8 Essential Things To Look For When House Hunting

By Mike | September 30, 2019

Finding the dream house you have always wanted to buy can be an exciting time. The house looks great, feels right, definitely seems like this is ‘the one.’ But many houses have underlying problems that might not be immediately obvious. 

While making a safe purchase is important, it is equally essential to make the right purchase. It is easy to get carried away, but you need not worry! To help you make the right choice, enlisted below are 8 essential things to consider before signing up for your dream home.

The Location

Experts of Oakville real estate say that the three most important things to consider when house hunting are location, location, and location. You can compromise a little with the other features of a property if you love the neighborhood. You can change almost everything else. But, once bought, you can’t change the atmosphere of the neighborhood.

When you start looking for properties, consider the home’s distance from work, shopping centers, schools, healthcare facilities, and public transportation. Make sure that the house and the neighborhood meet your expectations. 

Price

When looking for Oakville houses for sale, setting a budget is necessary. While nobody wants to miss a catch of a good bargain, there is no wisdom in burning a hole in your pocket. Therefore, you must hire a real estate agent to do a comparative market analysis for the ongoing average price of a property in a particular neighborhood.

The Home’s Curb Appeal

The home you live in should reflect your personal style. If you want to live a relaxed life, then you might want to go for a formal Victorian or Tudor-style home. 

If you want a property that is easy to maintain, then you can buy a brick home, unless and until it is in an earthquake-prone area.

Set your priorities and ask yourself. Whether you want a house with attractive landscaping or one with the outdoor kitchen and living space?

Space

Experts say, “Different strokes for different folks.” The size and dimensions of the house matter a lot.

While you might think about buying your dream house that has four beds and four baths, but isn’t your dream home impractical if you are going to live in it alone. 

A large house can give you extra space to set up a home office, but it also means paying more bills and higher taxes. So, make sure your new house suits your needs. It is always better to figure out first than to regret later.

Ventilation

While the exterior of the house may look appealing, one must ensure that it is well-oxygenated inside out. Check for windows and ventilation outlets from various rooms. If you love a bright-sunny room, go for houses that directly face open spaces.

Hidden Costs

Whether it is the roof that needs repair or the basement, one must be aware of the monthly/ yearly expenses that will accompany the new house. 

Your new house may look spectacular in the first visit, but there may be many underlying issues that might not be visible to the untrained eye. So, you must always go for a home inspection before signing the papers. Ask the professional about the precise breakup of costs involved in buying that property.

Resale Value

Buying a home is not an easy affair. You aren’t going to do it every year. So you should always take a good stock of whether the new house is a good investment or not. This decision might conflict with the choice of neighborhood. However, one must be able to strike a balance between all the factors that matter to ensure a good return on investments along with a healthy lifestyle.

Security

This is an important factor to consider for a hassle-free day-to-day life. While cost may be a factor in mind when comparing gated communities and standalone housing units, but the added sense of security in the former is worth more consideration.

If you keep all the above-mentioned elements of a home in mind, you will likely end up with your dream house.