Building A Home-Buying Checklist
Searching for a home to buy is an overwhelming process, to say the least. However, if you create a checklist for your search, you can simplify the process and make it a little less stressful. Before you search through residential home listings in your area, here are some of the steps you can use to develop a home-buying checklist.
Length of Stay
Have a general idea of how long you plan to live in the home. For example, do you plan to live in the property for a few years and then turn it into an investment rental or will it be your forever home? This information is important because it helps you determine what residential listings you should look for and which to ignore.
For instance, if you are looking for a forever home and plan to have several children, a three-bedroom home might not be ideal as it might not offer the amount of space that you will need long-term.
Turnkey vs. Fixer-Upper
Consider whether or not you want a turnkey home or a fixer-upper. A turnkey property is one that is move-in ready for the most part. Any changes made to the home when you first move in will be solely cosmetic, such as painting the walls. A fixer-upper comes with a great deal of work. For example, it might involve redoing the bathroom and kitchen and installing new flooring throughout.
You need to know what type of time and financial investment you are prepared to make when you decide between the two options. You should look for these two keywords in the listings as you search homes.
Community Features
Finding a home that you will enjoy involves more than just looking inside the four walls of the house. You also need to be mindful of the community that surrounds it. Local school ratings, access to shopping and entertainment, and proximity to public transportation are just some features to consider.
If you like to entertain, you should also assess how much space is available for parking around the home. It is important that you think about all the community features that are important to you as you prepare your checklist to ensure that each home listing meets your needs.
Once you have a checklist, an agent like Vickie Gallimore: RE/MAX Central Realty will be more than happy to find residential homes for sale in an area that meets your criteria.