• What can you afford, and what is out of your budget?
Budget usually constrains us the most when selecting a home. While some things are necessary for any home (as mentioned, a good roof and working appliances), others will stay on the list of desires for now (like the sauna). I'll add here that just because you don't have that hot tub or other feature now... it doesn't mean you can't add it later. You can improve any number of features over the life of your home, so don't be too worried if the house doesn't have those granite countertops, new bath fixtures, or whatever.
MAKE A LIST: CHECK IT T : CHECK IT TWICE
You may have an impression of what you want in your new home. Writing down that impression and having a complete checklist can help. Before starting your hunt for a new home, it’s advisable to list all your basic needs and wants, then prioritize the desires, figuring that all needs must be met in any house under consideration. This will make the search easier and help you weed out the ones that don’t. However, finding a home that meets all requirements is nearly impossible. Compromises are usually necessary. It’s a good idea to work from outside-the-house factors to inside- the-house. For example, location is perhaps the primary concern. Both “needs” and “desires” might be involved. A “need” would be “must be within 25 miles of work.” A desire might be “would like to live in downtown Southern Pines.” A need might be “within 45 minutes of Ft. Liberty” (because work, friends, and recreation activities are all located there). Location needs may include proximity to good schools, frequently used recreation facilities, or transportation options (e.g., bus or suburban rail access). Whether an item is a need or a 29
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