If you are at that stage in your life where you aren’t simply looking for a home but a forever home, chances are you’ve set your sights on buying a dream single family detached home.
But before you begin your search, it pays to be prepared.
To help you, here are some of the most important factors to consider when searching for a forever family home.
Set a Firm Budget
Finding your dream home is easy. Finding your dream home within your budget is another matter. Before viewing any property, calculate the maximum house price.
By setting a firm budget from the start, you won’t get sidetracked by beautiful houses that stretch you too far financially.
Good estate websites will allow you to sort your search by price, so that can be helpful. Here’s an excellent example from an agency website with single family homes for sale, sorted by house cost: check it out.
Find Your Perfect Neighborhood
It’s not only a house that is important; it’s also the neighborhood you’ll eventually call home.
Before your house hunt begins, spend some time discovering the local neighborhoods and draw up a shortlist.
Consider what is important to you in your local area. Do you want to be by a beach? A good school? Somewhere with great local restaurants?
Outdoor Space
Buying a single family home means you’ll also get outdoor space. That is just as important as the inside of the house, even if you aren’t a keen gardener.
Think about space for parking out the front of the property for you and your guests. In the rear, consider whether the outside area is quiet. If neighboring properties overlook the garden, decide how important privacy is to you.
If you want a bit of vitamin D, think about how much sunlight the rear space gets during the day and where you’ll be able to fit a patio.
Bedroom and Bath Space
Detached family homes typically come with more extensive square footage. However, you’ll still need to think carefully about how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need, especially if you have a large (or growing) family.
While small children may be happy to share, teenagers often want a space to call their own.
Look for areas above garages, lofts, and basements for the potential to extend your house in the future if bedroom space is high on your priority list.
Build Quality
If you want to buy new single family homes, you can expect a certain standard from purchasing brand new.
Nevertheless, it’s still vital to do your research. Search online for reviews on that builder. If the quality is poor, it won’t take long to discover unhappy buyers on review sites.
If you buy a used home, you’ll need to be thorough in your checks. It might be worth hiring a surveyor to check the build quality and spot any structural issues.
Energy Efficient
With global warming at the forefront of everyone’s minds, you’ll probably want to do your bit to help the environment.
Look for features such as sound insulation and solar power if you want a house that scores high on energy efficiency.
The Search for Your Single Family Detached Home Starts Now
Whether you find home buying exciting or stressful, these tips will help you discover that dream single family detached home that you’ll treasure for decades to come.
Of course, a perfect home needs a beautiful interior too. So before you go, check out our lifestyle section for some fantastic home decor inspiration.