Finding a new home isn’t an easy process. You’ll likely look at dozens of homes online, attend multiple open houses and even tour a few homes before making an offer. A big part of the house hunting process comes down to priorities.

Needs and nice to have or wants needs to be properly prioritized before you even start the hunt. Every potential home buyer should have a list of needs and a list of wants for their home search. Here are a few things you should make sure to prioritize when searching for a new home.

Number of Rooms

Depending on the size of your family, you may need a certain number of bedrooms in your new home. Even if you don’t have children, having an extra bedroom for guests may be a need; especially if you have frequent visitors. Make sure you figure out how many bedrooms you need before you figure out how many you want.

You may need three bedrooms because you have a few children, but you may want four bedrooms so that you have an extra room for guests. Your need list should state that you need three bedrooms, while your want list may state that you want four bedrooms.

Living Space

A larger family may require more living space than a couple or a single home buyer. If you’re seeking your first home, you may not need as much space as a growing family will need. Take into consideration the size of home you really need compared to what you want.

Many home buyers find that a really large home tends to separate their family, which may not be something you desire. Weigh out the options and figure out how much space you really need compared to what you might want. A family of four probably doesn’t need a 5,000 square foot home, but may want that much space.

Garage Size

A garage can often be treated as a want, but in some cases, it’s a need. However, you may not need a two-car garage if you only have one vehicle. Consider how much garage space you really need compared to what you want and you’ll open up more options within our house search.

Location/Neighborhood

Where you call home is very important. If you have school-aged children, the school district matters. However, even without children, you may want to live in a specific location because it’s close to your job or to specific amenities.

Weigh the options and compare the school districts, commute times, amenities and other things near the locations you’re considering. Often, your home buying budget will dictate the location, but you will have some say in where you call home.

Setting proper priorities and sticking to them will make house hunting much easier. You may want a home with a swimming pool, huge back yard and tons of living space, but you may not need all of these things. Make sure to create a needs and a wants list before you start shopping. It will help guide you through the house hunting process.

If you ever have a real estate question or need, or know someone who does, trust that you can turn to me. 704-650-5707 | AnnaGrangerHomes@gmail.com