It can seem as if there are a million questions to ask before buying a home. How many bedrooms do you need, what school zone do you want to be in, is having a pool important to you, etc. Honestly, it can be quite daunting to think about, even for me, a realtor who is paid to think about these types of questions. Here are my big three questions – those that cannot be worked around and require serious thought before moving into your next home. If your answers do not bode well for the house in question, it is probably not the house for you.
Do you like the location?
This is easily the first question on the list to ask, because you can change a lot about a house, but you can’t change its location. You could demolish the house entirely and build it into the home of your dreams, but it will still be in the same school zone, be the same distance from work, and have the same neighbors. No matter how perfect the house is, it won’t be the home for you if you don’t love the location.
Does it fit into your future?
I always like to ask my clients how long they plan on being in this house. For a lengthy period of time my family moved every few years, so since we knew the house was temporary, we compromised on a lot more than we would have had we been in the market for a forever home. Along with this, this question is especially important for my younger clients. Essentially, if additions to the household, in the form of kids or otherwise, are to be expected, this changes your priorities in buying a home. For example, you might to add an extra bedroom to the list of must-haves or live in an area with more parks.
How much can you afford to change?
This is a question that is often overlooked, and it really should not be. You could walk into almost any home and with unlimited funds for unlimited changes, it could work for you. It is so easy to get wrapped up in what a home could be, that we often forget what it is now. Home improvement is not only a big commitment of time, but also a big commitment of money. Figure out costs for the changes you wish to make and a realistic timeline, then see if the home still feels perfect for you.