Real Estate Wants

By Kaci Cooper, 23 Jan 19:16

Have you ever heard the expression, “Don’t do your grocery shopping while you are hungry?”

The same principle applies when you are looking to buy a house. You are much less likely to make mistakes if you make your lists of things that you want in a home ahead of time instead of “shopping while you are hungry.” This allows you to make sure you are aware of what you want and need and where you are willing to compromise.

You can do your list in a variety of ways. You can write down what amenities you will need (for example: two car garage, fenced in yard, three bedrooms, etc) and the amenities that you want (large kitchen, four bathrooms, pool and spa, and so on). Some use lists which allow a buyer to rank amenities in levels of importance and also factors in the desired features. These lists allow you to determine what your most important needs and wants really are. Also, if you plan to buy a home with a spouse or a friend, each of you can do your own list and then bring them together in a compromise. A real estate agent can use your list to find the perfect home. These lists are a great commodity to carry with you while house hunting so you can see how each house matches, or does not match, your needs and wants.

List Risk: Be Firm and Flexible
Make sure you are constantly aware of what your needs are to prevent the danger of being dazzled by your wants. Even if the house has the perfect white picket fence you have always dreamed of, if it does not have the closet space you need, then it is not the house for you. Remember, your wants can be added. It is much easier to add a deck than move a bathroom.

As you go through homes your list may change. No single home will accommodate all of your wants and needs. Also, the things that you want can change into needs and vice versa, so it is best to update your list as you go along because you will likely see things while looking at houses that you had not thought of before.

OPN: Other People’s Needs

It is always good to think of other people’s needs as a buyer because at some point you will probably be a seller. The majority of home buyers say that they need the following in a home, keep these aspects in mind for when you sell in the future:
-An open floor plan
-Two or three bedrooms
-Two or more bathrooms
-Large kitchen
-Walk-in closets
-Energy efficiency
-Air conditioning
-First floor laundry room
-Fireplace
-Covered front porch
-Level yard

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How-to Extra Advice

Tags: wants