Before you look for a new home...

Try imagining it!

Your realtor® can't help you, if you don't know what you want!

Let's start with some general questions.

1.  How long are you willing to drive to work?

2.  Is your home in a development with an HOA to maintain standards, or a house without the need for anyone's approval to make changes?

3.  Do you care if you purchase a new construction home (yes, you should have an agent for this), REO, short sale or regular sale?

4.  Are schools a personal consideration or only from a standpoint of resale?

5.  Where is the nearest park and/or schools?

6. Which is more important, budget or amenities?


Now mentally drive up to your new home -

1.  Is it in the city, suburbs, marina, beach or countryside?  Does it have acreage?

2.  Is it a single story or multi?

3.  Is it set back from the street or is it close up with a small patch of grass?

     a .Is there a garden in front?

     b. A driveway?

     c. Statuary?

     d. Portico or porch?

4.  Garage size? Location?

     a. Is there rv parking?

     b. Guest or street parking?

5.  What is the lot size and characterisics? level or sloped?

6.  Is it a corner lot or do you have neighbors on both sides?

7.  How old/new is the house? stucco or wood, or something else?

8.  Are the windows standard, bay, bow, stained glass?

9.  Is it move in ready or an equity builder?


Let's walk in the front door.

1.  It's floor plan style? Bungalow, rancher or something else?

2.  Are you in an entry hall? 

3.  Is there crown molding or more of a contemporary feel?

4.  What is the flooring? tile, hardwood or carpeting? Is it fairly consistant throughout or will you transition from one type to another as you move around the house?

5.  What is the first room you walk into?  Does the house have a formal floor plan or more of
    a great room, open concept?


Walk through the living areas of the home…How is it laid out? Are there views? Of what?

1.  Is there a formal dining room?

2.  Is there a family room? on what floor?

3.  Kitchen details... where is it relative to the living areas?

     a.  Is the kitchen a galley or separate room or does it open to the more social areas of the home?

     b.  Is there an island?

     c.  Granite counter tops or tile? what color is it?

     d.  Are the cabinets, white, light wood, cherry or espresso? Glass or solid doors?

     e. Is the cooking surface gas or electric?

     f. One or two ovens? are they a range or a separate unit?

     g. What other appliances? Compactor? Dishwasher? Fridge? Convection oven or microwave?

     h. Is there a nook or counter bar?

     i. In what room will you eat?

     j. Is there a built in desk/ work area?

4.  How many bedrooms and baths?  Are they on the same floor as the living areas?

5.  Is there a full bath on the main floor? A half bath? Both, or more?

6.  Are there hallways?

7.  Are there stairs? Up or down? Straight, curved or spiral?

      a. Where are they in the house?

      b. Are they open to the room from which they originate?  If so describe the rails- wood or wrought iron or something else?


Now walk into your master bedroom. 

1.  What floor is it on?

2.  Is it one room or does it have a sitting room, nursury, office or retreat? 

     a. What time of day will you have sun?

     b. Are there doors in addition to windows? If so to deck or yard? Are there views? Of what? 

     c. Are the closets walkin or wall? Is there one or multiple closets? Are they in the main room or more a part of the bath?

3.  Does the master bath have a door or open entry?

      a. Is there a full shower and a soaking tub, shower over tub combo or just a shower?

     b. A water closet?

     c. What is the counter surface?

4.  Does the house have a jr master as well?

     a. What floor is it on?

5.  Other bedrooms?

6.  Other baths?

7.  Where is the laundry?  Deep sink and/or counters?


Now let's walk outside.  How did you get there?

1.  Is the back yard mostly grass? Mostly rock? Planted garden? Covered patio? Deck?

2.  Is there a pond or other water feature?

3.  Patios? What are they made from, brick, rock, cement, paver tiles?

4.  Is there a back neighbor, green belt, dock or park behind your house?

5.  Is there a vegetable garden?

6.  What can you hear in the distance?  Is traffic okay? Trains? Fog horns?

7.  Is there a built in barbeque area? Fire pit? Built in bar?

8.  Is there a pool? A hot tub? Gazebo?

9.  Is there an out building? Man cave, storage shed, guest or pool house?

10. Do you have a dog run?

11. If the next door neighbor has dogs, what kind are they?


If you can answer all of these questions, or provide any other details, your realtor® should have no trouble finding you a home. 

The next question will be, can you afford what you find?  Be realistic about what you want, based on what you can afford!