A Guide to Finding Your Perfect Home

House hunting can quickly become a daunting task when trying to stick to your budget while satisfying all of your wants and needs. You may feel restricted by price, especially as first-time buyers, and may feel pressured into settling on a home that’s less than perfect. Be choosy! You want to be happy with your home for years to come. So take some time to consider what you should be looking for in your next dream home. Make a list going through these following important criteria:
   

1. Location & Neighborhood

Suburbs homes are generally less expensive and newer properties. You get more home for the money. It may require a longer travel time if you work in the city. They are further away from the downtown core.

Urban homes are closer to many job opportunities and within walking distance to entertainment, dining and schools. There is more variation in home styles. They are often noisier and more expensive, with higher crime rates and less house for the money.

Busy Street homes on high-traffic streets are significantly cheaper. They tend to be noisier, busier and less safe for children. A house on a busy street oftentimes has reduced resale value.

Cul-de-sac homes are the number one choice of buyers with children. It encourages more neighbourly interaction, but less privacy can be an issue for some.

Corner Lot homes are often on larger lots with fewer neighbours, tend to have more visibility and more interior natural light. Corner lots are exposed to more traffic noise and have more property to maintain in the winter months. Also, they are more susceptible to vehicles jumping on the curb.


2. Type of Home 

Single Family Homes 
There is a good appreciation for this property type. They offer more opportunity for gardens, more privacy and overall quieter space, but they are more expensive and require more maintenance than other home options.

Condos, Townhomes, Cooperatives
These type of homes are less expensive than comparable single-family homes. They are generally newer, with fewer repairs and no yard or exterior maintenance. They usually have less privacy and oftentimes expensive maintenance fees. They may be noisier, due to common walls and/or floors and ceilings, with no private yard and sometimes no balcony.

3. Number of Stories
 
Single Level homes have fewer stairs to climb. They are easier to clean and they are wheelchair accessible if needed. They can be noisier since the entertaining areas and the bedrooms are on the same floor. Some people may feel that safety is compromised if the bedrooms are located at ground level.


Multi-Level homes have more living space on the same foundation. They have more privacy and stair climbing than a single-story home. The temperature variation can sometimes be an issue in the multi-level homes.

Split Level homes are often less expensive if purchased with an unfinished lower level. The higher ceilings are a good resale feature. Downstairs family room separates noise from upstairs. They have more square footage on the same size lots as single-level homes. However, they have less storage space and the kitchens tend to be smaller.


4. Interior Specifications 

Number of Bedrooms
3 or more bedrooms homes are the most desirable for resale. 2 bedrooms homes appeal mostly to first-time buyers, singles or seniors.

Number of Bathrooms
2.5 bathrooms tend to be the ideal for home buyers (master bath, guest bath and powder room). 1 bath homes are often less expensive and are less desirable when reselling.

Square Footage
Larger spaces offer more room and cost less per square foot than smaller spaces. Remember, the layout is more important than the actual square footage, and sometimes a well designed smaller spaces appear larger.

Bonus Rooms
Extra space for media rooms, art studios, children's playrooms, gyms, den/study can be a great feature to help you grow with your home.

5. Garages type and number

Attached garages are more affordable to build and oftentimes offer direct access from the house into the garage.

Detached garages are expensive to build with direct exposure to inclement weather when accessing the garage.

6. Additional Points for Considerations

• School districts.
• Special amenities such as fireplaces, pools or spa-bathrooms.
• Condition of plumbing, electrical, heating & cooling units.
• Available utilities such as satellite.
• Sewer, cesspool or septic connections.
• Fixers. If you're handy with tools, you could save big if you consider homes that need minor improvements, fresh paint or new carpeting. 

Happy Home Finding!

ManuelaLovasz.com