Your House-Hunting Must-Haves Checklist

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.

Things To Do Before House Hunting

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:

1. Setting your budget and figuring out just how much home you can afford. A lender or online home affordability calculator can help you with this.
2. Making sure you find a trusted real estate agent before you start shopping. The right agent can make home buying far easier and can help you find a home that meets all your requirements.
3. Getting preapproved for a mortgage. You’ll know that you’re shopping within your budget, and home sellers will take your offers more seriously.

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.

Neighborhood House-Hunting Checklist

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:

• Schools: If you have children, what local school will they attend? Even without children, the quality of the local school can affect other neighborhood factors, including home values and property taxes.
• Shopping: How far are the nearest stores? Will you have easy access to all the shopping you need?
• Parks: Are there local parks and open spaces your family can enjoy?
• Accessibility: Are there sidewalks or bike trails in the neighborhood? Is there public transportation available, including roads, bus routes and trains?
• Environmental factors: What are the local weather patterns, and does the area frequently experience natural disasters?
• Costs: Does the neighborhood have a homeowners association that requires regular dues?
• Crime rate: How much crime does the neighborhood experience (and if so, what kind)? Ultimately, will you feel safe living here?
• Other factors: Consider local zoning, proximity to industrial or utility sites and more.

Home Specs Checklist

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:

• Square footage of the home
• Number of bedrooms
• Number of bathrooms
• Whether there’s covered parking (and if so, how many spaces)
• Whether there’s a finished basement
• The home’s floor plan

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.

Home Exterior Checklist

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:

• Foundation: During a home inspection, you can learn about the state of the home’s foundation. A poor foundation is usually a deal breaker and may cause the home to fail the inspection.
• Paint: Consider not only the color of the home’s exterior but also the quality of the paint job and whether repainting will be needed in the near future.
• Roofing: What’s the condition of the roof? When was the roof last replaced? Answering these questions can help determine if you’ll need to replace the roof soon.
• Landscaping: Has the current owner done any landscaping? Pay attention to the condition of the lawn, whether there are trees, shrubs or gardens to maintain, and the existence of any sprinklers or an irrigation system.
• Yard: How big is the yard, and is it fenced in? Buyers with children or pets often prefer a fenced-in yard.
• Deck or patio: What outdoor living space does the home have? Does it already have what you need, or will you have to pay to install a deck or patio?
• Pool: Does the home have a pool? Some people want a home with a pool, while others may consider a pool a deal breaker.
• Garage: Does the home have a garage? Is it attached or unattached, and how many vehicles can it hold?

Home Interior Checklist

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:

• Flooring: What type of flooring does the home have, and what is its condition? Old or low-quality flooring could be expensive to replace.
• Walls and trim: What is the color and quality of the walls and trim in the home? Would you need to paint or complete any repairs?
• Kitchen: How big is the kitchen? Does it come with appliances, and in what condition? Is there a pantry? What’s the quality and style of the cabinets, countertops, etc.
• Living room: How large is the living room, and is it large enough for your family? Is it a separate room or does the home have an open floor plan?
• Dining room: Does the home have a dining room, and if so, is it large enough for your family? Is it a separate room or a part of the kitchen?
• Primary bedroom: How large is the primary bedroom? Does it include an attached bathroom, walk-in closet and other features you want?
• Other bedrooms: Are there enough bedrooms, and are they large enough for your purposes?
• Bathrooms: What conditions are the bathrooms in? Pay attention to their size, style and fixtures.
• Other rooms: What other rooms does the home include? Is there an office, bonus room, den, etc.?
• Basement: How many square feet is the basement and is it finished? Consider whether it works for your intended purposes.
• Storage: What storage is available in the home? Is there enough for your family, or would you have to pay for storage elsewhere?

Home Systems/Wiring/Plumbing Checklist

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:

• Electrical: Are all outlets and switches functional? Have you had the electrical system inspected, and is it up to code?
• HVAC: How old is the home’s HVAC system, and will it need to be repaired or replaced anytime soon?
• Smart home features: Does the home have any smart home features, and if so, what’s their condition?
• Energy-saving features: Does the home have any energy-saving features, and if so, what’s their condition? These could include LED bulbs, a tankless water heater, rainwater capture and low-flow pumping fixtures.
• Security: Does the home have a security system installed? Are there other security features included?
• Plumbing: What’s the condition of the home’s plumbing system, including the toilets, showers and tubs, sinks, faucets and water heater.
• Insulation: What type of insulation does the home have? Low-quality insulation could result in increased heating and cooling costs.

Miscellaneous House-Hunting 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:

• Storage shed: Your home may come with additional structures on the property, including a storage shed or additional garage.
• Solar panels: It’s becoming increasingly popular for homeowners to install solar panels, which can increase the home’s value and reduce your energy costs.
• Skylights or solar tubes: These features can help to brighten the home, but not everyone desires these features.
• Termite or pest inspection: It’s important to know if the home has a history of infestations, especially if there’s been any resulting damage.
• Technological upgrades: Many homes come equipped with technological upgrades, such as intercoms, home theater rooms and more.

House-Hunting Checklist: Miscellaneous

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:

• Storage shed: Your home may come with additional structures on the property, including a storage shed or additional garage.
• Solar panels: It’s becoming increasingly popular for homeowners to install solar panels, which can increase the value of the home and reduce your energy costs.
• Skylights or solar tubes: These features can help to brighten the home, but aren’t a desirable feature for everyone.
• Termite or pest inspection: It’s important to know if the home has a history of infestations, especially if there has been any resulting damage.
• Technological upgrades: Many homes come equipped with technological upgrades such as intercoms, home theater rooms and more.

What To Avoid While House 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:

• Problems with the home’s foundation
• A home that hasn’t been well-maintained
• Strange odors coming from the home
• Foreclosed properties
• A history of flooding
• DIY improvements
• A seller who refuses an inspection contingency
• Many homes for sale in the same neighborhood

The Bottom Line

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.