BY: Candace Sigmon, athomehelper.com
Few things are more exciting than house hunting. You know it’s time to launch into the next chapter of your life, and you can’t wait to start anew. But you may not want to commit to the first property you fall in love with! That perfect little home could end up being a headache down the road if you don’t carefully consider what you and your family need.
Many factors make a specific house, apartment, or condo ideal for a family. Today, Painting Plus Professionals presents some of the most important ones.
Finding Your DTI
First, determine whether you will rent or purchase your next home. If you need more time to prepare financially, you may benefit from renting a property. But if you are ready to buy a home, start preparing as soon as you can.
Wells Fargo notes that lenders will use your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio to estimate the amount you will realistically be able to pay each month. By finding your DTI, you can determine what kind of home you can get a mortgage for. Take the sum of your monthly debt obligations and divide it by your current gross monthly income to obtain your DTI.
You will also want to research the local housing market to see what kinds of homes are available. Along with showing you current home prices, you will be able to see what kind of inventory is available and some of the trending features. Keep your budget and plans for the future in mind as you research.
The Floor Plan
How many people are in your family? Do you plan on having more children in a few years? How much space do your household members need to live comfortably? These are the kinds of questions to ask yourself when determining what type of floor plan to look for.
For example, if it is just you and your partner, you may live happily in a one-bedroom apartment or a single-floor house. But if you have kids (or plan to), you might need more bedrooms, an extra bathroom, and more square footage.
Also, consider the layout of the home. If you will be spending much of your time in the kitchen, you may want to prioritize that when searching for homes. Also, if you need a room for your home office, is the layout conducive to safety? Could you easily hide cords and cables from pets or kids? These are all things to take into consideration.
Special Features
Along with the essential rooms, think about any particular features you would enjoy in your next home. For example, do you want an oversized island or custom cabinets in your kitchen? How is a bonus room for family movie nights? Many homeowners today want heated floors in the bathroom, a heated garage, or an outdoor living area where they can spend warm summer days soaking in the sunshine. Of course, it never hurts to have a fresh coat of paint on the walls, front door, or kitchen cabinets – reach out to Painting Plus Professionals to get the job done right!
Here are some other trending features to consider:
- Large laundry room
- Walk-in pantry
- Extra garage storage space
- Landscape lighting
- Hardwood on the main floor
- Extra insulation
- Energy-star windows
Keep in mind that if you find a property that seems too good to be true, it probably is. WOWA advises exercising extreme caution when considering an “as-is” purchase. You will want to make sure that any inspections are conducted prior to entering into a contract. It’s important that you have full awareness of a property’s issues before finalizing the sale.
If there are any repair or maintenance issues, using this home management app allows you to source local contractors who are vetted and ready to work. The app features a video chat capability that puts you face to face with potential pros, and you can quickly and easily scope each project and determine the next step forward.
Location
Finally, the location of your home is a major factor. You should live in an area with good weather. Also, consider whether you want to live in a metropolitan, rural, or suburban area, as well as the available destinations nearby for when you want to get out of town.
Furthermore, think about your home’s proximity to the necessities and comforts your family will expect. You should be relatively close to your work, school(s), community activities, public transportation, restaurants, pharmacies, medical facilities, and other essential establishments.
As thrilling as it is to start searching for your dream home, take time to think about what your family needs and wants before you get too deep into the process. Remember to go over your finances to know what kind of home you can afford. Consider essential characteristics like the floor plan and unique features you would like to have, as well as contacting home repair pros in case there are areas that need addressed. Lastly, make sure your new home is in a comfortable location with easy access to the things you need most.
Painting Plus Professionals delivers painting and more so that your home improvement needs are met with the best quality materials and workmanship, timely scheduling, affordable pricing, and the finest customer care. Contact us today to learn more! 585-270-1740