BUYING OR LETTING A HOME
HOW TO FIND YOUR DREAM HOME
Are you ready to start looking for listings and attending open houses? Save time by utilizing our checklist to determine exactly what you need and want in a home.

If you don’t know what your “ideal” home looks like, your search may stagnate quickly. Before going to another open house, sit down and establish a list of your requirements and wants – and yes, they are distinct. You may want a pool, but you could probably survive without one.
Understand that as you learn more about your home alternatives, your list of requirements will most likely change. Use the guidelines and questions below to help you identify what you enjoy and dislike about your existing home so that you can find more comfort and pleasure in your dream home. Then, set aside some time to categorize individual home characteristics as “Must Have,” “Like to Have,” or “Don’t Care.”

Understand your financial situation.
In a competitive market, getting your finances in order before looking for your dream house can make all the difference. Determining your budget and the amount of financial wiggle space you have might help you see your must-haves more clearly. Consider the following:

1. Do you have a mortgage pre-approval?
2. What is your budget?
3. How much money do you have set aside for a down payment?
4. What about future maintenance?
5. Do you want to do more modifications or do you want a turnkey property?
Consider your current way of life and make plans for the future.
You may have a picture-perfect home in mind, or you may not know where to begin when visualizing your future home. Consider your essential needs and non-negotiables in a home first. Begin by thinking about where you live currently – what are your favorite aspects of your current residence, and what do you need to change? Consider whether:

1. You require room for a future nursery or a home office.
2. You require any particular characteristics for your pets, such as a fenced-in yard.
3. You require wheelchair accessibility or limited stair access.
4. Is a parking place required, or will street parking suffice?
5. You prioritize walking distances.
6. You plan on changing occupations within the next 1-2 years.
Choose your desired house style and type.
Once you’ve figured out the fundamentals, you can start thinking about what features you want in a house. Consider the various sorts of houses on the market in the neighborhoods where you want to buy, and remember that you may use keywords to help limit down your selections while searching for homes on Lesama Limited. Consider the following questions:

1. How many stories would you like?
2. Do you prefer a townhouse, condo, or single-family home?
3. Could you live in an old house?
4. How many bedrooms are there?
5. How many bathrooms are there?
6. Do you need a guest room?
7. What kind of flooring do you prefer?
8. Which architectural styles do you prefer?
9. What is your favorite room, and why do you prefer spending time in it?
10. Do you love spending time in your outside space if you have one?
11. Do you love taking care of your yard… or do you find it burdensome (be honest!)?
Select a location

You can change the paint colors of your home to make it feel newer, or add an addition to enhance the square footage, but you can’t change the location. It’s easy to get caught up in the characteristics of your dream home, but you need also consider your surroundings:
1. Do you prefer the city, the suburbs, or the countryside?
2. Which city would you like to reside in?
3. Do you want convenient access to highways or public transportation?
4. How essential is the point of view?
5. Can you sleep comfortably in the presence of road noise?
6. Do you want to be a part of the community?
7. Are there any parks that are within walking or bicycling distance?
8. Do the property taxes and/or HOA fees fit within your financial constraints?
Get to know the neighborhood
Think you’ve found the perfect home in the perfect area? Before buying, it’s still always a good idea to explore the neighborhood and ask yourself the following:

1. Are you happy with your neighborhood?
2. Are there enough activities going on around you — or too many?
3. Are you happy with your commute?
4. Do you have to travel far for basics such as groceries or a doctor’s appointment?
When you know what you want in a property, you’ll be able to choose the ideal agent to work with on your quest such as Lesama Limited. Identifying your priorities will assist you in finding the ideal property. Happy house hunting!