When you go grocery shopping do you have a list of items that you want or need? Perhaps, if you are like me, it's one that your wife puts together for you. Whether it is just a few items or a couple dozen, we always grocery shop with a list.
I see a lot of grocery shoppers with lists. However, I see very few home buyers with lists. Sure, they all have some vision of a home, the home of their dreams, they can see it in their minds. But when out looking at homes for sale, they don't see it in reality. That doesn't mean that the home of their dreams is not out there, it often only means that they really aren't sure what the home of their dreams looks like.
How can you increase the chances of finding the home of your dreams? It really isn't that difficult. Just Make a List. I recommend making what I call the 15 list. First, make a list of 5 attributes that the home of your dreams must have. For seniors, or for couples with an infant or planning on babies, one must have might be a single story ranch or similar home. For families with older children it could be a split bedroom plan. A must have list could look something like this:
Our Dream Home Must Have:
- Minimum 3 bedrooms, 2 baths
- Split bedroom plan
- Handicapped access
- Fenced backyard
- Low maintenance yard
Second, list 5 more items that would be nice to have, they could look something like this:
These items would be nice to have in our Dream Home:
- Granite counter tops
- Finished basement
- 2 acres
- 10 minutes from work
- brick exterior
And finally, make a list of 5 items that you absolutely don't want (for some people, this is the hardest part). That list could be something like:
These things would make our dream home a nightmare:
- swimming pool
- adjacent to school or park
- gas appliances
- next to cemetery
- fixer upper
Note, the above lists are only examples and not suggestions as to what you should want or not want in your dream home. They will be different for everyone. Review this list often, both before you start the home search process and while you are looking. You may be surprised to find that the must have and desirable items may swap places with each other, or even be replaced by other items you hadn't included originally.
You don't have to limit the number to 5 in each category, or even the same amount of items in each group. You might have 7 must haves, 10 nice to haves and only 3 absolutely no way will our home ever have these.
So, when you first think about buying a new home, whether it is your first, or or your tenth, make that list. If you are buying with someone else, make sure you have one list that includes both of your needs and excludes both of your absolutely nots.
For more tips on buying, selling or investing in a home or real estate in or around Athens, GA call me at 706-207-5290. Or you can
click here to email me with your inquiry. Please visit my website at
The Athens Real Estate Page for information on local properties available.
