If you’re house hunting or you’re planning on looking for a house soon, it’s so important to know what you want to have in that house. Being able to prioritize what you want is a must before you start looking, or else you can just get really confused. Here’s an idea of what you should be looking for when you’re house hunting:
The Perfect Location
The first thing you need to be sure of, is that your home is in the perfect location. You can change many things about your home, but you can’t move it to a different location. Make sure it has the amenities you want nearby, such as shops and public transport links. Check out the surrounding area too to make sure it’s suitable for you and your family. Location really is one of the most important things, so if that isn’t quite right, then you should steer clear. Using a real estate agents in the area you’re searching will help, as they’ll have experience in the area and be able to help you find what you need.
Make A List Of Priorities
Before you begin your search, make a list of priorities so you know exactly what you want to look for. Your preferences will be different to somebody else’s preferences. You might want to make a list of 3-5 priorities, and then a list of things that would be nice. This will stop you from getting swayed by things that aren’t really important to you. Keep it with you when viewing houses so you can easily narrow down a list. You might make one priority a huge kitchen if you love cooking and entertaining in there. You might also want a big garden if you have kids and pets. Make sure you really think about what’s important to you before you go looking.
Situation Factors
You musn’t forget to consider your situation factors when looking for the right place to live. Are you in an area that’s a high flood risk? Are you on a hill? Can you see right into your neighbor’s living room? Make sure you take all of these things into account and how they might affect you while you live in this place. Many people forget to look into things like this, only to realize once they move in.
A Home That Reflects Your Lifestyle
You need a home that reflects your lifestyle more than anything. If you don’t have a lot of time to maintain your home, you’re not going to want a very old house with lots of vintage and antique attributes. Make sure you know how much time you have to dedicate to your home and what you need to suit your lifestyle. You might even want to invest in a smart home, or an eco-friendly home. Just make sure it suits you and your family and how you live.
Bedrooms and Bathrooms
Bedrooms and bathrooms are some of the most important rooms in the house. You might only need two or three bedrooms, but having a spare can really come in handy. You could turn this into a guest room, office, or even a home entertainment room. Quality bathrooms are a great thing to look for, as they are one of the most used rooms in the house. Make sure you know how many bedrooms and bathrooms you’ll ideally have to live comfortably. For instance, is an en suite a must for you? Do you absolutely have to have at least two bathrooms? Make sure you’ve got a good idea.
Phone Coverage
You don’t want to move into a new house, only to realize that you can’t get phone coverage there. Make sure you check it out while you’re looking, or you might run into some problems. You might also want to check that you can get a speedy internet connection there. In some areas, you might need to look into alternative ways of getting connected to the internet. Make sure you’re clued up on what you’ll have to do before you put your money down.
A Great Kitchen
The kitchen is another crucial room in the house. If it has been newly renovated, you can expect to pay more. Of course, you can do this yourself if it hasn’t been, but you’ll want to consider how much it’ll cost you and how long it’ll take you to do. If it’s totally outdated, then you might want to invest in a brand new kitchen. However, you may only need to change the cabinets and minute details to transform the kitchen.
Tips For Making The Right Decision
Here are a couple of tips that should help you to make the best decision:
Take Pictures
Take pictures as you go from house to house. It’s amazing how quickly your memory can actually fade, so make sure you take as many pictures as you can to compare later on. Just make sure this is OK with whoever is showing you around first. This will make it much easier to compare later on.
Make Notes
Make notes as you go around the house and immediately afterwards too. This is another great way to remember and compare.
Look At The Property At Different Times Of Day
If you have your eye on one particular property, consider visiting it at different times of day before you make an offer on it. You might go at night time to realize the neighbors throw loud house parties through the week. You want to get a good feel for the neighborhood as much as anything else. You might even want to meet the neighbors before deciding on somewhere.
Make sure you bear these things in mind before you make your decision. You’ll likely be living in this place for a while, if not forever. Making sure it suits your lifestyle and has everything that is important to you is crucial. If you have any tips of your own, leave them below. Thanks for reading!
