HHT is about more than just looking at houses. Ensure you and your agent build time into your itinerary to explore the area properly. There are many things to consider beyond the house itself: nearby access to schools, healthcare, financial institutions, and other amenities can be important considerations. You also might have crucial appointments and arrangements to accomplish in your brief visit to the area, so work with your agent to tackle as many of the other aspects of your HHT as possible. They should have trusted local connections to recommend for service professionals like home inspectors, appraisers, mortgage brokers, and lawyers, saving you a lot of time and energy.
Stay Flexible and Trust the Process
While having a clear idea of your housing preferences is essential, remaining flexible and open-minded throughout the house-hunting process is also important. Market conditions and availability may require adjustments to your criteria, and sometimes, with luck, things fall into place and unexpected opportunities come up along the way.
If you’ve done the preparation to find the right real estate agent, trust in their experience and rely on their expertise to guide you through any challenges that may arise. By staying flexible and trusting the process, you can confidently navigate the house-hunting journey and find the perfect home for your family’s needs.
Partnering with Quinte Living ensures that you have a dedicated ally throughout your house-hunting journey to CFB Trenton. Military relocations are the backbone of our business, and with our personalized service and commitment to excellence, you can confidently navigate the Quinte area and Prince Edward County real estate market to find your perfect new home. Download our free Military Relocation Guide for more information about the area, the current real estate landscape, and how Quinte Living can help you have a successful HHT.
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