House hunting can be daunting, but not if you know what to look for. It’s an important decision that can impact your life for years to come. Whether you’re looking for a starter home, transition home or forever home; it’s essential to assess your needs now and in the future. Some houses can grow with you while others can stifle your growth.
The best idea is to make yourself a checklist and when you find a home that checks off most of the boxes that may just be the house for you.
Here are some of the things you might want to include on your checklist when deciding on your next home:
- Neighborhood. Ask yourself what is the neighborhood like? Are you close to restaurants, retail shops, movie theaters, attractions or other things that you like to do? Can you get exercise by walking, going to the park, or different fitness facilities? What is there to do in this area?
- Schools. If you have children, schools will be important. Do some research on the school district in the area and make sure the curriculum aligns with your needs.
- Weather. If you’re moving out of state, do some research on the year-round weather of where you are planning to move. If you hate the cold, make sure you’re not going somewhere that sinks to below zero in winter. If you hate the heat, you won’t want to purchase a residence in a climate that soars above 100 degrees in the summer.
- Room Size. While the size of the house is important, room size matters as well. You could have a big house with small rooms which isn’t very practical. Record some measurements of your furniture and make sure all of your stuff will fit in the rooms in the house.
- Laundry Room Location. If you don’t like going down to the basement to do your laundry or carrying your laundry to the laundry room, take note of the laundry facilities and hookup potential in the house.
- Garage. Most people want a garage to protect their vehicles from the elements, but also for storage. An attached garage is ideal, but this is up to you. Make note of what type of garage, if any, is included. Is it heated? How many cars does it fit? Is there room for storage?
- Maintenance Requirements. Pay attention to the maintenance requirements of the home. Does it have a big lawn and yard that needs to be mowed on a regular basis or a long driveway that will need to be shoveled. Will it need to be painted sooner rather than later or do the gutters need regular cleaning? What type of toilets does the home have and are they the type that will clog easily? Does the house use septic? Asking yourself the right maintenance questions will save you a headache in the future.
- Quality of Life. Most important is the quality of life in the home. Is there a deck, a view, a pool? Your home should be your sanctuary, providing everything you need. What makes a home “home” to you? Like they say, there’s no place like home so you deserve to have the best home possible.
Homes like those found in resort-style communities such as Promenade@5, offer free standing homes in a great neighborhood, with all the amenities and none of the work. Come by and check out everything we have to offer and see how many things you check off your checklist!