The first step in creating a house hunting plan is to define what is most important to you. Get together with your family and discuss what you need in a new home. There are a number of questions you can ask to help guide you. What size of home would best suit you? Are there features that your family cannot live without? Do you have special circumstances to consider in terms of accessibility or safety?
Evaluating floor plans is an important aspect in your new home as the floor plan is the skeleton that supports family life. It’s important to consider your family’s interaction within the home and ensure that the house facilitates communication and socializing. Consider living spaces that are accessible to all family members as well as functional spaces that help facilitate your family’s everyday activities.
The location of your new home is also very important. Consider the proximity to your job, schools and public transportation. Also look closely at the community and environment by taking a tour of the neighborhood and consulting people who live there. If the community is under construction, tour other communities nearby or by the same builder.
Also look at vacant land around desired locations and seeing if there are plans to build in the space. Plans to build other homes of equal or more value may help the value of the home, but if the space is set aside for commercial space could depreciate the value of the house.
Once you’ve decided on the attributes of your ideal home, split your list into musts and wants. You can start your search online. Sites such as NewHomeGuide.com list a number of new homes for sale and you can search for available homes using the criteria you defined. Also take this list with you when you look at homes or talk to builders to remind you what is most important in your search.
If you are working with a real estate agent, communicate your list of wants and needs to your agent. As you begin to look at houses, be sure to provide your agent with constructive feedback that will help them refine your house hunt.
As you are looking at homes, be sure to check off the features on your list that each house possesses. If you cannot find a home that meets all of your wants after looking at several houses, reevaluate your list and determine if your search criteria is realistic. You may need to change some of your musts to wants.
My name is Robert Stark. I have been in the industry of real estate investing for over 17 years. My real estate investing endeavors have run the gamut from vans down by the river to mansions on the mountain side. In the last 5 years I have been able to focus on buying new homes, and through my experiences I have acquired a considerable amount of home buying knowledge that I would like to share with anyone who cares to listen.
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