| Often, the decision to buy a home is brought | | | | really a "Need" versus a "Want." You may have |
| about by circumstances. The circumstances | | | | to truth-test each and every item on your |
| that helped spark the need and desire to | | | | list a couple of times to make certain they |
| purchase real estate may or may not have been | | | | are in the proper category. |
| in your control, but buying a home certainly | | | | |
| is. It is for this reason that such great | | | | Once you've equipped yourself with the |
| responsibility lies in determining exactly | | | | answers to these questions, you'll be one |
| what your and your family's needs and wants | | | | step ahead of 99% of the rest of the real |
| are for the perfect home. This process of | | | | estate buyers today. Quite often, these |
| asking all of the tough (and not so though) | | | | "Lookie-Lou" buyers stumble around looking at |
| questions can bring tremendous insight into | | | | 80+ properties before they either give up, or |
| the perfect home for you. | | | | their Agent stops returning their calls. |
| | | | |
| The problem that a lot of home buyers | | | | So, we've established that, before you start |
| encounter is that they have not properly | | | | seriously shopping for a home, you should |
| established what their perfect home is. What | | | | develop a list of what you "Want" vs. what |
| is perfect anyway? Doesn't the definition of | | | | you really "Need" in your new home. Your |
| perfect depend on whom you talk to? Exactly! | | | | needs are defined as the minimum features |
| | | | that any home you look at should have. Your |
| That's why you must make the concerted effort | | | | wants are all those little extras that give |
| up front, even before you look at your first | | | | you the satisfaction that the home you |
| property, to establish what it is you're | | | | purchase is one that will make you happy. |
| looking for. Without this information in | | | | |
| hand, you'll end up very frustrated and | | | | By completing your checklist, you'll be |
| tired. You may even end up purchasing a home | | | | prepared when your Agent starts asking you |
| that doesn't meet your family's most | | | | questions about what you're looking for in a |
| important needs. Gain the upper hand in the | | | | home. They will be eternally grateful to you |
| home buying experience by establishing what | | | | that you took the time to evaluate what your |
| the perfect home means to your family. By | | | | perfect home is. |
| determining early on what you do and do not | | | | |
| want in a home, you can save yourself | | | | Special note for first-time home buyers: If |
| countless hours looking at hours that may | | | | you haven't lived in a lot of different |
| equate to dollars in lost opportunity. | | | | homes, you may not have answers to all of the |
| | | | questions on the "Perfect Home Checklist." |
| A highly recommended tactic is creating a | | | | That's OK. Just make sure that you bring the |
| "Perfect Home Checklist" as a guide to help | | | | "Perfect Home Checklist" with you when you |
| you determine your specific needs and wants. | | | | begin touring homes. You will quickly learn |
| Make a game of it, and make sure that you're | | | | what features you want and need. |
| completely honest with yourself on what is | | | | |