How to Create Your Home Buying Checklist
If you find yourself riding through neighborhoods and making mental note of interesting features, or your random doodling on a notepad takes form and becomes a home layout, it may be time to begin creating your home buying checklist. This is one of the fun and interesting parts of the home buying process.
The Location
The best place to begin your list is knowing where you want your home to be located. Are you exploring a new state or town? Or, do you want to live in a specific neighborhood? Important things to consider are the crime rate, parks and businesses in the area, industrial areas, school districts, and local expectations from home owner associations.
Schools are an important consideration for several reasons. If you have children now or plan to have children in the future, you will want your children to attend schools with acceptable student to teacher ratios. Schools are a good thing to consider for resale value should you decide to sell your home at some point.
If you have pets, you’ll want to consider areas that are pet friendly. Walking your pet or taking your pet to a park that is created with pets in mind may be important, as well.
The Basics
The structure of your home is the next consideration on your home buying checklist. Do you want a one-story or two-story home? Consider whether you prefer brick, logs, or a home with vinyl siding. If a basement or attic is needed, or if you want an attached garage, this is the time to know exactly what your structural needs are for the new home.
Consider how many bedrooms and bathrooms are on your checklist. You might want an extra room for guests or space for a home office. If you have children, you may want space for a play room. If you do a great deal of entertainment, you might want to add a formal dining room to your list.
The Details
Now, it’s time to get down to the details on the checklist. Consider things like fireplaces, kitchen specifics, and bathroom needs. Do you want a master bedroom with a walk-in closet and large bathroom? Is one of your dreams to have a large kitchen with a bar area?
Some people don’t think to add type of heating preferred to their checklist. Consider the type of stove and dryer hookup you’ll need. Other things to consider are tubs, showers, sinks, flooring, closets, and wall coverings. Don’t forget to think about lighting. Do you want more or less windows?
When it comes to energy, remember to note whether you prefer gas or electric. Is central air and heat important to you? Do you want a dedicated laundry room?
The Amenities
This part of creating a home buying checklist is the most fun. Take some time to dream a little and include all the special things that would make this your dream home. Do you want a pool with a spa? Maybe you would like to have a small shop out back for your hobbies. Or, do you want a finished basement to use as a gaming room for you and your friends on the weekend?
If you’re thinking about purchasing a townhome, condominium or property within a village, you may want to consider things like fitness rooms, banquet areas, golfing opportunities, and pools.
The Must Haves
Once you have your initial checklist complete, it’s time to go back over the list and mark the must have items. Keep in mind that compromise is often needed, but the items you check on this list should be the ones you refuse to budge on when it comes to buying your new home.
Let’s say that Lee and Lynne have four children. Their home buying checklist includes 4 bedrooms and an extra room that can be used for a home office. In their home search, they come across a 4 bedroom home, but it doesn’t have an extra space that can be used for a home office. Because they created a home buying checklist and know what their must-have items are, they save time by removing this home from possible options.
The Deal Breakers
Just as important as the must have checks on your checklist are the notations for deal breakers. If you are heart-set on having a pool then a home with no pool is a deal breaker. Deal breakers may include things like yard size, number of rooms, type of neighborhood, or something structural like number of floors.
The initial process of creating your checklist can be fun and exciting. Getting down to the bare bones and choosing the must haves and deal breakers can add a bit of stress, especially if family members don’t agree. A real estate professional can help make things clearer by offering their expert advice on what you can expect when looking for things on your checklist.
Don’t waste any time when you’ve decided to purchase a home. Call the Ashley Kimble Slaughter at 225-235-9379 to discuss your home buying checklist!
Search for the home of your dreams!
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