How to Make a House Hunting Checklist
Before you start looking for a home, it’s important to take some time to determine your priorities. Whether that’s doing some browsing online or examining your likes and dislikes in your current living situation, making a checklist is crucial to narrowing down your search.
Oftentimes we think we know what we want until we see it laid out in front of us. You may consider some things you hadn’t even thought about yet or, on the other hand, you might just confirm everything you always thought you wanted.
Here is a good place to start:
The Basics
| Size | ____________________ sq. ft. | ||||
| # of Bedrooms | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5+ |
| # of Bathrooms | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5+ |
This or That?
| Attached garage | Detached garage |
| Finished basement | Unfinished basement |
| Multiple stories | Ranch style (1 story) |
| Large yard (1+ acres) | Small yard (less than 1 acre) |
| Need It | Definitely Not | Maybe | |
| Exterior | |||
| Fenced yard | |||
| Patio / Deck | |||
| Pool | |||
| Shed | |||
| Floor Plan | |||
| Finished basement | |||
| Formal dining room | |||
| Home office | |||
| Open floor plan | |||
| Separate laundry room | |||
| Walk-in closets | |||
| Style | |||
| Ceiling fans | |||
| Fireplace | |||
| Hardwood floors | |||
| Utility | |||
| Central Air | |||
| Energy efficient | |||
| Gas stove |
Once you’ve deliberated all the major categories, you should have a decent understanding of what you want in your new home, what you definitely do not want, and what you’re open to compromise on.
With a pre-approval in hand, it’s time to start shopping! We suggest using your wish list as a framework for your search, but ultimately keeping an open mind. You may be surprised to realize some of your “needs” aren’t really “needs,” or some things you didn’t think you wanted actually piqued your interest. No need to stress about it – your wish list might change multiple times before you find the right fit, and that’s okay.
If you happen to find a home that’s *almost* perfect but it’s missing something crucial from your list, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to start over.
Waterstone Mortgage offers a variety of renovation loan programs that allow you to take out one mortgage loan to cover the cost of both the purchase of your home AND any repairs or renovations you want to do right away. It’s a win-win!
Renovation loans really come in handy when you fall in love with the location of a home but want to make a change to the house itself. Or maybe you’ve found the one, but you can’t get over the fact that it doesn’t have updated cabinetry in the kitchen. This is your home we’re talking about – you don’t have to settle for anything less than your dream.
Starting with a house-hunting checklist can help you figure out exactly what that dream is. Although it’s not set in stone, creating a wish list is a great place to start and can help you navigate your home buying journey a little more smoothly.
This article is presented to you by Waterstone Mortgage. Please click here to read the full article.
