Needs
vs Wants
Separating your must-have
features from the ones you can live without
Just as you wouldn’t set out to buy the
Thanksgiving Day groceries without a list, you
shouldn’t start looking at houses before
you know for sure what you want and need in
a home.
Focus your home search early on by writing out
the features your new house absolutely must
have, and those features that, while nice to
have, are not necessarily deal breakers.
You can start by asking yourself the following
questions:
Cost
Knowing your budget will help you decide which
of your desired home features should stay on
your shortlist. Here are the two factors to
consider:
•How much can I afford to spend on my
new house?
•How much renovating and remodeling am
I willing to do?
Neighbourhood
Some home buyers are willing to compromise on
location, and for others location is everything.
To determine how important it is to you, answer
these questions:
- Where do I want to live? (community/general
area)
- Is the quality and proximity of schools a
factor?
- How far am I willing to commute to work?
- Is being close to public transportation important?
- Which amenities should be close by? (grocery
store, medical clinic, mechanic)
The basics
These are the features every prospective home
buyer must consider. Determine which ones you’re
dead-set on, and which ones could go either
way:
- Do I want a brand new house, or an older one?
- What style of house do I prefer? (ranch, colonial,
split-level, multi-level, town home, condo,
multi-family, bungalow, other)
- How big a home do I want? How many square
feet?
- What sort of lot would I like? (small yard,
large yard, fenced, garage, patio/deck, other
buildings)
- How many bedrooms do I need? How many would
I like to have?
- How many bathrooms do I need? How many would
I like to have?
Special features
Although special features are less important
than the basics, most home owners have at least
a few they’re not willing to compromise
on. Find out which are must-haves for you:
- What features are important in your new house?
(air conditioning, carpeting, ceramic tile floors,
hardwood floors, eat-in kitchen, separate dining
room, formal living room, family room, den,
library, basement, separate laundry room, fireplace,
workshop)
- Do I have special medical issues that require
accommodation, such as wheelchair access ramps?
- Do I have pets to consider? (fence, big yard,
mud room)
Royal LePage sales representatives are your
residential real estate experts. For helpful
advice about buying a home in your area, contact
Korinne Peachey from your local Royal LePage
real estate office.
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