How to Find Your Perfect Home
Your home is so much more than merely a base, and somewhere to sleep at night. A home is somewhere that should meet your needs on both a practical and an emotional level. Homes are a sanctuary, a place to escape the outside world and relax. With so many boxes to tick, finding the right home can be a difficult task, so the search for the perfect home can take time and effort. Hunting for the ideal house is exciting, but it is useful to define what you are looking for to focus your search.
If you are struggling to know where to start in your quest for the perfect house these suggestions should help you to refine your search, and bring you a step closer to finding the right home for you:
A Personal Choice
Buying a house is probably the most significant single purchase that you will make in your life, so it is worth taking the time to ensure that you make the best choice.
Your choice of home is very much a personal choice, so it is vital to focus on the type of property that YOU want. For example, just because all your friends are buying family homes in the country, there is no reason that you shouldn’t buy an HDB in the city if that suits your lifestyle best. Everyone’s needs are different, so don’t feel compelled to simply follow the crowd. Instead, your decision should be based on how you like to live and then taking the time to consider the type of property that will help you to achieve that.
Get the Location Right
While there are many things about a property that can be changed with a little home improvement, one thing that cannot be altered is the location.
Location is vital for many reasons; here are some of the factors that you will need to consider:
Neighborhood and Community
Firstly, you need to think about the type of neighborhood that you would like to live in. Do you want to be part of an area with a strong sense of community? Would you rather live within the hustle and bustle of the big city?
Leisure and Lifestyle
Thinking about how you like to spend your time is an excellent way to work out which area is best for you. If you have an active social life and love to visit restaurants, bars and take trips to the theatre, then living in the city maybe your best option.
Commuting and Transport Links
Unless you work from home, your daily commute is going to influence your choice of location. If you like to have a short commute or prefer to simply walk to work, then a city property will allow you to cut down your travel times and will eliminate the need to spend large portions of your day traveling. It is useful to do some research on the transport links that are available in your preferred neighborhoods so that you can gain an idea of how long it will take for you to travel, and how frequently transport is available.
Budget
Another factor that is heavily influenced by location is your budget. Wherever you live, there will always be some neighborhoods that are more desirable than others, and this will affect the price that you can expect to pay for properties.
If you are set on purchasing a house in a particular location, you may need to weigh up whether you would like a smaller property in your chosen area, or a larger property slightly outside the location to make it affordable.
Features: Negotiable Versus Non-Negotiable
While many people have a dream home in mind, finding that exact home, in reality, can be almost impossible. When deciding to purchase a home, there are always some compromises that need to be made. This means that you will need to think about which features of a home that you cannot live without, and which ones you would be willing to compromise on. For example, if a large garden is a non-negotiable feature for you, you may find that properties you view with large gardens require you to compromise on the size of the bedrooms.
Working out what you are prepared to sacrifice versus the must-have features will bring you closer to finding the home that is right for you.
Image Pixabay CC0 License
Room For Improvement
While compromises nearly always need to be made when choosing a property, some of these can be overcome with some home improvements. Sometimes, a run-down property in a desirable location can be the best way to purchase a home in your chosen area without breaking your budget. Making improvements over time, as and when you can afford them will enable you to create the house of your dreams and to renovate it in the style that you wish.
If you plan to take on a home renovation project, you will need to be prepared to live among the disruption for a while as you work on the house, but the end results should make it entirely worth the wait.
Improving a run-down home offers an excellent way to put your own stamp on a property and to have control over its final appearance. As long as you stick to your renovation budget and do not overspend, you should find that you have added significant value to the house, which could realize a considerable profit in the future.
Thinking About the Future
When searching for your perfect home, you will also need to consider the future. Thinking about how long you plan to live in your new home is essential. Do you want a home that perfectly suits your lifestyle for the next few years, or do you want a ‘forever’ home that you plan to stay in for a long period of time? There is no right or wrong answer to this question, but it is a crucial factor to consider to influence your purchase decision.
*this is a collaborative post, featured image by Photo Mix from Pixabay
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