Which Factors are Important in Your Home Search?

When it comes to searching for single-family homes for sale in Columbus, Indiana, there are a number of things to consider beforehand. For starters, you need to assess your household needs. How many people live in your household? How many are young adults gearing up to move into a college dorm or their own home? How much space do you need, and what kind of layout and style do you want? These questions and more are crucial to narrowing down the best home for you and your household.

Whether you’re browsing for Batesville, Indiana, real estate or Seymour, Indiana, real estate, the following list of factors is handy for setting you on the right path. Take note of your own needs as you progress through the list until you know exactly what to look for in a home. Remember — buying a new home is a significant financial undertaking that demands no small amount of stress. You want to make sure the home best suits you. Never settle for less.

One of the first things any real estate expert will tell you is that location is the most important factor above all else. Home buyers seek convenience — a shorter commute to work or school, proximity to grocery stores and pharmacies, and plenty of restaurants, boutiques, and entertainment within driving distance. Think about the kind of location that would be most convenient for your household. If you have school-aged children, scout out the best schools and the closest homes. If you’d rather have a shorter commute to work, opt for the neighborhoods a little bit closer to your workplace. The kind of location you want ultimately depends on your needs.

You should also assess the neighborhood. Are there parks? If you have dogs, are there dog-friendly parks nearby? Is the neighborhood clean and properly looked after by the local government? Some neighborhoods sacrifice quality for convenience, but the best neighborhoods strive for both.

Create a list with three categories: must-have, nice-to-have, and dealbreaker. The must-have category should have every single home feature that you absolutely want without question. The nice-to-have category is good for features you wouldn’t mind having but can live without. When it comes to features you don’t want under any circumstances and that would be too costly or time-consuming for you to remove, list those things under the dealbreaker category.

There are comprehensive databases like the MLS (multiple listing service) that detail every feature of a home. Your list should prove useful in parsing through hundreds of home listings since you know exactly what to look for.

This is another factor that comes down to your household’s needs. If you have a large household, you’ll obviously need plenty of space and the appropriate number of bedrooms. Don’t forget the bathrooms! One bathroom for a large family isn’t exactly feasible, especially if a majority of the members operate on a morning schedule. Two full bathrooms are best, plus a half bathroom.

If you have adult children, sit down with them to find out what their next move is. For example, if they’re heading off to college but plan to visit for the holidays, you may want a spare bedroom or a guest room on hand for them. If they’re moving out, you probably won’t need an extra room at all. Of course, it never hurts to have a guest room in anticipation of close friends or extended family members looking for a temporary place to stay.

When you’re researching or touring a home, ask about the age and history. Is it an older home? What year was it built? Is it considered historic? Does it feature unique craftsmanship that is no longer practiced in modern home construction? Older homes with antiquated features may necessitate a higher degree of maintenance. Not only that, but an older home may also have outdated systems that need to be replaced.

There are times when an old home is simply too old and needs constant care. Unless you have the time and finances to completely remodel the home, you should reconsider your options. Newer homes tend to have energy-efficient systems and the latest fixtures in exchange for a higher price tag. That means, however, that you won’t have to invest in implementing the latest systems yourself.

As previously mentioned, the architecture of a home reflects the kind of maintenance it’ll need, but your personal style also plays a part. Do you want a house with a classic, old-timey feel? An elaborate Victorian-style home is an excellent option to consider. Do you prefer something sleek and stylish? Contemporary and modern homes are all about smooth, sharp edges and minimalist flair. Your preferred aesthetics should not be overlooked for the sake of pure practicality. You want to like how your home looks just as much as how it functions.

The home plan is another factor to consider. If you want an open communal space that blends the kitchen, dining room, and/or living rooms, an open floor plan is the best layout to make multiple spaces feel like one cohesive area. If you’d prefer every room to have its own designated, enclosed space, the traditional closed floor plan is the way to go. Both layouts have their pros and cons, but as with everything, it depends on what you want out of the home. Open floor plans are great for making a home feel more inviting, while closed floor plans are ideal if you’d rather have increased privacy.

Unless the home is brand new and fresh off the construction block, chances are you’ll be buying a home that was lived in by someone else. Make sure to tour the home and hire a home inspector if the seller hasn’t already scheduled an inspection. Although a home may look promising on the outside, only a home inspector can tell you if there are underlying problems or other issues hidden in plain view.

You don’t want to buy a home that’ll end up costing you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in repairs. The home you buy should at least be in good enough condition to not need a substantial amount of repair and maintenance later on.

To learn more about Columbus, Indiana, real estate and how to find the perfect home, get in touch with The Nolting Team. A duo of esteemed real estate agents, The Nolting Team is dedicated to finding the perfect home for you with only the most sophisticated approach. Reach out to them today to get started!