What Should Be on Your Home's Must-Have List?

When you are looking at houses, chances are there are some features that you must have in a home. If your home doesn't have enough bedrooms for your family, for example, you likely don't want to even look at that home. It would be a waste of your time. With that in mind, many real estate professionals suggest that before you meet with your real estate agent, you should put together a list of "must-haves." You can share this list with your agent so that they can narrow down their list of potential properties to show you.

If you've never purchased a home before, you may not be certain what needs to be on your must-have list. Here are many of the common things potential homebuyers include on their must-have lists – but keep in mind, these should be MUST HAVE, and not should have or "it would be nice".

Home Size

One of the first things potential buyers do is determine how large of a house they need. Families or couples who expect to have children soon, or need a home office or two, will want a home that accommodates all their needs. Before you get overwhelmed by other factors, start your must-have list with size.

Price

You may or may not be able to include price on your list. It depends on if you have been pre-qualified for a mortgage. If you have, you know how much you'll be allowed to borrow. This will help you focus on looking at houses you can afford instead of viewing homes that are amazing, but out of your price range. Real estate professionals often recommend clients get pre-qualified before they begin viewing properties, and the best place to find a gay, lesbian or gay friendly mortgage lender, is to ask for a referral from your GayRealEstate.com realtor.

School District

Parents may wish to live within a specific school district. If you have children in school, this is a factor you need to consider. You can find information regarding school districts online, including how those districts are rated.

Commute

You may not want to drive more than 30 minutes to work every morning, or you may want to live within walking distance of a bus stop or train station. Again, this will continue to narrow down your potential choices, but if it is a requirement, it needs to be on your must-have list.

Garage

Whether or not a garage is on your must-have list likely depends on where you're moving to. In some parts of the country, protecting your vehicle from the weather is a must. In other areas, it may not be necessary. Even if you do not need a garage for your vehicle, you may want the space as a workshop or for storage.

Accessibility Options

If you're older or if you anticipate having a parent or other older relative live with you, accessibility may be on your must-have list. As you age, stairs can become difficult to navigate. A sunken living room may not be an option for those who walk with a cane, have poor balance, or use a walker or wheelchair. Some individuals may need a shower instead of a bathtub because stepping over the tub's lip is difficult. Some properties may simply not be accessible for everyone, and that must be taken into account.

A Fenced Yard

If you have children or animals, you may include a fenced backyard in your must-haves. This will give you peace of mind when your children are outdoors or when you let your dog out. For others, this may not be a consideration at all.

Land

You may want to have space around your home. Some homeowners prefer not to be so close to their neighbors that they can stand inside their home and see through the windows into the house next door. Others may want space for outdoor activities. Either way, if this is something you feel strongly about, it should be on your must-have list.

The Neighborhood

There may be certain neighborhoods you want to avoid due to high crime rates or for other reasons. On the other hand, you may have a specific area you want to move to. Both can cut additional potential homes off of your list, but you may have to accept this in order to get into the area you want.

If you're a part of the LGBTQ community, you may want to live in an area that is predominately home to others who identify as LGBTQ. If you are looking for homes in one of these areas, working with a gay or lesbian real estate agent may be very helpful. These agents often know the neighborhoods very well and can assist you in finding the perfect home for your family. You can find one of these agents by visiting www.GayRealEstate.com, a website dedicated to connecting LGBTQ buyers and sellers with experienced real estate agents for over 25 years.