5 Things To Focus On When Searching For Your Dream Home
Over the years Sara Grech and her team have seen many people on the hunt for their dream home. Whether it be a first time buy or a move up the ladder to that ultimate forever property, we can all get lost in the weeds on this sometimes stressful and often emotional journey. So in order to stay focussed on what’s really important when making that big decision, here are her top tips to help you on your search for the perfect home.
1. Location, location, location
We’ve all heard this old adage many times, ‘location, location, location’, and it remains one of the most important things to focus on when taking the leap to find your dream home. We can change many things about a property with some vision and foresight, location is not one of them. Spend time getting to know the areas you are most interested in, walk around, explore local amenities and understand what and where works best for you and your lifestyle. Be it some extra space and privacy, a safe neighbourhood for your children, or proximity to shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. Once you understand what your needs are in terms of location and get a sense of what the market has to offer, you can start to hone your search. Remain focused, don’t deviate and your dream property will come along.
2. Know your numbers
It may seem obvious, but it’s important to set your budget and understand exactly what your maximum is, where you can go to, and what you can realistically get for your money. It’s also important to take into account things like renovation, decoration and furnishing when viewing properties. Some homes may need a little more TLC than others, and if you’re willing to do the work to get what you really want, don’t forget to crunch the numbers with some professional advice and build that into your budget. Remember your dream home will no longer be a dream if meeting repayments becomes a stretch. Stay focussed on the budget and don’t waste your time wishing for something you can’t have.
3. What space do you really need?
Spend some time thinking about what kind of space you really need - what is a ‘must have’ and what is a ‘nice to have’. If you don’t remain clear on what you want you may be restricting yourself unnecessarily, or on the other hand underselling your true needs. When it comes to space we often think of bedrooms first, and while that is an important consideration for you and your family, it’s not the only thing to think about. Consider how you want to use your space at home on a daily basis - do you need an open plan living space so your family can all be together, rather than lots of small rooms? Or do you prefer some segregation? Do you work from home and is an office or study important? Think about things like storage, off-street parking, and what outdoor space you require. When you have a clear idea of these things you can start imagining how you would use the space in a property when you go to view them. And remember to try and apply some vision, consider what possibilities there may be to reconfigure the space to suit you and your needs, to make it your dream home.
4. Compromises you can handle
When you’re searching for your dream home it’s tempting to strive for something absolutely ideal, but it’s good to remember that it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be perfect for you. And you need to take into account all the various factors that are important. Compromises will happen - what you need to understand is what are the compromises you’re happy with. And if you’re buying as a couple, it’s time to get aligned on those compromises. It may be that space comes above location, that a sunny garden comes above an extra bedroom, or that having the dream kitchen is a non-negotiable. Only you can understand what your compromises truly are, and it will make the search for your dream home a whole lot easier.
5. Identify your style
When it comes to what you love as a style, aesthetic, and a sense of character and individuality, only you know that - and that is the final element that brings everything together. When finding your dream home you can do so much to adapt and modify it to suit your style, but you need to fall in love with the property you find, and have that feeling inside that ‘this is it.’ Part of that is the feeling that this is the property that reflects who you are, that you feel at home in, that you feel proud of and that you envision a life in. You can do a lot to make a home suit your style when it comes to decor, but the property itself needs to capture that essence. So know your style, understand what you picture from the aesthetic of your home, and make sure the properties you view can accommodate your vision.