Are you thinking of moving out of your current home or even buying your first one? Well, no doubt you’d like to snap up the house of your dreams… but do you know how to do it and where to start? Here’s five top tips to help you find ‘the one’.
1. Decide what your ‘dream home’ looks like
Is your dream home a country cottage nestled deep in the hills of the rolling countryside? Or is it a bright and airy modern pad in the heart of a bustling city?
Either way, you’re going to need to identify what it is that makes your chest ache when it comes to finding ‘the one’, as well as taking ‘logical’ steps toward securing it by writing down your list of priorities.
This will help you to narrow your focus and ensure that you’re only spending time and energy on the right kind of property.
2. Evaluate what spaces are most important to you
The second bit of soul-searching you’ll need to do is to question how you want to use a house.
If you’re a budding chef, it’s likely that a property is only going to have the potential to be your dream home if it has a generous kitchen area.
On the other hand, if you’re hoping to run a business on the side and need a work station in your home, a workshop or garage space is likely to be essential.
Decide on how you’d like to use the space within a property to help you see what’s important.
3. Be clear on your budget
If you’ve lots and lots of money to spend, you might not be limited by a property’s price tag.
However, for most buyers, there is an upper limit. So, don’t be tempted to view a property that is well above your budget – you’ll only end up feeling resentful or frustrated that you can’t afford it, and the properties you can afford will begin to look a bit lack lustre!
Of course, it might be OK to consider homes above your budget in case the seller is prepared to negotiate on the asking price, but try not to get too swept away with properties that are well above your means.
4. Decide if you want to do any renovations
It’s OK if you want a house that’s completely ready to move into without having to so much as open a tin of paint, but bear in mind that the house of your dreams could be secured by taking on a ‘doer-upper’.
You’ll need the ability to see through the ‘ugly’ bits, and some cash to make the necessary changes, but it might be precisely the way to get the features you want without breaking the bank.
5. Stay one step ahead
Finally, when you’re ready to start house hunting, sign up to property websites and portals to receive notifications when your dream property is available.
For example, if a new build in a prime location is your kind of dream home, check out a website such as WhatHouse – it will ensure that you get alerts when new homes are being built, putting you at the front of the queue when your ideal property hits the market.
(Image credit: Barratt Homes ~ The Orchards development, West Midlands)
(Disclosure: This is a collaborative post)
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useful tips !!
Amazing article, really helpful and inspiring, thank you! We find that these tips are truly and realistically helpful, when deciding on the dream house we want and we actually would be able to achieve and have at some point in our lives, if we really set this goal. Otherwise, everyone could dream for those amazing beach villas with 5 bedrooms and 5 master bathrooms, but unless you are Beyonce, there is a really low chance to be able to have that… although, who knows, really?!
These are great tips. Decide what you have to have, and what you absolutely won’t deal with and go from there. Be willing and open to compromise!
These are great tips. It’s important to know what you will or will not compromise on.. It can be easy to get caught up and over your head!
Having a clear plan is so important. Understanding your plans may need to be fluid is critical! At the end of the day if you don’t have an endless budget you may have to let nature take its’ course and opt for something that you know you can love and work with!