Because the new year has begun, lots of people are looking to find a new home for themselves and their family. If you’ve been on the hunt, and are yet to find somewhere that you’re dead set on, you might be wondering how to know whether or not you’ve found the perfect house. It’s completely normal to find it difficult to decide on one particular house, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. After all, the last thing that you want to do is choose the wrong house. Luckily, you don’t have to go into the process with your eyes closed; There are many signs that you’ve found the house for you. Here are some things that you should look out for before saying yes or no to any particular house.
- You Want To Go In
Curb appeal is the first impression that a buyer gets of a property when they look at it for the first time, either online or in person, and is something that really shouldn’t be overlooked. If you pull into a street and are taken aback by how much you want the home in front of you, just from looking at the outside, and are full of warm, fuzzy feelings, it could be the home for you. Of course, you should look inside too, and make sure you do your research on the property, but if you want to go into the house the second you see it, then something very right is happening.
- You Can See Yourself There
You are never going to feel comfortable living in a house if you can’t see yourself living there when you view it. Go into each and every room and imagine what you would do in there. You’ll know you’ve found the house for you if you could see yourself cuddling up on the sofa, making some food in the kitchen, or using the bathroom after just a short viewing.
- You Plan Furniture Arrangements
If you walk into the living room, and immediately know that the sofa is going to go against the back wall and the television is going to go against the front, then you might have just found the perfect house. If you start to plan where your Halloween and Christmas decorations are going to go, then you’ve definitely found the right home.
- You Know How You’ll Decorate
You might absolutely love the decor in the house as it is, but there will come a time when you are going to put your own stamp on the property. The one you’re viewing could be the home for you if you can imagine how you’re going to change it. For example, the house might be just right if you know that you want to repaint the second bedroom a lovely sky blue, and turn it into a nursery, or you know that the living room could look better as your favourite shade of purple.
- It Ticks All The Boxes
Everything on this list is important, but when you’re looking for something as important as a house, you need to think practically too. There is absolutely no point in looking at two bedroom resale hdb apartments if you have a growing family, so make sure that all of the properties that you look at have the necessary amount of rooms. You should also think about whether or not you need a garage, how big your garden needs to be, and how close you want the nearest schools and entertainment facilities.
- You Get Defensive
If your husband points out that there’s a chip in one of the tiles in the kitchen, and you just want to strangle him and say that it doesn’t matter, then you know that you have found something special. After all, everyone is defensive of their homes, no matter how many flaws they have, so if you are willing to defend a house that you are viewing, it’s possible that you have subconsciously already made up your mind about the house, and already want it.
- You Want To Tell Others
When you go shopping, you don’t come home and tell your friends and family about the countless pieces of clothing that you saw and didn’t like (unless they were ridiculously ugly); You only mention the ones that you kick yourself for not buying. Well, the same goes for homes. If you get excited and want to text your mom and best friend about the house the second you leave it, it’s possible that you’ve found the home for you.
- You Want To Stop Looking
You know that you’ve found a great house when you can’t even be bothered to view the five other homes on the list that you’ve got. After all, there’s no point if they can’t possibly compare to what you’ve just seen, right? You can be even more certain if the ones that you viewed before now have gone from “pretty good” to “not right for me”. If you feel like a traitor even thinking about comparing this new home to the other ones, then it’s probably time to make an offer.
- You Just Know
Never underestimate the power of a gut feeling. If you just know that you’ve found the right house for you, then you should trust yourself, and your instincts. You should trust them even more if you constantly have a voice in the back of your mind telling you that you need that house and should make an offer as soon as possible. Of course, it’s sensible to take some time to think about the decision and speak about it with your partner, but if you just know that this house is the house for you, then don’t wait too long, or someone else could snap it up instead.
Buying a house is a big decision, so it’s completely understandable if you don’t want to pick a house too quickly. Despite this, if you’ve noticed any of the signs mentioned above, then you might have found the house for you.
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
Mary Beth Elderton says
Yes on furniture placement and decor! I have moved a lot—both apartments and houses. The ones I’ve enjoyed most, including the house we are in now, were the ones I could picture our furniture placement as I walked through. Obviously there is more to choosing the right place, but this is one way I get the feel of a new place.
Amber says
Great tips although the last two just amount to trust your gut basically. I’m not in a place to be looking to buy a house yet but I hope I get that magical feeling of “just knowing” when I do start looking!
Cynthia C says
My son went through this a few years ago and nearly drove his realtor crazy looking at house after house. It was worth all the trouble, though, when he found just what he was looking for.
Sarah L says
You need to find a house that will make you happy for years to come.
Nancy Burgess says
Good tips to remember when looking for a new house. Thanks for sharing.
Cynthia R says
We were on the house hunt for nearly 2 years. Our area the market is just full of people wanting to buy, a nice house will often have 10 bidders. It’s insane right now.
Mary Gardner says
I agree with all of your tips and I think the two that have helped me decide on a home have always been going with a gut feeling and you are ready to stop looking.
Rosie says
These are good signs. I’ve been looking, and I do get these ‘warm & fuzzies’ for houses just out of my price range. I try to not do that. Once you find it, don’t hesitate, as you will regret it if someone beats you to it.