children or elderly parents to care for—or a want if those factors aren’t involved. Items like these make a checklist very helpful. After compiling location needs and wants, housing factors can be considered. Needs include having all essential house structures and systems in good working order. Accepting a house needing a new roof because the owner is willing to knock $7,000 off the listing price—but it will cost $10,000 to replace the roof in two years—is not a sensible deal. Needs might include a minimum number of bedrooms and bathrooms, no steps, a fenced yard, perhaps a first-floor laundry facility, and any feature the prospective buyers have decided they cannot accept a home without. Wants are features that make the house more attractive or enjoyable — an upgraded kitchen, walk-in closets, and a master bedroom suite. Of course, one buyer’s need is another buyer’s want. The point is to know your own needs and wants so you can quickly assess potential properties and make the process smoother. Regardless, buying a house is not a simple process. Before contacting a real estate agent or looking at homes, much planning should be done. Work out the costs and budget. Choose a general location. Contact lenders well ahead of home shopping so your offers aren’t tied up in getting financial approval. Having the image of your dream home is reality, married with imagination. You may find that some aspects of the house you intend to buy are different. It’s not the same as what your dreams told you. Different people have different requirements. It depends on your thought processes as well as your personality. We understand essential things and potential compromises differently. Needs are basic requirements that just can’t be ignored or compromised. Wants, on the other hand, can be left
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