How to Evaluate What You Really Want in a Home

Does love at first sight exist for newbie homeowners? Sometimes the lucky homebuyer will immediately stumble upon their dream home, but it’s usually a process that takes YEARS—especially for those who are exclusively looking at older, pre-owned homes. For most, sacrifices will have to be made in order to settle down; otherwise, you’ll end up wandering the world of real estate for the better part of your adult life.

So, how can you set realistic goals for yourself as you house hunt? It starts with sitting down to evaluate what you want in a home. To help you navigate, we’ve put together a small list of what we consider to be key factors in this evaluation process. While your values can and probably will be different, this is a good reference for anyone who’s struggling to narrow the real estate playing field. Without further ado, here’s how you can evaluate what you really want in a home:

Prioritize Needs vs. Wants

Believe it or not, there’s a difference between wanting something and needing something, and as you house hunt, it’s easy to get the two confused. By sorting through these non-negotiables, you can better evaluate what you want in a home.

Location

While it’s not the residence itself, location is still a huge part of evaluating what you want in a home. It’s something that can sway price range and future resale value, so take time to research neighborhoods and their proximity to surrounding sites (schools, cities, urban hubs, jobs, etc.).

Home Size

Home size includes everything from room count to the architectural layout. When evaluating homes, it’s always best to go into the hunt with an ideal room count (bedrooms, spare rooms, bathrooms) and layout (single-family home, ranch-style homes, multiple stories) in mind.

Other Non-Negotiables

Other considerations to add to your non-negotiable list include budget and moving time. In the real estate world, budget is a variable that needs to stretch with demands. For example, if you are looking at pre-owned homes, there’s always the probability of repairs. Your moving timeframe may also influence what type of property you look at, be it a new construction, quick move-in, or pre-owned home.

Think of the Future

Thinking about the future can be scary, but it’s something that every homebuyer should keep in mind as they evaluate what they want in a home. For instance, if you are set on settling into your dream home, it might be more acceptable to splurge on location and construction quality. Whereas, if you are planning to move again in the future, return on investment (ROI) and property value are extremely important to evaluate.

The Old or New Debate

When all is said and done, your evaluation should lead you to the age-old debate of old vs. new construction homes. Your non-negotiables will influence this decision as well as your plans. For these reasons and more, you must take the evaluation process seriously and review all options before seriously exploring homes. If you are considering new construction homes in Texas, reach out to Chesmar Homes. We are a home builder who specializes in constructing stylish, functional designed homes in master planned communities throughout Houston, Dallas, Austin, or San Antonio.