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Your Home Buying Wishlist: How to Organize Your Needs and Wants
On the hunt for a new place to call home? Whether you plan to rent or buy, your house-hunting journey almost certainly starts with a wish list. Maybe you’re dreaming of a big backyard or an apartment that comes with its own washer and dryer. Whatever features you have your eye on, it’s helpful to sort them into needs versus wants.
Knowing what you truly need in a home gives you the confidence to commit to a purchase or lease once the right place appears. At the same time, the exercise helps you spot features you can add or change after move-in, so you don’t pass on a great home simply because the wall color is off. Here are a few tips from Bianchi Realty & Property Management to help you build out your house-hunting wish list.
Rent or Buy?
If you’re still weighing whether to rent or buy, take a moment to compare the pros and cons of each option. The two biggest factors are typically the amount of money you have saved and how long you expect to stay in one place. As a rule of thumb, renting may make more sense unless you plan to be in the home for at least four to five years.
Location Considerations
Location is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle when shopping for a new place to live. It’s also one of the few things you can’t change after moving in, so think carefully about where you want to land before you start house hunting. Make sure you’re near the things that matter most to you! That could mean being close to a gym, yoga studio, neighborhood grocer, coffee shop, elementary school, bike route, hiking trail, or park. Don’t forget the location factors that influence your quality of life at home either. Living closer to the city center may be more convenient, but it can also bring extra noise and air pollution.
Home Features
When it comes to the home’s actual features, you have plenty of room to separate needs from wants. For instance, you may need accessibility features or a specific number of bedrooms and bathrooms to suit your family, but you could probably live without hardwood floors or a bay window.
How you organize that list depends on whether you’re renting or buying. If you’re buying, you can always renovate later to add features from your wish list. Renters, on the other hand, may need to give up a few wish-list items for a space that meets their core needs. The good news is there are still plenty of ways to upgrade a rental without running afoul of your lease!
Spot Your Deal-Breakers
Although you can flex on certain features, steer clear of true deal-breakers that would make daily life miserable. For example, if loud neighbors drive you crazy, skip a basement suite. If yard work isn’t your thing, avoid homes with high-maintenance landscaping. A lack of air conditioning is another common deal-breaker, especially in warmer climates like Florida.
It’s also smart to watch for maintenance issues that could pile on surprise costs later. Take a close look at the walls and floors, get the major systems inspected, and stay alert for unusual smells that might point to mold or other hidden problems.
There’s a lot to juggle when buying a home. Start by zeroing in on your true needs. Once a handful of homes meet the must-have list, you can lean on your wants to narrow things down and find the place that lines up best with your house-hunting dreams!
Bianchi Realty & Property Management is here to provide friendly, expert service to help you find the home of your dreams in Pinellas County. Reach out to us today!
Written by: Charlotte Meier