Looking for your next home can be overwhelming. In fact, the average home buyer will visit 10 homes over the span of 10 weeks before putting in an offer (realtor.com).
That’s why we recommend understanding exactly what you’re looking for to help clearly define your top priorities.
Remember, no home will ever meet all of your criteria and stay within your budget, otherwise searching for homes would be a lot less stressful! But it’s still important to go through this list of questions to start the process of understanding your expectations.
To Begin:
- Who will be living in this home?
- If you had to name your top five non-negotiables, what would they be?
- Beyond your top five needs, what is something you really want?
- Do you have a preference for the year the house was built?
- Do you want a house in move-in condition or are you willing to do some work on it?
- When people visit your home, what do you want it to say about you?
- Are there any specific features that would make your next house feel instantly like home?
- Will you require accessibility options?
Exterior
- What type of home are you looking for? (e.g. single-family, condo, town house, etc.)?
- Approximately what square footage would you like?
- How many stories do you prefer?
- What lot size are you looking for?
- What architectural styles are you drawn to?
- What type of exterior siding appeals to you?
- Do you want a porch, deck or both?
- What are you looking for in terms of a garage (e.g., attached, carport, etc)?
- Do you want a swimming pool or a hot tub? Shed or a shop?
- Do you need special outdoor arrangements for pets? (e.g. a dog run, fenced-in yard, etc.)
- What other exterior features are important to you?
Interior
- What style do you envision for the interior of your home? (e.g. formal, casual, cozy, traditional, minimalist, modern, etc.)?
- What kind of floor plan do you prefer (e.g. open vs. walls or divided living spaces)?
- In general, what are your preferences for the interior?
Bathrooms
- How many bathrooms do you need?
- What are your needs for each of the bathrooms?
- Will any bathroom need to serve a specific purpose (swimming pool access, fit for small children, accessibility specifications)?
BEDROOMS
- How many bedrooms do you need?
- How will each of those rooms be used?
- What are your preferences for the master bedroom?
KITCHEN
- What are your general preferences for the kitchen?
- What features must your kitchen have (e.g. breakfast nook, types of appliances, etc.)?
- What finishes do you like (e.g. countertops, flooring, cupboards, sink, appliances, etc.)?
- Will your kitchen need to accommodate anything with custom measurements (beverage cooler, island, farmhouse sink, butcher block countertop)?
Living Room
- What are your general preferences for your living and family room(s)?
- What size room(s) do you have in mind?
- Do you prefer your living and family room(s) to be separate and intended for different purposes?
- Do you want a fireplace?
- What other living areas are you looking for? (e.g. playroom for children, studio, mud room)
Dining Room
- Would you like the dining room to be part of the kitchen configuration?
- What about the living room – how should it be situated with regard to the dining room?
- What size dining room table do you have?
- Is there other dining room furniture I should take into account?
Neighborhood
- What neighborhoods or areas would you enjoy living in?
- Are there any specific streets or characteristics in these neighborhoods you’re drawn to?
- If applicable, what school districts do you prefer?
- Where do you work?
- Where are your favorite places to shop?
- What other conveniences would you like nearby?
- What do you like to do for fun?
- Are there any recreational facilities that you enjoy?
- Any other considerations we should be aware of as we find your ideal neighborhood?