House shopping is one of my favorite things to do with clients and I always encourage them to make a checklist so that way we can know exactly what we're looking for in their "dream home". For me, house shopping is fun, but it can be overwhelming for my clients at times.
Since buying a home is more than likely going to be your biggest purchase ever, you want to make sure your home has close to everything you ever dreamed of so that way you will not regret your purchase. You want to make sure that your home is your safe haven and one that you enjoy being at for a long period of time.
Here's how you create that dream home checklist:
Make a List of Your Absolute Must-Haves:
The first thing I encourage my buyers to do is make a list of their absolute must-haves so that way I'll know exactly the things in their home they refuse to live without. Their must-have list may include things like the amount of bedrooms and bathrooms they need, walk-in closet, kitchen with an island, 2 car garage, etc.
I have them to take in account not only the things they require on the inside of their house, but the outside of their house as well. Believe it or not, some things on the outside of your house you would need to take into consideration when buying a home as well such as a fence if you have small children and/or pets, a driveway that can hold at least 4 cars, a house that's not on the corner of the street or in a cul-da-sac, etc. Things like this can be non-negotiable for some people and this is a necessary thing to help narrow down your search.
This may also include the type of house your looking for as well such as ranch home, two-story, home with a basement and/or extra storage.
In order to find some things that they want to have in their dream home, I also have them to think about their current home and the things they love in that home and that they can't live without. This will help ensure that their dream home will also have these things.
Things You Don't Want:
The next thing I have them to do is make a list of the things they don't want. By doing so, I have them think about the place they currently live in and make note of the things the dislike about their current home.
For example, my current home is on the corner of the street in my subdivision and I have started to HATE living on the corner for many reasons. Some reasons include: having people throwing trash in my yard constantly, the school bus stop being next to my house, people sitting at the stop sign with their loud cars and having people crossing in my grass all the time instead of using the sidewalk.
By making a list of the things you don't like about your current home or things that your current home lacks, this makes it easier to know what you don't want in your next home and to avoid homes who have these unwanted features.
Location:
Choosing the right location of your home is very important. I have my buyers choose at least their top three cities/counties they want to live in. Most people who purchase a home are going to stay in that home at least 5 years or more so the location is extremely important, especially if you have kids or want to live in a certain proximity of your job.
Here are some things to consider when it comes to choosing the right location:
Neighborhood safety
Schools
Commute to work
Entertainment
Local shopping and amenities
Closeness to highways and interstate
Crime rate
Parks
Tips I give on visiting for neighborhood safety are visiting the police department for activity in the area and actually visiting the neighborhood you're considering buying a home in during peak hours at night and on the weekends to see how the activity is and if you're comfortable with it.
I hope these things help with choosing your dream home.
As always, happy house shopping!
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