Searching for the perfect home can be both fun and stressful at the same time. While buying a home is an exciting milestone, it is also a significant investment and care must be taken to ensure the right home is purchased. When looking for the right house, here are some signs to watch for that will tell you that you have found “the one”.
It Meets Your Basic Needs
Before you start searching for a home, you should create a list of those things that you must have in the house along with a list of things that would be nice to have. If the house meets the criteria on your “musts” list, then it may very well be the right house. Don’t get carried away by a house with some of those nice extra features if it does not also meet your basic needs.
You Can Imagine Yourself Living There
If you have walked through the house and you can already picture the colors that you will paint the walls or how you will arrange the furniture, it is a sure sign that the house is a good fit for you.
You Compare it to Other Homes
After visiting the “right” home, you may find yourself no longer interested in looking at other properties. Or, you might visit other houses and find yourself comparing it to the one that is “The One”. If you find yourself constantly thinking about one particular home and trying to determine if other properties measure up to it, it is probably time to stop looking and put in an offer.
It Fits Your Budget
No matter how perfect the house might seem, the last thing you want is to stretch yourself out too far on house payments. Once you have set your budget, resist the temptation to go over it. Remember, you created this budget based on what you knew you could afford without placing a financial strain on yourself. Stay within the budget so you do not find yourself in a bad financial situation down the road.
It Feels Like “Home”
The last thing you want is to purchase a home where you feel uncomfortable inside, out in your yard or exploring your neighborhood. The bathroom is a good gauge for your level of comfort. If you can’t picture yourself standing on the floor with bare feet and if you otherwise are simply uncomfortable with spending time inside the bathroom, you might want to look somewhere else for your new home. Similarly, if you cannot picture yourself comfortably preparing meals or entertaining guests in your kitchen, this might not be the house for you. If everything vibes well and you feel comfortable in every room of the home, on the other hand, it just might be time to put in an offer!
Once you have found the home that is right for you, it is important to get the buying process underway. The last thing you want is to think it over for too long, only to find that the home is no longer available.
