When shopping for a home, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the process. First, there is the pre-approval phase of getting the financing lined up.
Then, you need to find a real estate agent that you like and trust enough to help you find a home.
Next, there is the actual process of looking at so many homes with all kinds of features.
We are here to help you with at least part of the journey. The part that deals with the actual home.
Although picking a home will come down to your particular tastes and needs, these are guidelines that can be applied to anyone in the market to buy a house.
Location
It has long been said that location is the most valuable factor in the price of a home. However, in this article, we are not concerned with value, as much as practicality and function.
The location of your home will depend on your current needs. For example, do you want a place that is close to work? Or do you need a house located in a particular school district? Or are you committed to helping an aging relative and wish to be close to that person?
These are the kinds of questions you need to consider when deciding on the locale of your next home.
Other things to consider are the proximity of grocery markets, shopping areas, entertainment venues, or hobby interests like golfs, parks, and lakes.
You don’t want to pick a home that is so far from the important things in your life that you resent the home’s location.
Size of the Home
The size of the home will vary from person to person. An elderly couple that is empty-nesters may wish to have a smaller home that is easier to maintain. A young couple with one child and one on the way may need a larger home with extra space for more people.
The size of the home will also be based on your possessions. If you have lots of clothes and shoes, you likely will need ample closet space. If one of you is a collector of some sort, do you want a room, or area of a room, that is dedicated to showing off your collection to visitors?
You also need to keep in mind your daily life and connection to friends and family. If you are the type that enjoys entertaining a host of people regularly, you will need space for everyone to gather without feeling cramped
Bedrooms
Along the same lines as the size of the house is the number of bedrooms that you will need.
If it is just you and one other person, then you may only need a couple of bedrooms.
However, if you are married and have 3 children, then you may want as many as 4 or possibly 5 bedrooms.
Your occupation and hobbies may also dictate a need for more bedrooms. If one or both of you are working from home, then a designated room for a work area would be ideal to help you separate work time from home time. If you are into arts & crafts, or sewing, or social media posting, you may want to have a separate space for that creative pursuit.
When inspecting homes, keep an eye out for available outlets. Nothing ruins a room more than being forced to arrange objects in one manner because there are not enough electrical outlets in the right places.
Size and Layout of the Yard
People often overlook the amount of time and effort required to keep a yard maintained and looking attractive. This is especially true of new homeowners.
Consider your personality and interests when choosing the size of the yard. Do you enjoy being outside, communing with nature, while you trim the grass or prune the bushes? Or would you rather have a low-maintenance small yard that requires the most minimal of care?
Also, do you have anyone in your home that needs or wants to be outside? This could range from small kids that need a place to burn off energy to a 4-legged pet that wants a place to roam and explore.
Also, do you value your privacy? Are you the type of person that wants to enter their backyard without the prying eyes of neighbors? If so, you might need a large yard, or at least a tall privacy fence to keep you in that pristine location.
Outside Appearance
We do not want to get so caught up with the square footage of the home and the number of bedrooms that we forget about the home’s appearance from the outside.
First of all, you want the home to be appealing and attractive to you. This is a place you will be looking at for years to come. It should make you happy when you see it, not frown, or upset.
Secondly, you want to get a home inspection before purchase. The home inspector will go through all parts of the home to see if there are any needed repairs.
When the home inspector reviews the property, you want to be sure that the roof, foundation, and exterior walls are all in good working order with no major damage. Structural damage to a home can be costly to repair and may lead to more problems down the road.
Air Conditioning and Heating System
Besides the roof, one of the costliest items to replace on a home is the heating and air conditioning system. This unit gets used almost every day of the year and sees a lot of wear and tear. You want to make sure of a few things when buying the home.
First, find out how when the system was installed. A reputable HVAC unit can last between 15 and 20 years if properly maintained.
Secondly, you want to find out if the unit is the right size for the home. Having a heating and air conditioner unit that is undersized for the home will lead to lots of frustration when the house is not comfortable during the extremes of summer and winter.
These questions can be answered either by the current homeowner or by asking a licensed HVAC technician to come and inspect the unit before you buy the home.
Storage Areas
Some people move into a home as young people when they don’t have too many possessions. Their first home is a good fit because they have not accumulated too much stuff.
Other people find themselves in a position of needing a home that has tons of storage in the way of attic space, or a basement, or a garage, or maybe all three.
If you currently have 2 vehicles, a boat, a riding lawn mower, some fishing gear, golf clubs, bicycles, and general yard tools, you will need some space to keep all those things organized and stored away.
Consider how much area you will need for things that may not get used as often as you like, but you wish to keep handy as well.
Summing Up What to Look for in a Home
Although these are not the only things to consider when buying a home, it is a list of the most important items. Analyzing your needs compared to this list and getting these items right for your situation will make your time as a homeowner much more enjoyable.
About the author: This article on “Things to Look for in a Home” was written by Luke Skar of MadisonMortgageGuys.com. As the Social Media Strategist, his role is to provide original content for all of their social media profiles as well as generating new leads from his website.
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