I have noticed about half the buyers end up tired of looking at homes. They have looked at 50 homes and none seem to be the "right" home, although some may be a possibility.
Why? Simply because the buyer has not come up with a list of their personal needs and wants in a home. Let's face it, the right house will meet all of your needs, and as many of your wants as possible. What you want and what you need in a home's features and amenities need to be analyzed before starting your home search.
Here are some of the features and amenities you would want to consider:
Features
- Age: Are historic homes preferable or new construction?
- Style: Are there special preferences towards ranchers, bungalows, or another style of construction?
- Bedrooms: How many?
- Bathrooms: How many? Are they updated?
- Living and Dining Areas: What type of floor plan - traditional, formal layout, or a more open, contemporary plan?
- Stories: How many?
- Square Feet: How much space?
- Ceilings: How high?
- Kitchen: How big? Recently updated? Open to other living areas?
- Storage: Big closets, a shed, an extra large garage?
- Parking: A garage or carport, on street or off-street? Room for how many cars?
- Extras: Attic or basement?
Amenities:
- Office
- Play/exercise room
- Security system
- Sprinkler
- Workshop/ studio
- In-law suite
- Fireplace
- Pool
- Hot tub
- Sidewalk
- Wooded lot
- Patio, deck, or porch
- Laundry room
Remember when making up the wants and needs list of criteria, always include
1. Location
2. Size
3. Condition
4. Appreciation
5. Neighborhood
6. Freestanding or Condo/Townhome, Resale or New Construction
7. Features and Amenities
8. Potential for Expansion or Improvement
With a list in hand, it shouldn't be difficult to find the right home. If it feels comfortable and has all of your needs and your most important wants, it probably is the home for you. The wants it does not have can always be added to the home later in time, if it is still desired.
Remember, there is no perfect home. Make up your list, give it to your agent and you should be able to find the right home for you and your family.
Buyers agents need to be careful not to do to narrow a search as the buyer may be able to live with some feature. Also most buyers need to see what they don't want to help them realize what they do.
Scott:
I disagree with you. Think about when you are in the grocery store in the cereal aisle, for example. There are so many different types of cereal to choose from, that it is hard to decide. It's the same when looking at homes. The more you see, the harder the choice.
Brigita
Great list and source for buyers. I always clearly ask buyers to distinguish b/w wants and needs and do the search accordingingly....
Kristin:
Good for you! We are not tour guides and we should not show every house on the market. It is a waste of everyone's time. It is more efficient to find out the wants and needs before starting the search.
Brigita