Buying a home is an exciting step in life. It can also be stressful, by creating a checklist to determine what is most important to you when looking for a home, you can make the process of searching easy and stress-free.
Neighborhood:
The location of your home and the surrounding neighborhood is one of the most critical things to consider when buying a home. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself:
- What’s the crime rate? There are several sites online that will let you check crime statistics for an area.
- How close are the grocery stores and other essentials? If you need a walkable neighborhood or something close to necessities you’ll have to factor that into your choice.
- How long is my commute? If you’re driving to the office every day you might want to buy a home close enough for a quick commute.
- How are the schools? The performance of the school district your kids would be attending is likely going to influence where you purchase a home.
Size
The size of your home is one of the most important features that will affect your daily life. It’s important to realistically assess how large or small you need your home to be to meet your needs. Try asking yourself:
- How many bedrooms and bathrooms? Whether you need a home office or have the kids share bedrooms, you’ll want a house that accommodates your family.
- How much outdoor space? If you enjoy outdoor activities or just want extra room between you and your neighbors, consider the size of the property itself.
- Do I need an attic, basement, or garage? These spaces can be used for storage, workshops, and a variety of other things.
Move-In-Ready
Do you want your home completed on day one or are you willing to put in some work? Ask yourself:
- Do I want to customize it? If you want your home tailored to you, it might be easier to start with a fixer-upper.
- How much can I invest? Whether it’s time, money, or labor, determine how much you can put into the home.
No Wrong Way
There’s no right or wrong way to choose a home. The crucial part is that you assess your needs and find a house that meets them to the best of your ability. As they say, there’s no place like home!