MAKE A LIST; CHECK IT T ; CHECK IT TWICE
You may have an impression of what you want in your new home. Putting that to paper and having a complete checklist can prove useful. Before starting your hunt for a new home, it is advisable to make a list of all your basic needs and desires, then prioritize the desires, figuring that all needs must be met in any house under consideration. This will make the search easier and help weed out the ones that do not meet the basics. Realize, however, that it is nearly impossible to find a home that meets all requirements. Compromises will be necessary. It is a good idea to work from outside-the-house to inside-the- house factors. For example, location is a primary concern. A “need” would be “must be within 25 kilometers of work.” A desire might be, “on the west side of the city” because work, family, friends, and recreation activities are located there. Location needs may include proximity to schools, frequently used recreation facilities, or mode of transportation (bus or suburban rail access). Whether an item is a need or a desire depends on circumstance. Closeness to family might be a need for a couple with young children or elderly parents to care for. After location needs and desires are compiled, housing factors can be considered. Needs include having all essential house structures and systems in good working order. Accepting a house with need for 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.
23
Powered by FlippingBook