Buying a home can be one of the most exhilarating, most frustrating experiences of adulthood—whether it’s your first home purchase or your fourth. The not-so-fun parts can be summed up pretty easily: Reality tends to stomp all over our Instagram-worthy dreams of landing the perfect house in the best neighborhood for an I-can’t-believe-we-got-it-for-that price.
Like most things in life, the way to avoid discouragement in the home-buying process is to set reasonable expectations. That’s easier said than done, of course, particularly if you’re buying a home with a partner whose definitions of “want” and “need” are vastly different from yours. But hashing out some tough decisions before you ever start exploring listings will save you time and money in the long run.
To help you through that process, we’ve assembled a list of 75 features to consider as you’re dreaming about your next home. Don’t just think about your answers; write them down and then sort them into three categories:
- Deal Breaker
- Major Plus
- No Biggie.
It might help you to put your answers on a spreadsheet or, if you’re old-school, on individual note cards so you can physically sort them. (No fair throwing the cards at your partner, though.)
Remember, this exercise is to help you narrow your wants list, so choose those Deal Breakers wisely.
Neighborhood Features
- Setting (urban, suburban, rural)
- Neighborhood covenants/restrictions
- Quality of schools
- Crime rate
- Traffic patterns
- Access to public transportation
- Commute time
- Walkability (proximity to essentials, like a grocery store or coffee shop)
- Recreational opportunities (golf course, lake, parks, playgrounds)
- Utilities (e.g., public water v. well)
- Sidewalks
- Types of neighbors (age, family composition, etc.)
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Exterior Home Features
- Architecture (e.g., craftsman, colonial, Victorian, cottage, Tudor, etc.)
- Materials (e.g., brick, vinyl siding, wood)
- Roof age and type (shingle, metal, shake, slate, wood, etc.)
- Size of lot
- Fence (or possibility of adding one later)
- Garage size
- Energy conservation features
- Swimming pool
- Deck
- Porch
- Patio
- Landscaping
- Driveway
- Outdoor kitchen
- Sprinkler/irrigation system
- Garden
- Fireplace
- Direction home faces
Home Systems Features
- Type of heat (electric, gas, propane) and age of unit(s)
- Central air conditioning and age of unit(s)
- Plumbing type and age of system
- Type, size, and age of water heater
- Age of electrical wiring
- Sump pump
- Security system
- Attic fan
- Ceiling fans
- Smart thermostat(s)
- Dual HVAC system
- Window type/condition
- Solar energy options
- ADA features (wider doors, grab bars, ramp, etc.)
Basic/Interior Home Features
- Age of home
- Square footage
- Number of floors
- Basement
- Flow (e.g., open concept vs. individual rooms)
- Number and size of bedrooms
- Location of master bedroom (main floor or second floor)
- Walk-in closets
- In-home office
- Separate family room/den/rec room/playroom
- Home theater/media room
- Workout room
- Laundry room
- Mud room
- Flooring type (carpet, vinyl, hardwood, laminate, tile)
- Finished basement
- Attic
- Fireplace(s)
- Kitchen appliances (refrigerator, stove/oven, microwave, dishwasher, disposal, ice maker)
- Kitchen island
- Wet bar
- Eat-in kitchen
- Formal dining room
- Pantry
- Countertops (granite, marble, laminate, etc.)
- Sink type and size
- Remodeled/updated kitchen
- Number of bathrooms
- Bathroom size (number of sinks, dressing area, and so on)
- Shower size and type (tub, walk-in, etc.)
- Remodeled/updated bathrooms
Now that you’ve put each of these 75 “wants” into one of the three categories above, it’s time to get serious. Put an “x” through the entire No Biggies list. The items on your Major Plus list are just that; bonuses. So, set that one aside for now. Circle your Deal Breaker list; this is the one you want to focus on. But, remember, the more Deal Breakers you have, the more difficult your home search will be. Got your list ready? Our team of expert realtors is committed to helping you find the home with as many of those items as possible. Start your search!
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