Buying a home can be an overwhelming process, especially for first-time home buyers. There are some tricks to keeping all the details in order, however, and one of the major ones is to make a checklist of the essentials you want in a home. Having this checklist handy throughout the process will help you stay focused on the end goal -- finding your perfect home.
Bedrooms and Floorplan: Many homebuyers are distracted by the look of a walk-through without taking into consideration the floorplan and the bedroom count. Ensure these details are at the forefront of your mind, and don't be fooled into the genius of a good designer, even the best looking home will grate on the nerves if it isn't exactly what you were looking for.
Pantry Space and General Storage: Nothing can clutter up a home faster than not having enough hidden storage space. In the kitchen, there should be enough pantry space to hold all your items, including food. Keep this in mind while looking at houses, as the lack of pantry space and general storage can create huge organizational problems for you long-term.
Is the House Pet-Friendly?: This may seem a small thing to some, but for avid pet-owners, make sure you keep in mind where things like pet-bowls will go, a litter box, and a pet-friendly backyard. Will your critter need to be fenced in? Will they need lots of room to run around? Whatever your situation, try and keep this in mind.
Which Direction Does the House Face?: This seemingly small detail can effect your temperature year-round, as well as your sleep habits. Try and assess the direction the rooms, kitchen, etc. are facing to see what kind of sun-exposure you will be getting.
How is the Flooring?: The shape of the flooring in the house speaks volumes about the prior owners. Flooring can be expensive to replace, so having floors that are in decent shape can save you a lot of money down the road.
Is there an HOA?: This will effect all aspects of the external appearance of your house, including the paint color, what kinds of plants you have in your yard, etc. If outward appearance is a low priority, this doesn't matter, but make sure you are aware before making a purchase.
Location in Regards to Stores: How convenient is it for you to go to the grocery store, the mall, or to a cafe? This can be an important decision over time, which may seem small at the time you see the house.
Public Schools: This can be one of the most important decisions to make if you're a parent. A good school can be the difference in your child's future, and should be highly part of the decision-making-process when buying a home. Also be sure to see when re-zoning could take place, as this could displace your child in the future if you are in a newly growing region.
Neighborhood: Pay attention to who is living next door, are they an older couple, a younger couple, will you fit in? This can effect your quality of life over the long-haul, and finding commonality amidst neighbors is important.
Scheduling an Inspection: This is very important -- knowing what kinds of issues your potential home could have will help you decide whether or not its worth the investment or whether to steer clear and avoid a financial disaster.
Keeping these things in mind as you move forward in choosing a home will help you avoid problems in the future -- these are details that are easy to forget about or overlook as the swamp-like process begins. Keep a list handy, and you will do just fine!