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House Hunting Wish List

By Lara O'Keefe

Real Estate Agent with North Texas Home Finders 0462649

March 07, 2009 08:05 AM

Before you drive all over town looking at models, inventory homes, arranging times to view pre-owned homes, and deciding where you want to move, take a few minutes to fill out this simple wish list.

It will help you determine what your needs are and what you should be focusing on. It is an excellent tool to give to your Realtor to help them help you!

Don't be afraid to re-visit your wish list as you look at homes and adjust it as you realize the homes that catch your eye and, hopefully, your heart!

A little bit of preparation now will save you tons of time and energy in your hunt!

What is your budgeted price range? $___________ to $__________

What monthly payment can you comfortably afford? $__________________

What is your maximum monthly payment you can afford? $______________

(Remember, interest rates vary so sometimes you can afford more home than you realize!)

Do you prefer a 1 story, 1 story with a bonus room upstairs, or a full 2 story home? ____________

Is there a specific need you must meet in this preference (ex. Knee surgery makes stairs impossible, a growing family, etc.) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What exteriors do you prefer? Brick, Stone, Siding? ___________________________________

How big of a home do you prefer? What square footage? ___________________________

How many bedrooms do you need? _____________

How many bathrooms? ___________

Do you need separate space for the kids? ___________________________________

Would you like or need a gameroom? ______________________

Would you like or need a media room? _____________________

Would you like or need a formal living room? _____________________________

Would you like or need a formal dining room? ____________________________

Would you like or need a study? ____________________________

What size yard would you like?

Giant (I have kids, dogs, and love my garden) ______________

Medium (maybe a pet or a kid, but I have other things to do on weekends) ___________

Small (I don't want to do yard work) _________________

None (I prefer a town home or low maintenance lifestyle) ____________________

With these questions answered you are ready to call a Realtor and look for homes! Good luck!

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

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Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Nicely laid out here Lara, and sometimes I think even buyers are surprised with what they say they want and then when it comes right down to it what they're willing to make sacrifices for (or not) when the home actually meets most of their wishes. Those lists seem to change.

Mar 07, 2009 09:20 AM

P G

Charlottesville Solutions - Charlottesville, VA

Hello Lara, you laid this out very nicely. Thank you for the post.

-Peg

Mar 07, 2009 09:43 AM

Lara O'Keefe

North Texas Home Finders - McKinney, TX

Karen, you are so right. It always surprises me to see what people are and are not willing to compromise on.

Mar 07, 2009 10:52 AM

Peg, thank you. I'm glad you like it :-)

Marvin de la Vega

Realty Source Inc - Chula Vista, CA

Great time saver! This is so much better than "winging it". Thanks, Md

Mar 07, 2009 11:53 AM

Tony Orefice

NorthGroup Real Estate/www.TonyORealtor.com - Concord, NC

Realtor- Cabarrus County, NC

Hi Lara,

great list! It would be wise for buyers to be as prepared as possible to promote as smooth a process as possible.

Mar 08, 2009 12:50 AM

Tony, thanks. It is always better to be prepared.

Mar 08, 2009 07:10 AM

Tamara Perlman

Referral Network Inc. - Truckee, CA

Lara--

Nice background shot! I have used a similar list over the years to help buyers focus. What's really interesting is that couples often times haven't really discussed what they want with each other first! Makes for an interesting first meeting! ;- )

Mar 10, 2009 05:48 AM

Tamara, sometimes couples need to get on the same page before they look.

Mar 10, 2009 06:46 AM

Kenneth Bargers

Prudential Woodmont Realty - Nashville, TN

Lara - Very nice reference list. Thank you for sharing.

Mar 10, 2009 01:35 PM

Denise Gray

Realty World Alliance - Wichita, KS

Realtor SRES, Wichita Kansas Homes

Lara I bookmarked this when I first saw it a few days ago. There are a few things that I would add are

1) Do you know what a Buyers Agency Agreement is?

2) When you see a sign in the front yard of a home for sale do you know what to do?

3) Do you know who the person who's name is on that sign works for?

I could go on but maybe those are questions that belong another form.

Mar 10, 2009 04:16 PM

Kenneth, thanks for sdtopping by.

Denise, they are excellent questions! They are probably worth a list of their own on the benefits of having a buyers agent.

Mar 11, 2009 04:12 AM

Tom Boos

Sine & Monaghan Realtors, Real Living - Grosse Pointe Farms, MI

Providing the very best of service to Sellers and

I like your list, but it makes me chuckle. As we know, often "Buyers are liars". When I think back at the many times when buyers told me they only wanted a one-story home, only to eventually buy a two-story home - all I can do is laugh. However, I agree it's important to use a list such as yours to help organize the search process. Thanks

Mar 13, 2009 03:13 AM

Tom, you are so right! Sometimes buyers just don't know what they want until they see it.

Mar 13, 2009 08:36 AM

House Hunting Wish List

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