What are Your "Must Haves" in a Home? Willing to Settle?

What's missing from your current home?  Storage space?  Ample parking?  Privacy?  Chances are, you might not have noticed these missing features when you and your home were in the honeymoon phase.  But, sometime in the first few months, that deficiency became obvious and frustrating.

When you are searching for your new home, it's normal to get so caught up in the granite kitchen countertops that you might not notice there's not enough room to scramble your eggs for Sunday brunch.  And while that master bedroom looks stylish and neat with its staged furniture, you don't realize that it won't fit your king sized bed.

Sometimes there's a fix for these issues that won't cost an arm and leg, but sometimes not.  What are you willing to compromise on and what are your deal breakers?  When speaking with buyer's for the first time here is what I ask them…..and then some.

What area do you work in?  How far are you willing to commute?  Do you want to be located near a metro or bus service?

What's your price range?  What are your expectations, and what kind of home do you expect for that price?  Many people relocating to this area get sticker shock when I send them home listings for the first time. They might come from
areas where you can get a large single family home with a three car garage and
land for $350,000. They learn very quickly this is not the case right outside Washington, DC.  They realize that they'll have to switch gears and "settle" for less than they had hoped for, decide to rent, or move back to Ohio.

Is there a certain school district you want to be in?  Many people (most parents) are concerned with the schools their child will be attending, and rightfully so. A good website for folks to check out regarding schools is www.greatschools.com.

Are you willing to buy a fixer upper? Do you want a move-in ready home with all the trimmings or are you willing to put down new flooring, paint, or renovate a bathroom or two?

Are you a "foodie?"  How important is the kitchen to you?  Do you want a separate dining room?  Many people feel strongly about, say, gas cooking.  Their dream kitchen has to have gas cooking or they won't buy the home.

Is a garage a requirement?  A fireplace?  A basement?  An attic?  A deck?  A backyard?  Close to shopping?  Close to your sister?  Farther away from your sister? The list goes on and on!

So, what are your "must haves" in a home?  What are you willing to compromise on?  Maybe the house is exactly what you wanted in all respects, but doesn’t have that deck you wanted.  You might want to consider that house,realizing you can add-on a deck later.

Thinking of purchasing a home in Northern Virginia?  Start by making a list of your "must haves" and an overall wish list.  Good luck and call me with any of your Real Estate needs!  I'm sure that I can find you that "nearly perfect" home!