Need we say it? Buying a house is a big decision, and choosing wisely limits your chances of experiencing buyers’ regret. Naturally, your budget is your first consideration. Once you’ve determined what that is, it’s time to go house-hunting. When you think you’ve spotted a home you’ll like, opt for a professional home inspection to ensure structural soundness. The kind of issues they’ll pick up are often indicated by its location. Florida real estate, for example, should be checked for damp and water damage, while termites may be an issue in Arizona. But these are just the basics. What kind of house will you be happy to call home? Here’s how to spot it.
1. It’s in an Attractive Neighborhood
Quiet, tree-lined streets and well-maintained houses make for a pleasant neighborhood, but do check on safety too. Even though you may feel that you’re shutting out the outside world when you arrive home, the kind of neighborhood you live in will have an impact on how comfortable you are and how safe you feel. Apart from checking statistics and looking around for yourself, try talking to locals to find out how satisfied they are with their neighborhood.
2. It Has a Low Maintenance Garden
Unless you actually like mowing the lawn or don’t mind paying someone else to do it, choose a home with limited lawn space. Beds are much easier to maintain than lawns and they don’t take as much water. Take a close look at trees, especially those near the house. While shady trees are a pleasure, those near the house can damage services, and if they have weak branches, they can even be dangerous.
3. It’s Move-In-Ready
If the first thing you think about when viewing a home is how you would change it, keep hunting. Renovations are invariably more costly and time-consuming than expected. Waiting to move in, or else living in a construction site, is only for you if you can get a much better house as a fixer-upper than you could otherwise have afforded. If you don’t think you’ll enjoy the process, move-in ready is better. Look for telltales like black mold around windows and use home inspection results as a deciding factor.
4. It’s Convenient for Work, Shopping, and Leisure
Long commutes are stressful and take a lot of time out of your day. Consider distances to work, your kids’ schools, and shops to see whether you can get around quickly and easily. Try driving around the area during peak times to see whether traffic congestion will represent a problem. Even short distances can take a long time to cover if the roads are blocked with slow-moving traffic.
5. There’s Extra Indoor Space for Hobbies and Interests
Your son likes building model airplanes; your daughter wants to practice her ballet; you want to start the day with a home workout: all these things require space. Consider the things you all like doing and whether there’s enough room for everyone to enjoy their hobbies and interests at home. All that extra space may be a luxury rather than a necessity, but it will save on stress and frustration in the long run.
Always Think Long-Term
Buying a property should mean choosing a long-term home. It’s an investment in your future together, so it pays to wait for the right property – one that you’ll be happy to call “home” for years to come. Once you’ve found it, you’ll be glad you didn’t settle for second-best.
