When it comes to house hunting, everyone goes in to it with a different list of requirements. While the specifications for each of us might vary, it’s important to get a clear idea of what you want and what you need before starting your search. It will make the shopping, and comparison shopping, a lot easier, especially when you whittle down the choices to your “short list.” Here are a few suggestions:
- Size. Decide how much space you realistically need now … and in the future. Ideally, you don’t want to move more times than necessary, so will this new home be good for your needs now? In five years? Ten years?
- Yard. Is a front and/or back yard important to you, or do you want to go the low-maintenance route with a condominium instead.
- Location, location, location. It’s important, plain and simple. Are you close enough to your employers? Your friends and family? The local grocery store?
- Good bones. Look beyond the pink shag carpeting and 1970s orange Formica. If a house has good bones, you can do most anything with it. Those that are creative, have an open mind and are not afraid of a little elbow grease can pick up quite the bargain once they look past the shoddy decorating.
- Good school district. Even if you don’t have kids now, but are planning on it in the future, look ahead and check into the school district. Does it meet your own personal standards.
- Town center. Does it have everything you might need (or most everything) or will you have to travel 30 miles for the nearest sign of life? And are you ok with that?
- Curb appeal. You need basic curb appeal, a good outline, not just for you and your family, but for potential resale value down the road.
- Layout/Floor Plan. Is it practical for your needs? Some walls can be torn down, or put up, but some issues with floor plans just have to be lived with. Make sure the current plan and flow work for you and your family.
- Neighborhood. Do people maintain their properties the same way you would? Maintenance is especially important when it comes to maintaining property values at their highest point.
–Cate O’Malley, Contributing Writer
