What To Remember When Making Your Home Wish List

When buying a new home, especially in a sellers market, buyers typically have a general idea of what they want out of the home. Maybe three bedrooms, at least two bathrooms. But what about countertops and floors? Keeping everything organized can be difficult, especially for buyers who really want something specific. Keeping a wish list can help buyers make sure they aren’t forgetting anything important when going to showings or missing the forest for the trees. Here are some of the important things buyers need to consider when deciding what they want out of a new home.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Wants and Needs

The first thing a buyer needs to do is remember that it’s nearly impossible to find a home for sale that meets every single point on their wish list. This is why buyers should split their wish list into two categories: wants and needs. Wants are things that it would be nice to have but the buyer can live without. On the other hand, needs are the opposite: things that the buyer must have in order to live in the home happily. Here are some examples of each:

Wants:

• Granite countertops
• New appliances
• A pool
• Hardwood floors

Needs:

• A first floor bedroom
• Countertops that are at a certain height
• No stairs
• More than one bathroom

Another thing to remember is that needs are often things that need to be built into the home, while wants are typically things that can be added or changed later. While a home with a pool may be nice, home buyers need to remember not to let them outweigh their needs.

The Location

When thinking about the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in a home, it can be easy for buyers to forget that they aren’t just living in the home, they’re living in the surrounding area as well. The buyer needs to make sure they know how far the home is from shopping centers, grocery stores, parks, schools, and their place of work. For some people, driving isn’t an issue and they don’t mind spending extra time on the road. But for others, being close to everything is one of the most important factors, so they need to find out if the home meets those needs as well.

The Size

It’s easy for most buyers to know how many bedrooms and bathrooms they need, but it can be difficult, especially if a buyer has never owned their own home before, to understand how big a home is when it’s marked as a number of square feet on a listing. For a place to start, buyers should think about the place they’re currently living. Find how many square feet it is and work from there. Then, think about guest bedrooms, an entertaining space, and so on. It can also help to look at sample floorplans online to get a feel for how big a home is.

The Style

It may seem superficial, but if someone is going to spend $100,000 or more on a home, they should like how it looks. Homes can come in many styles, some regional and some that can be found anywhere. Some of the most popular styles are cottages, ranches, craftsman, and farmhouses, but these aren’t the extent of the different styles. Try looking up different styles to find one that looks good, that way an agent can be on the lookout for homes in that style.

Having an organized wish list can make finding a new West Calgary home a lot easier. When going to showings, be sure to have a list written down or saved on a phone so it can be referenced easily.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.