Your new home wish list

We are one week into the new year, and I have had conversations with several new buyers eager to find a home in the coming months. How exciting!

Most tech-savvy buyers already have a mild Zillow scrolling habit and likely a Pinterest board with dream kitchens and baths pinned ad nauseam. Did you know in the early 80s listings were printed WEEKLY in a book (known as "The Book") that was distributed to real estate offices? We're lucky to have such ease to view properties in real time as they hit the market today. 

Seeing what you are drawn to is a helpful guidepost as we begin looking at homes in real life. Here are a few considerations when assembling your dream house list that are important to share with your real estate agent:

WANTS v NEEDS

First, speak with your financial advisor or lender (I have incredible recommendations for you!) to determine the price range that you qualify for and feels comfortable for your goals. Resist the urge to search beyond your price point if it is not realistic to reach. 

Next, list out your non negotiables while keeping in mind there is no such thing as a perfect house; compromise will be necessary. Read that twice. How many bedrooms do you absolutely need? Conversely, how many would be nice - maybe for a guest room or home office or if you plan to expand your family? See the difference? Similarly, how many bathrooms are necessary? How many would be nice (I shudder a little at this one because I lived in a home with four people and one bathroom for several years. It was challenging! But we did it!). Is there a particular town or region you are zeroed in on? Maybe a school system you are attracted to? Or perhaps proximity to a city and its amenities or your office or family tops your list? 

Take some time trying on the above and really visualize the way you want to live in your new house. Please also consider that sometimes all of the above can go out the window when you walk into a home and are gobsmacked because you just KNOW it's the house that is meant for you even if it doesn't meet all of your checkboxes (this can happen with partners, too, am I right?). 

It's OK if you have no ideas and are starting with a blank slate. Popping into open houses and noting a home's attributes that you enjoy and dislike can help you start to build the vocabulary, too! One of my favorite practices is to dive in and book a few showings with you right away so I can observe you walking through a home to better refine your wish list. 

THE BASICS

• price range
• how many bedrooms
• how many bathrooms
• square footage of home
• acreage
• style of home
• age of home
• garage

THE DEEP DIVE

• what is the neighborhood like? a subdivision with rules & regs? backs up to conservation land with trails? part of a country club? in town and walkable to everything? 
• are you willing to tackle updates and renovations if a home doesn't meet your style expectations?
• do you want a pool? a home gym? tennis court? Is there space for this if it doesn't exist?
• how old are the home's systems (HVAC, waste and water)?
• how old is the roof? 
• is there a history of flooding or is it in a flood zone?
• how is the room layout/flow? **
• how does it FEEL being there? **
• what is the sun's position and how does light move throughout the house during the day? **
• how does it smell? **
• and a fun one: where will the Christmas tree go (if you celebrate)?

** très importante for me personally!

The average number of homes that a buyer looks at before purchasing is 7 (oddly the same number of wedding dresses most try on before deciding on The One). Don't stress if you don't fit this data point, just trust the process. The right home for you is out there! Let's jump in!

photo by Peter Morneau