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