| You want to buy 'your dream home'; that is your | | | | that fits majority of your 'needs list' except one |
| ultimate purpose. You're looking forward to finding | | | | or two details. Maybe the kitchen is a bit small or |
| that perfect home, so that you can have that | | | | perhaps there is no basement. Faced with this |
| space you can call your own. You have many | | | | situation, you need to decide what you are willing |
| questions, and you're hoping that someone will | | | | to give up in light of the things about the house |
| answer them for you as you go along in the | | | | that you like. For instance, it would not make |
| house buying process. That is a potentially | | | | sense to accept a house that has two bedrooms |
| expensive assumption; it is much better for you | | | | even if it has the best kitchen you've ever seen if |
| to already anticipate some of the things you're | | | | you are moving out of your current home |
| likely to come up against, and to have a plan in | | | | because it only has two bedrooms! However, if |
| place that can help you go over them smoothly. | | | | the home had the right amount of bedrooms but |
| You need to realize that with every home that | | | | a smaller kitchen, you would need to decide if |
| you look at there will be something that you love | | | | that is something that you could live with. You |
| and something that you hate. This is not | | | | could also make the decision in terms of things |
| surprising, since someone else was responsible for | | | | that you could change when you eventually buy |
| the design and building of the home and you may | | | | the house, and even whether or not you want to |
| not necessarily agree with the way that they did | | | | be bothered with major renovations to the house. |
| things. You might end up looking at one hundred | | | | Some of these comments need to be noted |
| houses, and not finding 'that perfect home' that | | | | down in your checklists, so that when you're |
| you had been day dreaming about. Very soon, | | | | making your decision you have all the facts at |
| you might become jaded, and might give up in | | | | hand. |
| your search. Don't give up; you need to realize | | | | By having pre-determined criteria, it will be easier |
| that buying a house involves lots of give and take. | | | | for you to decide about the house to buy, and it |
| Before you start the search for a home, sit down | | | | will give you confidence that you're not just |
| and prepare a list of things that you must | | | | buying the house 'emotionally', but that you have |
| absolutely have in the house you purchase, and | | | | thought through your decision and are |
| possibly add things that would be nice to have. I | | | | comfortable with it. |
| would advise you to prepare this list as a sort of | | | | The give and take is all part of the process of |
| checklist, with the criteria running down the list, | | | | buying a home. When you take into consideration |
| and spaces to assess each house in your 'shortlist' | | | | that you'll most probably never be in the perfect |
| running across the page. Alternatively, you could | | | | home unless you build it yourself, then you will be |
| have such a list prepared for each house that is in | | | | at peace with it. You should therefore be |
| your shortlist, so that you can also have a place | | | | prepared to give up on some things and accept |
| to note down some comments about 'the feel' | | | | others at the same time. Whatever you do, |
| and other qualitative aspects of the houses that | | | | make sure that you spend as much time as |
| might not be captured in the listed criteria. | | | | possible when you are looking into buying a home. |
| Finding a home that completely matches your | | | | There is nothing to be gained by being in a rush. |
| criteria may be difficult. You might find a house | | | | |