People who are looking to buy a home have their own motivations. It could be an investment for their future or to start their own family. Regardless, it's essential to look for a property that matches your lifestyle. The house you are bound to choose should represent your identity.
These days, residential homes are popping out here and there, offering properties that provide their own comforts and conveniences. There are even condominium properties offering crafted communities that can better suit your kind of lifestyle. This gives you enough to consider, but it can also make the decision-making a tad overwhelming.
Below are some handy tips that can help you make a smart choice when shopping for a home. Let's dive into it!
1. Establish a budget
One thing for sure when shopping for homes: it does not come cheap. This is the first thing you need to set before you start looking for a house, so you can immediately weed out the options beyond your target price range. By identifying your budget, you and your real estate agent can focus more on the types of homes you seek instead of wasting your time looking at those that are out of your means.
Moreover, consider the costs when closing a deal with the seller and any home repairs you will have to do before moving in. You can look into financing options to help alleviate the financial burden, if necessary.
2. Determine your desired floor plan
Are you more inclined to have an open floor plan or prefer to have private spaces around the house? If you have a family, layout the rooms for the size of your family and your work (if you work remotely). If you only just got married and starting a new chapter in your life, an open floor plan can work for you.
While you're at it, determine whether you want a single- or multi-story home. Homeowners often choose single-story homes for the lack of foot traffic noise overhead, and the accessibility to all parts of the house sans a staircase. On the other hand, some appreciate the views of multi-story homes and the liberty to have more privacy compared to single-story floor plans.
3. Assess the neighborhood
Moving into a house means you're also going to live in a community you're not familiar with at the onset, so think about what you want for a neighborhood when house-hunting. Do you want to be within proximity to parks, public transportation, schools, hospitals, or work? Is it a safe neighborhood? These are some of the things to ask yourself when choosing a property.
The neighborhood is what completes the experience of buying a house. You can look for luxury homes for sale that are tucked in areas with adequate recreational facilities and amenities designed for your lifestyle.
4. Location, location, location
Cliché as it may sound, location is a crucial factor when scouting for a new home. The location can determine the resale value of the property. Apart from that, it can directly affect your lifestyle and the ease of accomplishing your everyday routine.
For instance, if you live within your office vicinity and you decide to move far away from work, you'll need to spend more time commuting. This can have a domino effect on your schedule—you have to adjust your time to pick up your kids and adjust the time you wake up to go to work.
A location that offers accessibility to road entry points, schools, entertainment and shopping centers, and your work can give you flexibility and convenience.
5. Consider the things that are essential to your lifestyle
What are your hobbies? If you're a gardener, you might want to look for a property with an adequate yard you can work on. If you have lots of cars or motorcycles, perhaps it's logical to find one with a vast garage. Alternatively, if you frequently travel and don't spend a lot of time at home, you might not need to look at properties with a large yard or lot size, to begin with.
6. Do a home tour
Finally, you must visit the prospective properties yourself to assess the house properly. It's not enough to look at photos or do virtual tours. Physically seeing the properties allows you to spot any issues that can break the deal or be worth fixing, depending on your preference.
When you do a home tour, make sure to check out the facilities and go around the neighborhood to get a good grasp of what goes around in the community. You can also see how long it takes you to drive from the property to your work or any establishments you frequent to see if it's a good fit for you.
Choose a home that you can truly call your own
Buying a house is an exciting stage in your life, but it's no easy task. You need to figure out what you want and what matters most to your lifestyle to make a well-sound decision. With patience and the help of the tips above, you can find your perfect home!
Noel Brago
Noel Brago is a Project Development Associate at Filinvest Studio N. Outside work, you can find Noel writing articles on business, real estate, and finance.
