decision to move there, even if you love everything else about the home, particularly if you have children or pets.
KNOWWHAT YOU NEED
First, make a list of all the things your home must have. These would be the non-negotiables — your needs. There’s a good chance that you’ll have to make certain concessions in your home search (e.g., “This house is perfect for us, except I wish it had/ didn’t have that one thing… but it’s not a big deal, and we can easily change or fix that”). But don’t settle on the things that you consider essential for you and your family to live both comfortably and happily for a considerable amount of time. Besides the obvious needs like a good, solid roof, a strong foundation and structure, and working systems, you’ll need to think about: • Location • Minimum number of bedrooms • Minimum number of bathrooms • Finished and/or furnished basement • Garage • Stairs/levels • Yard (size, fenced-in, etc.) — especially applicable to families with young children and/or pets • Patio or deck
KNOWWHAT YOU WANT
Then, make a list of the items that you would like to have in your home, but you could live without, or change down the road — your wants. How do you know if something you want isn’t a need? One way 46
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