Photo via Pexels
Your Home Buying Wishlist: How to Organize Your Needs and Wants
Are you looking for a new place to live? Whether you’re looking to rent or buy, your house-hunting process likely involves a wish list. Perhaps you’re looking for a home with a big backyard or an apartment with an in-suite washer and dryer. Whatever features you have your eye on, it’s important to differentiate between your needs and wants.
Establishing what you really need in a home will give you the confidence to commit to a purchase or rental agreement when you find the right place. At the same time, this process will help you identify features that you can add or change after moving in, so you won’t turn down a great home just because the walls are the wrong color. Here are some tips from Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty - Results Group, Inc. to help you organize your house-hunting wish list.
To Rent or Buy?
If you’re still on the fence about renting or buying, consider the pros and cons of each option. For example, the amount of money you have saved and how long you anticipate staying in one place are the biggest factors affecting this decision. Consider renting unless you anticipate staying in your home for at least four or five years.
Location Factors
Location is one of the most important factors to consider when looking for a new place to live. It’s also one of the few things you cannot change after moving in, so think carefully about where you would like to live before you start house hunting. Make sure you’re close to the things that matter most to you! This could mean living near a gym, yoga studio, local grocer, coffee shop, elementary school, bike route, hiking trail, or park. Remember to also weigh the location factors that will affect your quality of life in the home. While being close to the heart of the city may be more convenient, it also means more noise and air pollution.
Home Features
When it comes to the home’s actual features, there’s a lot of room to separate your needs and wants. For example, you might need accessibility features or a certain number of bedrooms or bathrooms to accommodate your family, but you could live without hardwood floors and bay windows.
How you organize your needs and wants will depend on whether you’re renting or buying. If you’re buying a home, you can always renovate later to add features from your wish list. Renters, on the other hand, should be prepared to sacrifice a few wish list items for a space that meets their needs. The good news is there are still plenty of ways to upgrade a rental without voiding your lease agreement!
Determine Your Deal-Breakers
Although you may be able to compromise on certain home features, be sure to avoid deal-breakers that would make your life miserable. For example, if you hate noisy neighbors, don’t rent a basement suite. If you don’t like doing yard work, steer clear of homes with high-maintenance landscaping. Lack of air conditioning is a common deal-breaker, especially for those in warmer states.
It’s also important to avoid maintenance issues that could create unexpected costs down the line. Evaluate the condition of the walls and floors, have the home’s major systems inspected, and try to be aware of any strange smells that could suggest the presence of mold or other issues.
There’s a lot to think about when it comes to buying a home. Try to focus on your needs first and foremost. Once you find a few homes that fit the bill, you can use your wants to narrow down your selection and find a place that most closely aligns with your house hunting wishes!
Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty - Results Group, Inc. provides excellent service to help you find the home of your dreams. Get in touch with us today!
Written by: Charlotte Meier