One of the most important questions facing clients in the market for a new house is how to choose the home that best matches their needs. A home is the biggest investment of time and money that most families make in their lives, which means it is critical to make the right choice from the start. Choose a home that is too small, and your growing demands for extra space could force you to move earlier than would be cost-effective for your plans. On the other hand, choose a house that is too large, and you risk living with the nagging sense that all the precious space is being wasted. Either way, homeowners who choose incorrectly can wind up feeling frustrated, especially in an economy where home sales remain sluggish, and it can take longer than usual to sell an unwanted home.
The first step in choosing the right home for your needs is to prepare a list of factors well in advance of your search. All too often, potential homebuyers can fall in love with the way a house looks on the outside, or some special feature such as a pool or professional kitchen appliances, rather than the long-term suitability of the house for their changing needs. In order to avoid an emotional response, which can cost homebuyers greatly in the long run, prepare by thinking with your head, not your heart. In a calm and collected moment, make a list of “musts,” or what you cannot live without in a home. Consult everyone who will be affected by the move, such as spouses and children. Commit the list to memory and take it to open houses to make sure any homes of interest fit the criteria. If an important factor is missing in the potential home, and it cannot be added or changed without a costly repair or renovation, that likely is a strong sign to move on and continue to look for the home of your dreams.
Among the first factors homebuyers put on their lists of “musts” is size. Knowing what size of home you need is essential, as it cannot be changed in the future, certainly not without great expense and effort. When considering the size, be sure to think not only of today and tomorrow, but what life will look like five years from now. For example, do you plan to have children? Will an aging parent be coming to live with you at some point? Both are common reasons why homeowners end up needing more space. Or, do you have the kind of career that might make it possible for you to work from home one day? In that case, it is important to make sure the rooms include sufficient office space.
In terms of location, homebuyers in Bergen County often must choose between quieter suburban locations and towns closer to New York City with more of a metropolitan buzz. The answer to this question also hinges on knowing yourself and how your lifestyle might change. Is it possible you may change jobs one day soon, in which case it makes sense to live near the most employment opportunities possible? For families with young children, many parents like to choose a location near lots of educational options, recreational opportunities and playmates. Retirees with grown children, on the other hand, may find it suits them just fine to be in a quieter town. Either group will be pleased that both situations and more can be found in diverse Bergen County.
Buying a home is one of the most important life decisions a person or family can make, and the success of the choice depends on being in touch with needs, now and in the future. Based on analysis, not feelings, make a list of what a dream home must include, and be sure to consider how life might change, even in unexpected ways.