Introduction
Searching for your dream home isn’t all fun and games. Home buyers have a distinct image in their minds of what they need in a home to be comfortable, happy and content. Finding these options in a home in your area can be difficult. There are a few tried and true methods to find the home of your dreams.
Step 1
Know what you want. Take stock of all the amenities your current home has and what you cannot live without. Then consider all the things you don’t have but really need. Include things that will truly make your life easier. Perhaps your family has grown and you absolutely must have an extra bedroom or bathroom. Write down your “must-haves” and don’t settle for less.
Step 2
Ask around. Tell your friends, relatives and coworkers that you’re in the market for a new home and what you’re looking for. The more people you put the word out to, the more eyes you will have on the housing market. If there is a home of a friend you particularly favor, ask if there are similar houses in their neighborhood.
Take the scenic route. Drive around the neighborhood when you have the time and look for empty homes that might fit your bill. Take the scenic route home from school, church or work and check out the houses along the way. Take different routes to the places you go to discover streets and neighborhoods you may not have seen before.
Step 3
Consult a Realtor or real estate agent. Real estate agents are in the business of finding dream homes. They are trained in the field and have an elaborate network of peers they can put to work to find the home of your dreams. Be prepared to show the realtor your list of “must-haves” and any requirements you need like location or other places the home of your dreams should be close to.
Step 4
Decide on the basic home style you want. Do you prefer traditional, modern or Victorian? Choose one of those or any other and then go on to the size you prefer. Do you want a ranch style one story or is the home of your dreams a two-story colonial? Take tours of homes in many different architectural styles and develop a feeling for what would work best for your family and lifestyle.
Step 5
Use Internet real estate search engines. They can help you find the home of your dreams because they zero in on the exact area where you want to be. You can then add your requirements such as number of bedrooms and bathrooms. These are especially helpful if you’re looking for the home of your dreams in an area far from where you’re currently living. You can find home that fit your criteria and arrange to go and view them.
While searching for the home of your dreams can be difficult and tedious it can also be exciting. Each home you tour and each decision made brings you closer to the home of your dreams. Enjoy the search; it’s part of the journey.
Tips
Dont limit yourself. Check out things you think you might not like just to be sure.
