Whether you are getting a place for yourself or starting a family, you must keep your priorities straight when doing house hunting. Buying a home is the same as picking up the items you need at the grocery. Before you purchase a property, you must first do your research. There are so many choices for a house and lot for sale in Tarlac or anywhere in the North if that’s where you want to be billeted. However, if you don’t take the time to look into each property, you might not find the right one for you.

When on the lookout for your dream home, you need a checklist. The list helps you identify things that you should really look into or the features that are pivotal to your home living. Other than your non-negotiables, there are also certain things to ignore when buying a new house.

Below are these things to look for and ignore when house hunting, especially if buying a house for the first time. You can effectively identify if you have already found a property that helps you live a comfortable life.

Things to look for when buying a house

1. Safe neighborhood

The location you choose must be safe and child-friendly. Most gated communities have 24-hour security, yet they do not have a gate to prevent onlookers and trespassers from barging into the property. It’s essential to prioritize or check the gated neighborhood’s safety features to ensure you get the best value for your money.

2. Strategic location

Your choice of residence place must be close to all your needs. If you have children, it must be near the school. It is best to have the supermarket, stores, health care services, and other social services you need within arms’ reach. It spells convenience and savings for you and your family if you put a premium on location.

3. Adequate property size

Your family needs space to store their stuff. They also must have enough room to settle in and live comfortably. Thus, property size is crucial when deciding which house configuration to prioritize. This could be a one-bedroom apartment or a loft-type house with a balcony. You must ensure each family member and pieces of furniture have a place. Moreover, you must also ensure you have extra space to expand. You never know when you decide to start a family, move in with a partner or have another baby.

4. Suitable floor plan

The floor plan you choose for your home helps you decide on your interior decoration. A single floor plan is best if you have an elderly and toddlers in the family. If not, you can do with multi-level plans that provide each person a private space. Your ideal floor plan depends on your lifestyle and needs. It helps to include the whole family when deciding which floor plan benefits the household.

5. Adequate storage

Storage keeps your home clean and organized. They might be the least attractive feature of your home, but they are beneficial. For one, families with a lot of stuff can have a place to store the items they rarely use. These items include seasonal outerwear, sports equipment, and memorabilia. Meanwhile, those without children can use the area to explore their hobbies or store their discarded items if a partner comes along.

6. Lifestyle fit

You also have to think about the people and places surrounding your residence. It’s best to live in a community where other people’s lifestyles intermingle with yours. Living in a retirement community might not be the best if you have kids. Some seniors get grumpy and do not relish the company of children. If you’re a yuppie who works at home on a shifting schedule, noisy neighbors aren’t the best to have around. You need to find a place with neighbors who respect your privacy and needs.

7. Secure pet facilities

Your dream home must not only be for yourself. It must also include features that make your pet happy. Some neighborhoods have a park or pocket gardens, so pets have a place to walk around and have some fresh air. Unfortunately, not all properties allow homeowners to care for pets. You must always ask the landlord or check the developer's rules and regulations on pets before signing any forms.

These are some things to consider when scouting the market for your dream home. You can look for other factors in a house and lot, but these are the items to prioritize. Having your priorities in order makes it easy to spot the home for you and your family.

Now, here are the…

Things to ignore when buying a house:

Finding your dream home can be rigorous. However, there are certain things that you can simply overlook instead of stressing yourself out over them. You cannot control these things and you did not ask for these things either, so it is best to let it slide.

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Staged appearance

There is value to going on home tours. You can visit an open house to get a feel of the property that caught your eye. Be sure to bring your agent to avoid buying agents looking for unrepresented buyers. During the house tour, you can meet the property developer representative and use this time to inquire about additional details about the house and lot.

If you aren’t available to drop by the open house, you can opt for a virtual tour. You can use a virtual reality (VR) device to get a 360º view of a property. Some virtual tours have narrations and let you enter rooms. It’s as real as the agent-directed tour.

Virtual tours are ideal for those who want to save time, money, or both. They are accessible anytime and on any day. There’s no need for you to drive several kilometers just to check the quality of the affordable house and lot for sale you found last night.

However, don’t be enticed by the staged appearance of the house and lot. While it can give you an idea of how to style your own home when it is time to do so, please bear in mind that you would be receiving a unit with a bare finish. That is unless the contract details that you would be getting everything you see on the model unit.

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Cluttered areas

Virtual tours are convenient, but nothing beats the real thing. It feels different from attending an open house and seeing the property up close. If you plan to attend one, be sure to set a schedule. Plot how many viewings your day can accommodate. The open houses you will go to first depends on location, date, and time. If you wish to check the homes close to your neighborhood, you can book your viewing based on proximity. It will help you visit properties closest to you.

Besides the schedule, you must also prepare a list of questions to ask the listing or selling agent. Visiting the unit or house and the lot is the only chance to examine walls, floors, doors, windows, and room layout. You can also scrutinize the electrical outlets and think about which furniture and fixtures will fit the space.

While viewing the house, do not be bothered by the cluttered areas. For instance, if the house is newly developed, some glass fixtures are still covered in mounting tapes. They are there for a purpose. Some fixtures may have already accumulated dust or dirt. If it can be wiped clean instantly, this should be the least of your worries.

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Unsolicited opinion

It is entirely okay if you want to start your search online. Conducting an online search allows you to gather information on several properties without committing to any real estate agent. You can find details about the condo or house's neighborhood, total square area, and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Some listings have photos that can help you visualize the space. Others include payment conditions to save time on transactions.

It is also okay to compare price points. If you check each detail of the property, you will know if irememberts price. When developing a property, well-known developers make prime properties using high-quality and customized materials from the floor to the ceiling. They have well-manicured lawns and magnificent landscaping as well. If you can have these elements on a property within your budgfrom, you must go for it. Try not to sacrifice your needs and comfort for affordability. Always make quality your top priority. If you can have it at a slightly higher price, it’s time to make your bet.

Try not to focus on unsolicited opinions, which would be a lot when other people learn that you are in the process of buying a new house. People will always have something to say about your choice of a dwelling, what to put on it, or where you want to put your hard-earned money. There is only one thing to remember: your life, your choice, your house, your rules.

Purchasing a house is no joke. The least you can do is ensure that it is the house that you want to live in for the years to come. Nonetheless, when buying a house, there are things to look for—your non-negotiables—and there are things you can simply ignore—your can-live-withouts. Don’t stress over things that are beyond your control. Instead, focus on what matters to you.