Buying a house is without doubt one of the most important decisions you are going to take. It is going to affect your and your family’s life for a long time.
That said, there are many things you need to consider when buying a new house to ensure you make the right decision for yourself and your family. Factors like the cost, location, condition of the house, size, and schools nearby, are just a few aspects that can help you make the right decision.
Let’s walk through all the major aspects that you must consider and look into when you are looking for a house to buy.
What lifestyle do you want to provide for your family?
The first and most important thing is to identify the core values and lifestyle that require as part of your life. Maybe you want a walkable, community-focused, and eco-friendly urban lifestyle. Perhaps you are looking for something a bit remote and quiet, rural country life. Some people might even be looking for a low-maintenance living space that conducive to frequent travel.
How you are planning to use the house and the ideal lifestyle you want to adopt, today and a decade from now, can be the basis of your decision when choosing the right house for yourself. Try to picture your ideal day-to-day life, including the commute you take in routine and running errands, and also think about how you want to spend your weekends and time off.
- Do you like to stay home, explore nearby places, or travel?
- Do you plan to entertain a lot, host parties, or have large gatherings?
- How often do you plan to have guests stay over?
- Do you and your partner own one or two vehicles?
- Do you use public transit?
- Do you or your partner work from home?
The answers to these questions will not only help you make the right decision but will also impact your house preferences. Following are several qualities you must consider in the new house.
Bedrooms
Make sure you consider the number of bedrooms that you will need in the next 10 years. It might also help to consider if you are going to add new members to the family or if you are planning for an empty nest. Will any of the older relatives stay with you for in-home care?
Make sure to check if the bedrooms are big enough for what purpose you have in mind. For example, people often end up using the bedroom for other purposes than sleeping like turning them into a home office, gym, or game room.
Bathrooms
A common bathroom might be a good feature if you entertain a lot. That said, the additional beds and baths can also add to the value of a house. How it will affect the market value of a house depend on where the house is located and the current value of the home. For example, often wood floors and pool tends to increase the value of homes that fall in the expensive range. Whereas extra bathroom and kitchen remodel are likely to value more for a lower to mid-priced property.
Storage space
If you are planning to live in a house for a considerably long time and build a family, do need to consider how much space you will be needing. Do you need a two-car garage? Will you need access to the attic, basement, garage, or tool shed? Does your ideal home have recreational space? Home repairs and maintenance also need storage for tools and equipment, especially if you are a do-it-yourself kind of person.
Imagine the perfect yard for your home
A yard is another significant part of your home. Whether you are entertaining, kids need a place to play or you want someplace for a DIY project, a yard can be very helpful for a family. Hence, make sure you understand what kind of yard you need before making any permanent decisions.
Size
Are you looking to maximize your space or reduce the need for maintenance? Would you prefer a large, fenced lot where children can play or build a swimming pool in the long run? That said, a smaller lot will be easier and less expensive to manage.
Shade
Would you like a yard with some shaded space or you would prefer more sun? Whether you plan on doing some gardening or landscaping, make sure the yard’s sunlight situation is suitable for your plan. Besides, some plants require abundant sunlight like tomatoes and others can thrive in shade with some sunlight as well like mint. So, make sure you give it a thought before committing to a house.
Features
If you plan on adding some really cool features to the house like a deck, swimming pool, patio, jacuzzi, or a built-in grill or cooktop, then you have to consider that as well. These features can make your home more enjoyable for your family and guests, but they definitely require significantly more upkeep. The decks and patios require to be re-sealed and the pools and hot tubs need regular cleaning and maintenance. Make sure to keep this in mind and then decide if you can manage the additional expense, time, and effort.
What matters the most in a neighborhood
Finding the right neighborhood is very important. Whether it’s just you and your partner or if you are a family with young children, you must find a home in a neighborhood that will offer you convenience and help you easily maintain your ideal lifestyle. For example, if you are looking to have a great social life, picnics and if you like the idea of living near lakes and water bodies you might have to consider homes for sale in Winter Haven FL.
Following are a few factors to consider when trying to find the right neighborhood for your home.
Schools
If you have school-going kids or if you are planning to have kids, make sure you check out the schools or high schools in the neighborhood.
Amenities
Find out if there are libraries, public pools, parks, grocers places, and retailers in the area. If you particularly enjoy going to a specific farmers’ market or a store, then do consider the travel time. However, most community-focused neighborhoods often have a lot of these amenities in its surrounding including restaurants, playgrounds, and more, like the Davenport FL homes for sale.
Walkability
Some people love their vehicles and they have a nice, big garage, and easy access to freeways. Whereas, others like to walk to places as much as possible. Make sure to look into the neighborhood’s sidewalks, walking and jogging paths, or bicycle paths, if that’s part of your lifestyle.
Happy buying!
Buying a home is a permanent decision that is going to highly impact your everyday life, hence it is necessary to cover all bases before making any final decisions. The right home for your family can not only affect your mood but also affect the overall life experience. So, make sure you keep in mind each and every factor discussed above, do your research in advance before making any commitment, and find the perfect house for your family and yourself.
