Making Sure You Get What You Need

By Carmen O’Doherty Smith

When you’re shopping for a new home, it’s a good idea to create a checklist of what you want and what you need. It keeps you on track to ultimately find the property that best fits your requirements. However, a lot of us get caught up in the excitement of looking at properties and confuse the two terms. So let’s clarify them right now.

A ‘need’ refers to a feature that is an absolute must in a new home. A ‘want’, by contrast, is a ‘nice-to-have’. Some home buyers make the mistake of choosing a ‘want’ at the expense of a ‘need’.

For example, say you ‘need’ four bedrooms in your new home but ‘want’ a golf course located nearby. It can be tempting to fall in love with a property that has a beautiful golf green just a couple of blocks away, even if it has only three bedrooms. You may find yourself signing the offer while dreaming of Saturday morning tee-offs, only to awake to the realization months later that the lack of an extra bedroom has become a serious inconvenience to you and your family.

Of course it is possible to get most, if not all, of what you need and want in a new home. But if it comes down to a choice, it’s usually a good idea not to sacrifice something you really need in order to get something you want. Working with an experienced Realtor will help you stay focused on the must haves. We have all made impulse purchases in our lives, but you don’t want your home to be one of them.

So when you’re making your house hunting checklist, be clear about what is a need-to-have and what is a nice-to-have. Don’t forget that some features you want – like a wraparound backyard deck, for example – can potentially be added to your new home later.

Carmen O’Doherty Smith, Sales Representative
Prudential Sterling Realty
778-773-2283
www.carmenodohertysmith.com

“Working with you and for you too reach all your real estate goals”

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