What to Look for When Buying a New House

Whether you’re buying your first home or your fifth, the idea of moving to a new place and starting a new chapter in your life is exciting. Once you’ve decided that it’s time to move or that you need to move into a house that better suits your needs, one of the next steps is to start looking at houses. For many couples, families, or individuals, looking at houses is one of the most exciting parts of moving — you get the chance to tour new houses and see what you do or don’t like about each one until you find that house that’s just right. However, it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget about what really matters when looking at a home. That’s why, in today’s post, we will provide you with a few tips on what you should look for as you begin exploring your options.

A New Dawn Realty is proud to be your go-to realty company for all your house-hunting needs in Stokesdale. We offer extensive real estate listings, allowing you to look through homes on the market from the comfort of your current abode. Looking for an expert who can walk you through the entire process? Our team of REALTORS® is more than happy to provide you with the assistance you need. Explore our website to learn more, and give us a call to schedule an appointment today!

Location

Location is one of the most important things to consider when looking for a new home. The last thing you want is to move into an area that is too far away from your job, the local stores, or isn’t in a school district you like. Before you even start looking at houses, it’s a good idea to do some research and see what areas work best with your needs, especially if you are moving to a different area or state. Consider the distance to work, grocery stores, schools, and other essential places. Once you have a location or two in mind, you can start looking at some of the homes available in that area.

Neighborhood

Much like the location of your home, the neighborhood you will be living in is an important aspect to consider. Now we’re not saying you should anticipate being best friends with all of your neighbors, but you should be willing to get to know them, or at the very least, feel comfortable with the people you share a street with. Additionally, you will want to look at what the neighborhood has to offer. For example, is there a park or a playground within walking distance? Does the neighborhood look nice and feel safe to walk in? If you find a house that you like, consider walking around the neighborhood and even speaking to some of the residents to get a better feel of what it might be like if you moved in.

Storage

Most homeowners will agree that storage is something you can never have too much of, but it is possible to have too little storage. When you tour a house that you’re interested in, make sure to look around to see what storage might be like. You could have a huge house with very little storage, in which case, you might consider adding an extra closet or getting creative with other storage solutions. Be sure to keep storage in mind as you tour a house to make sure there is enough space for all of your belongings. If you find yourself thinking that there will be enough storage space as long as you purge some of your belongings before you move, then there’s a good chance that you will need to find a house with more storage.

Curb Appeal

The outside of your home should be a reflection of your lifestyle, and it should be something you enjoy looking at. Curb appeal provides the first impression of your new home, and if you aren’t completely in love with the outside of your house, there’s a good chance that you won’t be completely happy with the inside either. Additionally, you will want to consider how you plan on using your home’s outdoor space. If you plan on throwing parties or hosting BBQs, you will probably want a house with an inviting yard, as opposed to a space that has barely enough room for your grill.

Size

When people begin the search for a new home, it can be easy to get caught up in all the features that you want your new home to possess. For example, you might dream of having four bedrooms or a kitchen that is big enough to host your entire family. However, it’s important to consider whether or not your vision is practical for your budget and your current lifestyle.

As you begin to tour homes, the best way to determine what size home works best for you is to think about your current lifestyle. If you or your spouse (or both of you) currently work from home, you may want a house with an office, allowing you to easily separate home life and work life. Use your best judgement to help you determine what is a reasonable size for you, your family, and your lifestyle.

 

Ready to Start Looking?

There’s no better time to start looking for a house than right now, and our team at A New Dawn Realty in Stokesdale is here to help! We have years of experience helping both first-time house buyers and seasoned homeowners find the perfect house for their needs. Browse through our real estate listings to see if any of the available houses catch your eye, and when you’re ready, give us a call to schedule an appointment.

We look forward to working with you!