UPDATED: Apr 19, 2024
Buying a home is an exciting process. Unfortunately, it can also be an overwhelming one. Not only are there budget considerations, but you also feel the pressure of finding the perfect home for your family. And the unprecedented housing market during the past 2 years has only made the process more nerve-wracking.
Finding the perfect home is easier when you’ve got a house-hunting checklist by your side. We’ve put together a checklist to help you stay organized on your home search and feel confident in your home purchase.
A home is likely the largest single purchase you’ll make in your life, so it’s important to be thorough and ensure you’ve found the perfect space for your family.
There’s a lot of work to be done before buying a home. A few important steps to complete include:
Once you’ve completed all the steps necessary before looking at houses, you can use the checklist below to find your perfect home. As you work through the checklist for each home you’re considering, rate each item from 1 – 5, with 5 being the best score and 1 being the worst. By rating each checklist item, you’ll have an easier time comparing them and deciding which home is a better fit.
A home’s neighborhood is one of the most important factors to consider when deciding if a home is the right fit. As a homeowner, your life is affected by your home’s location, from the stores you frequent to the school your children attend to how safe you feel.
Here are a few factors you’ll want to consider:
When you’re shopping for your new home, each house’s specifications are some of the first aspects you’ll look at. These specs are usually readily available in the listing and allow you to choose or rule out certain homes without going to an open house. The most common home specs you’ll likely consider include:
When analyzing a home’s specifications, there are no right or wrong answers. It’s helpful to begin the house-hunting process knowing what specs you’d like in a home so that you can determine by looking at the listing if the home is worth your time. You can easily rule out homes that aren’t big enough – or are too big – and don’t have your must-haves.
The exterior is one of the most important factors to consider when shopping for a home. And unfortunately, home buyers often spend too much time focusing on superficial characteristics instead of crucial items. You’ll want to consider the following exterior features of a home:
In addition to the exterior of a home, it’s also important to pay attention to the interior. You’ll spend most of your time inside the home, and it can be expensive to repair or replace interior features. Some of the internal characteristics of a home that you should consider include:
While the aesthetic features of a home are important, it’s also vital to pay attention to the systems within your home and how they’re working. Your home inspection can help you address most of these questions. Here are a few items to consider:
In addition to your home’s interior, exterior, specifications and neighborhood, you’ll need to consider other items that don’t quite fit into one of those categories. Here are a few to keep in mind when you’re house hunting:
In addition to the important aspects of your home’s interior, exterior, specifications and neighborhood, there are a few other factors to consider that don’t quite fit into one of those categories. Here are a few other things you’ll want to consider when you’re housing hunting:
When you’re searching for the perfect home, know what red flags to look out for. These can include fundamental problems with the home, financial or documentation problems and more. Some red flags will be deal breakers altogether, while others should be noted, though you may still buy the home. Here are a few to look out for:
Home buying is an exciting process, but it can also be complicated, so it’s important to go into it with a level head. When you start house hunting with a checklist in hand, it’ll be easier to evaluate each home and determine if it’s right for your family. And if you need help financing your new home, initiate the mortgage approval process today to get started.
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