• What can you afford and what is out of your budget?
Budget usually constrains us most in selecting a home. While some things are necessary for any home (as mentioned, a good roof, a working furnace, a solid frame), others will just have to stay on the list of desires for now (like the sauna).
MAKE A LIST. CHECK IT T . CHECK IT TWICE.
You may have an existing impression of what you want from 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, 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 don’t meet the basics. Realize, however, that it’s nearly impossible to find a home that meets all requirements. Compromises will be necessary. It is a good idea to work in order from outside-the-house factors to inside-the-house. For example, location is perhaps the primary concern and both “need” factors and “desire” factors might be involved. A “need” would be “must be within 25 miles of work.” A desire might be, “would like Westwood” (a favored neighborhood), while a need might be “on west side of city,” (because work, family, friends, and recreation activities are all 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 12
Powered by FlippingBook