Before you begin shopping for your home, reviewing your lifestyle, both now and in the future will make a big difference in the type of home you may need. You will save time by defining your goals before you start house hunting. You are likely to find the home you want much quicker because you won’t waste your efforts viewing homes that don’t meet your criteria.
Look at your lifestyle right now. Are there some areas you would like to change? Consider your lifestyle a few years from now: will it remain the same? Will your needs increase or decrease? Will you need a small or large home to meet your changing lifestyle needs? Perhaps the attic or basement can be converted into additional living space.
Do you have preschoolers? In a few years they will be teenagers, perhaps looking to move out and establish their own home. Perhaps your children have already left and you don’t need a large home. Do you know how long you’re planning to stay in your home? Two years? Five years? Twenty years?
Where do you spend the most time? The kitchen? Basement? Kitchens and family rooms are often gathering places. Be sure these areas are large enough for your family and your use levels.
What about entertaining? Do you need extra space to accommodate large or frequent family functions? Could you convert the basement into a family area? Do small children need a play area, or do teenagers need a recreation area?
How many bedrooms do you require? Some people like smaller spaces for children, a home office, or frequent guests.
Bathrooms are among the busiest place in the home. Can the bathroom handle the traffic of your family?
Think about your employment situation. Will you be changing jobs, or accepting a promotion with another company in another location? If transferred, could you sell your home quickly? How much time do you want to spend driving to and from work each day? Do you rely on public transportation?
Look at your lifestyle compared to home ownership. How much time do you have to spend on maintenance? Are you a gardener? Do you enjoy puttering in the garden, mowing laws, and maintaining flower beds? Are you a person who enjoys fixing things around the house? While owning your own home is a wise investment decision, it does come with responsibilities. To maintain the value of your home and protect your investment you want to ensure your home is in good condition and repair. This means careful attention to items that need to be fixed. Often, fixing them right away is easier than waiting for things to accumulate. If you’re not keenon lots of maintenance, a newer home or perhaps a condominium may be a better option for you.
On the other hand, perhaps you enjoy painting, fixing, decorating and all the assortment of items needed to maintain a home. You might find an older home in a great neighbourhood that’s well below market value because it needs some work. This could be a great home improvement project, and increase the value of your investment.
However, before you decide this project will translate into your “dream home,” be sure to realistically evaluate the situation. Will you do the work on weekends, or in the evenings after work? Will you hire someone, and for how much? Can you live in a mess while you renovate, or can you afford to renovate first and move in after they’re completed? Sometimes people move into a home thinking they will complete the work in stages, not realizing what kind of long term time commitment this is. Prior to purchasing a home, prepare a detailed list of the work that needs to be completed, along with a realistic estimate of the cost.
Buying a home represents one of the biggest investments you will ever make, and that investment goes beyond financial considerations. You’ll want to give careful thought to your lifestyle needs, both now and in the future. The time and money you have available for maintenance is an important consideration for choosing the right home. Take a look at the entire picture before you purchase.
If you’re looking for Edmonton Homes for sale, the best place to start your search is with a top Edmonton Realtor with a quality Edmonton MLS search tool on their website.
