Purchasing a home is a big decision and is often time the largest purchases you will make in your life. It can sometimes be overwhelming. I have seen buyers not consider a lot of things even not anticipating future needs. Everyone has different criteria of wants and needs. I would like to give you some key things to think about when looking for your next home.
1. Who will be living with you and how many persons?
- Will you need or want a space for aging parents? If so is there, enough parking, and a private area for them, etc . . .
- If you have a current relationship that may change soon, will you have room for that person or persons?
- Do you want to rent out any rooms to help pay for the mortgage?
- A lot of my clients today need an office even if they are not working from home. Often times this needs to be a separate room.
2. What is the estimated time you plan to own the home?
- The average person stays in a home 5-7 years.
- I have had clients not consider soon in the future events and have to quickly upgrade causing the expense of another new purchase.
3. How far away is your work, church, schools, shopping?
- Some buyers prefer being further out from the city with more opportunities for privacy and land and others are the opposite. How much are you willing to travel for your important tasks, sports, and work?
- Then being more in the suburban area offers an array of shopping and medical facililites and more at your fingertips.
- Any then there is the city often with a high price, but then you may not need a car and have a more ability to have an urban live style with walking and even some sought after restaurants.
4. What are your physical needs or lifestyle preference?
- In western Pennsylvania I see many many homes with garages in the basement. This can be difficult when looking for one floor living. Often times there are ranches with this type of set up. Many often consider the laundry level.
5. What are services are available?
- Don’t forget cell and cable service in with what utilities are there. Some houses don’t have very good cell service. That can be a problem for someone working at home. Some remote areas do not even have cable.
- Check to make sure that your services are available and acceptable.
Consider some of these items if you have not. There are many others but thinking ahead about key points such as these may save you the expense of an unnecessary future move.