Buying your first home and already have a “wish list” that’s a mile long? It happens to the best of us. It’s easy to fantasize about an ideal home and then feel overwhelmed when it comes to deciding what’s most important — especially when you’re new to the home-buying process.
Our team has been helping first-time home buyers find the right home for their needs for years. While everyone’s must-haves (needs) and nice-to-haves (wants) are different, we have a few recommendations about what’s best to keep at the top of your list.
1. The Right Layout
Changing finishes such as light fixtures and cabinetry hardware is simple, but modifying the layout of your house isn’t always as easy — and the layout impacts the way you live in your home every day. If you know that you’ll want to keep an eye on your kids while preparing meals or entertain guests without a divider between the family room and kitchen, an open floor plan will make a world of difference.
2. Enough Bedrooms and Bathrooms
Sometimes we can get so excited about nice-to-haves that we rationalize away deal breakers by thinking things like,“Sure, the whole family can share one bathroom!”
In reality, having enough bedrooms and bathrooms is often more important long-term than something like a pool in the backyard. All of our homes feature multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, including a spacious master bedroom and bathroom. Your kids or guests can have their space and you can have yours.
3. Plenty of Storage
Older homes often have smaller closets and less storage space, especially those with a detached garage or no garage at all. While the charm of an older home may be appealing, it can look a lot less attractive when your stuff is everywhere and you’re tripping over toys because there’s not enough storage.
It’s also a good idea to think about how you plan to grow into a home. Where will you keep the holiday decorations and kids memorabilia you accumulate over the years? All of our homes come with an attached garage and lots of storage space.
4. Home Warranties
Often overlooked but important to think about, buying a home that comes with warranties can give you peace of mind and savings in the long run. Warranties back up the quality of the craftsmanship and appliances in your new home, and can protect you from costly repairs. Spend more money on living in your home — like splurging on a tailgate party or new TV— than fixing it.
5. A Good Location
They say “location, location, location” all of the time in the real estate industry for a reason — because it matters. For example, buying a cozy home across from active railroad tracks or on a busy street will probably drive you nuts and limit what you can do. Living in a quiet neighborhood can give you a more comfortable lifestyle, where the kids can play outside, you can go for walks and everyone can fall asleep in peace.
If your check list is feeling more manageable now and you’re ready to take the next step, you can schedule a visit today. Our Home Guides can answer your questions and go over the home-buying process with you. Then, you’ll get to tour a home and see how it stacks up to your vision. You might even see some nice surprises in addition to the necessities, like granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.
