After neighborhoods are chosen, it is time to narrow down the homes. The perfect house for you may not be for sale. For this reason, it is a great idea to have a wants/needs list (rank your wants and needs in order of importance). There may be many homes that fit your most important needs. It is also a good idea to take notes when viewing several houses at a time.
What Are My Needs & Wants?
Establish a set of minimum necessities – “A Needs List”. Minimum necessities are things that a house must have to fit your needs, whereas a “wants list” has things that you would like to have but are not crucial.
Your needs list should include things like: Number of Bedrooms, Bathrooms, Living Areas, Square Footage Range, Lot Size, Age, Number of Floors, & Garage Size.
Your wants list should be ranked evaluating the importance of things like: Eat-in Kitchen vs. Separate Dining Room; Bedroom Size vs. Size of Living Areas; Walk-in Closets; Tub in Master Bath; Fireplaces; Pool; Yard Size; . . . And any other features you want to consider in a home.
After you have decided what is most important to you, keep in mind some things can be altered (depending on your taste and budget) and others cannot. You should discuss this with your Buyer Representative.
Resale considerations to keep in mind:
- Homes with less than three bedrooms do not suit the majority of families.
- Homes with great “curb appeal” are the easiest to resell.
- The largest homes in the neighborhood generally sell for less per square foot when compared to the more moderately sized homes in the neighborhood.
- One bathroom homes are more difficult to resell than homes with two or more full bathrooms.
Now that you know what you are looking for, it’s time to start looking!
NEXT . . . . . Step Five – Making an Offer & Closing on the Deal
