Buyers Guide
Information makes the difference.
Determining Your Needs
Your Lifestyle
So, you've decided you want to own a home. It's a popular dream. For most people, with the right planning, it can become a reality. But there is a lot to know before moving. This guide will take you through the process step by step, to determine exactly the kind of home that is perfect for you. We'll ask you some questions and we've provided worksheets that you can print out and use with your RE/MAX agent.
- What Does Your Future Lifestyle Hold?
- How long are you planning to live in your new home? Are you looking for a home to "grow" into, or one to "down-size" into? How many bedrooms will you require? How many vehicles will you require parking for? You will also want to consider proximity to-and the reputation of-schools in the area.
How is your work situation? Will you likely be changing jobs? If you are going to change jobs or be transferred, will you be able to sell quickly? Keeping work in mind, how long do you want to spend commuting? Will you drive or rely on public transportation?
As you can see, you will want to give some thought to how long you intend to stay in your home. It may be difficult to answer before you've even found your new home, but you need to give some thought to the resale value when the time comes to sell your home. On the other hand, if you are planning to stay in your home for a long time, consider your future needs and purchase a home that will accommodate them.
- Do You Live a Maintenance-Averse Lifestyle?
- When you are looking at homes, consider the advantages of a low maintenance exterior like vinyl siding, brick, or stucco, over a wood siding house. Take a look at the yard, if you don't like cutting grass, a large yard may not fit into your lifestyle. You can also evaluate the possibility of future maintenance and repairs based on the age of the house. If you don't like the idea of major renovations, a newer home may be your best option. Or, do you want to live in a condo where the maintenance is done by the condominium corporation?
- Is Your Lifestyle More Geared to a Fixer-Upper Fantasy?
- Many first time buyers have them. It goes something like this….you find a big home in a neighborhood that's well below what you would expect to pay for that house in that neighborhood. You see a couple of coats of paint, new carpet, a few repairs, and BANG, a dream home without the nightmare price.
Before you jump headlong into this "once in a lifetime" opportunity, consider how you will do the work. Will it be weeknights after a long day at work? Will you hire someone to do the job? Are you ready to live in a dusty mess while you renovate? Do a realistic assessment of the job, and be sure to have the house inspected. The last thing you want is a bargain house that becomes a money pit. You may be better off in the long run to find a house that costs a little more each month, instead of a fixer upper that eats up a lot of time and hundreds of dollars each month. You should also consider the strain that your family will go through living through a renovation.