Inventory is up, and you’ve decided to make your big move. How do you decide which home is right for you? Like many of us, you might head straight to Pinterest to start compiling a gallery of inspiration. However, how many of those items are “must-haves” as opposed to “nice-to-have” items?
We recommend breaking it down into three categories to sift through your wish list:
- Must-haves
- Should-haves
- Maybe someday
What are your "must-haves"?
“Must-have” features are your deal breakers and show stoppers. They’re the things you absolutely cannot do without. This is different for everyone, but some common “must-have” features include:
- Number of bedrooms
- Floor plan (open vs closed)
- Number of stories (ranch-style vs multi-story)
- Location
What are your "should-haves"?
Your “should-haves” are less crucial. While they’re still important, these are the features that could be missing and you’d still move into the home. For instance, this could be things like:
- Garage size
- Number of bathrooms
- Closet style (reach-in vs walk-in)
- Flooring type (carpet vs hardwood)
Pro tip: When you’re looking at your wish list, pay attention to things that you can and cannot change. While everyone’s needs and desires will differ, it’s important to keep in mind that if it’s something you can change down the road, it might be more of a “should-have” than a “must-have” — because even if the home doesn’t have it right now, it could someday! (On the other hand, if hardwood floors are an absolute must for you, that’s okay too. You have to follow your gut!)
What are your "maybe someday" items?
Last, but certainly not least, are your “maybe someday” items. We all could easily fill this list, right? These are the things you’d absolutely love if your home had, but it’s not a serious “need” or even a “want.” If the home you’re looking at has one (or more!) of these things, as well as all of your “must-haves” and some of your “should-haves,” you might have hit the jackpot. While they’re not super serious considerations, it’s still worthwhile to keep them in mind when you’re categorizing the items on your wish list.
Ready to get started? Contact a local Waterstone Mortgage home loan expert today to get pre-approved.
