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First Time Homebuyer, Checklists, Finding a Home
Beginner’s Checklist for Housing Needs
What You'll Learn: A Checklist of Things to Consider When Buying a Home
EXPECTED READ TIME: 5 MINUTES
What are the things to keep in mind when determining home needs?
As you begin to think about buying a home, there can be so much to think about it can be overwhelming. If it's your first home, there are likely a lot of things to consider that you've never even thought of. We've compiled this checklist of items to kickstart your thinking. Feel free to print this out, check off things you've mentally planned for, or cross off items you don't care about or may not be applicable. We've left some write-in spaces to add your own thoughts and needs.
This list is by no means complete, and is meant as a starting point to help assist in determining what you're looking for and what's important for your needs. Consider ranking each of these items in order of importance to you, while limiting what is extremely important to a number around five. This will allow you, and perhaps your real estate agent, to best understand what’s most important to you.
Location, Location, Location
It may sound cliché, but even clichés are there for a reason. The location of your home is critically important.
- Overall location of home — city and state
- Neighborhood type
- Gated community
- Location compared to your employment
- Do you need mass transit?
- Traffic patterns and time to work
- Near good schools
- Near shopping
- Grocery stores
- Clothing
- Malls
- Near family and friends
- Amenities nearby
- Pool
- Gym
- Stadiums or arenas for sporting events
- Trails
- Access to mountains, beaches, or parks
- Other
- Safety
- Safety of neighborhood
- Street lights
- Gated community
- Sidewalks
- Review a crime database of the area
- Review sex offenders in the area
- Neighborhood watch or patrol
- Safety of neighborhood
- Natural disaster considerations
- Flood zone
- Earthquakes/tornados/hurricanes/fires
- Exits in case of emergencies
Housing Needs to Consider:
- Location of home on the lot, or within complex
- Purchase price
- Location of the house in relation to the sun — where is the sun in the morning and evening?
- Parking
- Drainage concerns
- Steep driveway
- Winter concerns for access to home in inclement weather
- Garage needs
- Storage
- Work area
- Size
- Slope of property
- Size of property
- Pet needs
- Type of pets allowed
- Room to roam
- Yard maintenance needs and costs
- Age of home and potential repairs over the next seven years
- Style of the home and around the neighborhood
- Curb appeal
- Overall floor plan — Is it open air? Do you need more rooms?
- Number of bedrooms needed today and within 5-7 years
- Number of bathrooms needed today and within 5-7 years
- Location of bedrooms — do you need a master on the first floor?
- Location of bathrooms and access
- Do you need extra rooms like playrooms, exercise, or other?
- Storage needs, or access to storage
- Number of closets
- Fireplace
- Outdoor living areas
- Deck
- Patio
- Sun coverage
- Location of the sun compared to outside areas
- Pool
- Outdoor kitchen
- Garden
- View
- Is a dining room necessary?
- Bathrooms
- How many?
- Do you need full baths, half baths?
- Shower versus tub
- Ingress to the home — Are the steps up or down? Is there an elevator?
- Size of home in square footage
- Cost to heat and cool
- HOA and costs
- Home warranties covering major items like appliances and HVAC
- HVAC system and age
- Overall lighting
- Natural lighting
- Condition of the windows
- Finishing touches like molding, trim, or stairs
- Plumbing fixtures and condition
- Flow of the home
- Entertaining needs
- Attic space
- Basement
- Crawl space
- Special needs for wheelchair or access
- Slab concrete
- Ceiling height
- Number of floors
- Ceiling fans
- Access to laundry
- Room sizes
- Bedrooms
- Kitchen
- Living areas
- Flooring options
- Carpet
- Tile
- Wood
- Condition of the flooring — does it need to be replaced?
- How does your current furniture fit in this layout? Do you need more or new furniture?
- Kitchen
- Appliances and age
- Style of appliances
- Countertops
- Layout or flow of kitchen
- Eating areas
- Cabinet space
- Pantry
- Location of sink by window
- Gas or electric
- Lighting
- Soft close drawers and cabinets
- Access to systems like plumbing, HVAC, electrical
- Condition of house
- Foundation
- Roof
- Siding
- Windows
- Gutters
- Fences
- Electrical systems
- Additional structure like sheds
- Trees and maintenance
- Pests or insects in the area
- Any noise issues with location — trains, flight paths, schools
Other Things to Consider
- Condition of the overall neighborhood houses
- Neighbors keeping up with their homes
- Local economy strength
- Is this your “forever home”?
- Will this home last you 5-7 years?
- Growing old in the home and special needs
- Young children in the home and safety
