It’s the end of another year, and since this is the season of making a list, we thought it would be a great time to think about what you really want…in your home.
Holidays are a great time to see how your home is performing. You will likely have some guests, possibly overnight or longer, and we feel confident you will be doing some entertaining.
So, how’s your house working for you not just now, but throughout the year? What’s your ideal home? Where is it located?
Make a List.
Few of us can get everything we want in a home, particularly if we are not going the “new construction” route.
Karen’s strategy for her clients is to ask them to make a list- a very long detailed list of all the things they would LOVE in their home – that’s the fun and easy part!
What’s next? Read on.
Thinking it Through.
This exercise can really help you with the next step. Think about how you live, and how you will be living the next few years.
How many bedrooms do you need? How frequently do you host out of town guests? Extra bedrooms are important if it’s frequent. But if its once a year, maybe a flex space room with a Murphy bed would suffice. Do you work remotely? Does more than one person work remotely? How about storage? Are you a bit of a collector?
Landscaping can always be changed after you move in. Remember, you can’t change the location or the size of the backyard!
Needs vs Wants.
Next, make two columns, label one NEEDS and the other WANTS. This requires some serious thought and careful consideration but putting your list into “must have” vs “nice to have”, is eye opening and is incredibly helpful for you and Karen in refining your search.
Completing this step makes it less stressful and frustrating for you when we are doing your actual search.
Determine Your Budget.
Finding our your budget is so important BEFORE you start the search. This step like the others will minimize frustration and make the entire process more fun!
You can find some recommended mortgage providers on Karen’s Salter Sources page.
Don’t Forget the Extras of Home Ownership.
Sadly, it’s not only your mortgage that you have to calculate, but you have to look at all the extras that come with home ownership.
Mortgage insurance, property taxes, and homeowner’s insurance are all potentially big ticket items that come at a cost.
For Your Consideration.
In addition to your needs and wants, here are the other factors Karen wants you to keep in mind.
- Price
- Condition
- School district (especially if you have school-aged children)
- Neighborhood/location
TIP: Visit Karen’s earlier Website Blog Post…How to Pick the Perfect Neighborhood.
- Size of home (number of bedrooms and bathrooms, enough storage, etc.)
- Layout of home (one story, two story, open concept, etc.)
- Amount of maintenance needed
- Style of Home
Searching for the perfect home can be exciting and frustrating at the same time. Karen has years of experience managing this process with kindness, tenacity, and integrity. She would love to help you! Connect with Karen today!
