SLAM Criteria for Comparing Houses for Sale in Oklahoma City
It’s called SLAM: an abbreviated approach that helps Oklahoma City house hunters to quickly sort through listed houses for sale. Oklahoma City homes that compare well using the SLAM categories warrant further investigation.
The four parts of the SLAM list:
Schools. The eventual resale value of a candidate property isn’t usually given much consideration early on—but should be. A major issue when it comes to resale is the neighborhood’s school district rating. Schools head the SLAM list because—especially for those who don’t have school-aged children—the quality of a property’s school district is easy to overlook. It can also be an indicator of other community quality issues.
Location. It’s the key element that can’t be adjusted, improved upon, or glossed over—and why “location location location” is the cliché that won’t go away. Houses for sale in good neighborhoods are listed at prices that reflect location’s importance. In a single word, it incorporates the quality of neighboring properties, proximity to activities, shopping, transportation, and workplace—as well as more elusive factors like neighborhood noise levels and even compatibility with the neighbors themselves.
Age. This is where personal taste factors are most likely to tip the scale. House hunters may be open to both new and existing houses for sale, but it’s important to acknowledge the advantages and disadvantages each brings to the table. The charm of an older home should be balanced against the expected convenience of newer mechanical systems. If style preferences are major considerations, they register here.
Monthly. The last part of the SLAM list is the budgetary element: the cost in time and dollars that supporting a residence will entail. The value of houses for sale is usually ranked by that top line asking price number—but a better calculation is one that includes prorated property taxes, expected maintenance expenses, insurance payments and neighborhood association or condominium fees in addition to the mortgage payment. If there are gardens to tend, the time element may be part of the calculation (although that can be a positive if you are a green thumb hobbyist).
The SLAM checklist is a shorthand way to quickly assess many of the factors that wind up heading House Hunters Top 10 lists. There are no hard-and-fast scoring guidelines, but if more than one of the four elements come up with definite minuses—it’s probably a good idea to move on.
This May there are many appealing Oklahoma City houses for sale—and helping you whittle the field down to those that will best fit your family is a service that will save you time and energy. Call me whenever it’s time to get started!
