We often talk about the various aspects of home buying in our blog posts. We share plenty of tips, tricks and checklists for you to own your dream home and also be a savvy real estate investor. You may ask, “Do we have a single checklist that broadly covers all the topics that we discuss?”
Although we try to provide all the information in one place, it is not always possible to include everything under one umbrella. However, in this blog, we’ve tried to include all the aspects of home buying and put together an ultimate checklist for you to buy your dream home.
Financial checklist
In a competitive market, getting your finances in order before looking for your dream home can make all the difference. Determining your budget and the amount of financial flexibility you have can help you see your must-haves more clearly. Consider the following:
- Do you have a mortgage pre-approval?
- What is your budget?
- How much money do you have set aside for a down payment? What about future maintenance?
- Do you want to do additional renovations or do you want a fully integrated property?
Lifestyle checklist
You may have a vision of your ideal home or you may not know where to begin when imagining your ideal home. Consider your basic needs and non-negotiables first when purchasing a home. Begin by considering where you currently live — what are your favourite aspects of your current home, and what do you need to change? Consider whether or not:
- Do you require room for a future nursery or a home office?
- Do you require any special features for your pets, such as a fenced-in yard?
- Do you require wheelchair accessibility or limited stair access?
- Is a parking space required, or will street parking suffice?
- Do you value walking distances?
- Do you intend to change jobs within the next 1-2 years?
Home style checklist
Once you have the basics figured out, it can help lay the groundwork for determining what features you want in a house. Consider the different types of houses on the market in the neighborhoods where you want to buy, and remember you can use keywords when searching for homes on Zillow to help narrow down your options. Ask yourself these questions:
- What kind of a home would you like?
- Do you prefer an apartment, condo, or single-family home?
- Could you live in an old house?
- How many bedrooms are there?
- How many bathrooms are there?
- Do you need a guest room?
- What kind of flooring do you prefer?
- Which architectural styles do you prefer?
- What is your favourite room, and why do you enjoy spending time in it?
- Do you enjoy spending time in your outdoor space if you have one?
- Do you enjoy taking care of your yard… or do you find it burdensome (we know you hate it!)?
Location Checklist
You can change the paint on the walls in your home to make it feel newer, or add an extension in the backyard to increase the square footage, but you can’t change the location. It’s easy to get caught up in the features of your dream home, but you should also consider your surroundings:
- Do you prefer the city, the suburbs, or the countryside?
- Which city would you like to live in?
- Do you prefer convenient access to highways or public transportation?
- How important is the point of view?
- Can you sleep comfortably in the presence of traffic noise?
- Do you want to be a part of the community?
- Are there any parks that are within walking or biking distance?
- Do the property taxes and/or HOA fees fit within your financial constraints?
Neighborhood Checklist
Think you’ve found the ideal house in the ideal location? Before buying, it’s always a good idea to walk around the neighbourhood and ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you like your neighbourhood?
- Are there enough or too many activities going on around you?
- Are you satisfied with your commute?
- Do you have to travel a long distance for necessities like groceries or a doctor’s appointment?
Home Visit Checklist
When it’s time for your home tour, compare the features to the checklist you created. Do any of your must-haves need to be reconsidered?
Get a sense of the place and think about anything you may have overlooked on your list. Remember that while paint and staged furniture can be changed, there are some things that cannot be changed:
- Is there enough or too much room?
- Where could you benefit from more space?
- What words would you use to describe the layout?
- Are you pleased with the fixtures and finishes?
- Are you satisfied with the windows (enough natural light, well-placed, too bright)?
- Is the house attractive from the outside?
- Is there enough parking at the house?
We are certain that this checklist will come in handy in your journey of home buying. For real estate consultation, and buying and selling properties, do reach out to Address India!