Buying a dream home is an accomplishment which finds its way into almost everyone’s bucket list. Whether it’s a studio apartment or a sprawling suburban home, everyone wants a home that feels comfortable, especially made for them. However, it’s not a bed of roses. Especially when the search for that “perfect home” is on. There are most likely to be multiple challenges and glitches that you must consider.
Buying a home is very different from buying any other piece of property. That is mainly because you will be staying in a home for a long span of time. Unlike any other property, for instance, a car, you cannot change your home often.
Thus it is okay to be picky about the choice of the house. In that light, here are a few things that you must consider.
Features That You Want:
When you go out to purchase the dream house of yours, highlight the fact that you deserve the place. A property must meet all of your needs. For instance, it must have enough rooms to accommodate the entire family. This becomes essential for a family with kids. But a dream home should not only be about meeting needs, but it must also fulfill your dreams. There is no need to highlight that dreams of people tend to vary.
For example, some may wish to wake up to an amazing sunrise on the lake, while others may prefer the view of a snow-capped mountain. Your spouse may be looking for a place with a fitness center close by, whereas you may want a house closer to your workplace and such other things.
Since wishes play an important role in searching for a dream home, get everyone in your family to make a list of wishes. Then categorize these wishes as per importance. While it’s important to meet most wishes, it may not always be possible to find a property that does it. In that light, select a property that meets most of the wishes.
Location and Neighbourhood:
It’s important to remember that your property does not exist in seclusion. It is a part of a bigger community which will continue to exist and grow. In that light, it’s important to consider the neighborhood before buying the property. With kids in the family, it’s important to choose a property which has hospitals, parks, and schools nearby. This becomes crucial if the kids are small. A playground close to the house makes it easy for either of the parent or any family member to take the kids out to play. A hospital closeby is important not only for kids but also for older people in the family. Nowadays, most of the key properties have schools within close vicinity. This works great for the kids since they do not have to travel far and wide.
All these issues must be considered before you buy your dream home. If possible go out in the locality one day. Spend some time in the local restaurant and find out more about the area you wish to get your home in. For example, when I was looking for flats in Jaipur, my main concern was locality. I didn’t want to shift to a place which doesn’t have parks, schools or hospitals nearby. Similarly, you must create your own checklist on which location suits your needs.
Age Of The Property:
When you are thinking about buying a home, then the age of a property makes a world of difference. Buying old homes as well as new ones have their own set of pros and cons. There are multiple British styled houses on sale. These houses have a typical colonial structure with robust staircases, big halls, and mammoth sized rooms. If you wish for some old gem property like this, be ready with a handful of money, since such property will require great maintenance. On the plus side, your children will have lots of space to run around in. In stark contrast to the dingy 2 bhk flats, such properties are a relief.
You might also consider an apartment styled place where all you have to do is turn the key to your flat. Most people these days prefer homes like this since it has low maintenance. However, space might become an issue.
Your Home Style:
Since it’s your dream home, you will want to be proud of it! In that light, it’s important to remember that a lot depends on how the home looks like. Thus it’s important to find a home that suits your personal style perfectly. While single homes are not advisable for a family with kids, it is crucial to remember that customizing a big house becomes difficult as well. Thus a middle path might have to be selected. So a little compromise on the size and a little adjustment in the styling will be required to make your dream home beautiful.
Scope For Future Changes:
Even if you buy a home meeting all the points in your checklist, there might be the need for some sort of customization. You might want your kitchen to be in a particular style, you might wish your bathroom had certain additional features. All this will require extra work and you have to be open to it.
However, it’s important to note that all the changes cannot be brought instantly. In fact, it must never be that way. Give yourself some time to settle in the property. Spend a year or two before bringing any major changes. Additionally, bringing layout changes in a house will cost some amount of money. You may have to spend a lot of time planning those changes as well. Thus, time is key here.
Cost:
We saved the most important point for the last! Costs play a huge role in buying a property. In fact, many a time, you may have to compromise on your wishes to fit a house in your budget. This is especially true in the current times since apartments are becoming very small and high in demand. Keep yourself updated on any of the hidden costs while buying home.
It’s understandable that you want your dream home to look breathtaking, but it is a wrong idea to stretch yourself beyond a certain limit to achieve that. It must not be forgotten that there will be other expenses to consider after moving to the new place. For example EMI or mortgage.
All the best for your dream home!