Buying a home often comes with many emotions, especially if you consider the investment and memories that are going to come along with it. After all, you’re not just purchasing a building; you’re purchasing the next place to rest your head, raise your kids, spend your retirement, and more. So how do you limit the emotional investment that often happens with the home buying process? It’s simple, read through and answer these questions before you make an offer on a property.

1) What’s the noise volume?

Different locations are known for different levels of both foot and vehicle traffic. But that’s not the only sounds that will typically come with a home. Barking dogs, children playing, aeroplanes overhead, and air traffic can all greatly influence the volume within your home. Ensure that the property you’re looking into purchasing matches the level of noise you’re willing to handle long-term.

 Working nights, for example, may mean chaotic, kid-filled streets during the day may interrupt your sleep. Living near a university or college may bring a younger, louder crowd throughout the day and well into the evenings. Before making an offer on a home, get to know the neighbourhood you’ll be spending your time in.  

2) What’s the ability to grow over time?

Carefully evaluate how your life may unfold over the next 40-50 years, especially if you’re under the age of 40. Life’s major milestones can often be the requirements needed from a property –whether adding a new baby down the road or bringing ageing parents to live with you. Carefully consider the size of the home you might need now and also in the future. Having a large spacious home is a wonderful feature when the children are teenagers, but once they move to university or college, will your home be too large?

It’s also important to remember that size requirements don’t factor in new additions to the home. Space for gardens, hobbies, pets, and trades are important to remember. After all, a house is only perfect when the homeowner has found a way to make it work for them. It’s easier to have a home that has too much space than a home that’s too small.  

3) What’s the level of maintenance you require?

We all understand that moving into a home will typically require finishing touches or minor repairs. However, it’s critical to take an unbiased look at your potential home for any future expenses you may encounter. Consider the types of plants sitting in the gardens right now. If they’re perennials, outdoor landscaping isn’t going to require tons of attention. Alternatively, if several annual plants, including higher-maintenance species, are present on the property, prepare to spend plenty of time in the garden.

 Take a few moments to look over some of the more costly repairs and replacements within the house. Log or wooden homes may suffer from insect, bird, or weather damage throughout the years, which can run thousands of dollars depending on the damage. The roof, windows, and foundation are also costly areas needing repair or replacement. If you can’t determine when something was last replaced, ask the current homeowner.

4) What’s the Financial Damage?
Although everyone considers the purchase price of a home, few people actually consider the monthly and yearly upkeep on a property. If you’re purchasing a single home, you’ll be responsible for grass cutting, snow removal, septic repair, and more. These costs can quickly add up if you haven’t considered those into your budget.

For those individuals looking for a condo, don’t forget about the monthly condo and maintenance fees. Depending on the services and amenities included, these fees can be quite costly. In fact, there are some monthly fees that have remained almost equal to the mortgage payment. 

5) What’s going on around you?

For some homeowners, living in the heart of the city is the best location possible. Other individuals prefer the quiet solitude of wooden trails. Regardless of your preference, take inventory of what’s around you at the new property. Having a suitable location is important when purchasing a home, especially when considering how long you’re planning on staying at the property. Make sure you consider any current or ongoing hobbies, frequently visited locations (like coffee shops, restaurants, and cultural venues), and friend’s houses.

 Although driving is always an option for most people, there’s nothing worse than moving to a remote location and realizing everything you enjoy doing is over three hours away. If you’re not sure what’s nearby, visit a search engine and start browsing. Make sure to pay attention to any online, authentic reviews.

People also read this: Biggest Mistakes When Buying a Home

6) What’s your greenspace like?

Massive rolling lawns, ravines, lakes, or a balcony; living outdoors connects many people to nature. Depending on your interests, you may find that the property you love isn’t going to match well with your wants and needs long-term. For example, if you’re looking for a low-maintenance and simple outdoor space, steer clear of any properties with large yards. Should you eventually want a pool, trampoline, vegetable garden, or hot tub, make sure the backyard is large enough to accommodate those things safely. Check out townhouses for sale Whitby.

7) What does my life look like here?

This is often the first reason someone falls into a house, especially if they’re excited at the thought of living in the home, but looking outside of the standard “gut feeling” needs to happen too. Maybe you’re looking to have a sound-proof play area for the kids to let loose. Perhaps a home office overlooking the yard was a ticket item.

Whatever your ideal goals were, stacking them up against the current home you’re considering will give you a better understanding of whether this home is actually suitable for what you need. It’s important not to mix emotions with a large investment purchase, but at the end of the day, you need to feel confident and comfortable with both of these sides before making your decision. 

8) What’s hidden beneath the surface?

For many first-time home buyers, finding hidden issues isn’t always the first subject of consideration. Let’s face it; it’s easy to get caught up in the romance of buying your first home instead of looking at things practically. Pay attention to problem areas like windows, bathrooms, basements, and attics. Look for signs of mould, moisture, or leaks. Many moisture issues can be a simple fix, but a few of them can be thousands of dollars to repair.

If you’re not sure what you’re up against, consider hiring an independent contractor to come with you. Contractors are used to demo, repair, and install items, making them a great choice if you’re looking to have projects planned out while inspecting homes.