THE “PERFECT” HOME

October 9, 2013 by Rebecca April In Uncategorized No Comments

As I was out showing a property this past weekend to a young couple wanting to purchase their first home, I was again reminded that there is no perfect home. I was also reminded that, like this couple, the more realistic and savvy buyers understand the need for compromise.

But isn’t compromise a sell-out suggesting a lack of discipline? On the contrary, a willingness to consider both the positive and negative features of a home and weigh their relative importance is essential. When looking for a home in any price range, even where the grandest of properties are concerned, I can guarantee that there will be something about each that you will find less than ideal.

The key is to know which imperfections are mere nuisances and which are fatal flaws. Particularly when purchasing your first home, emotions are running high. You are going from zero to something, and you have to start somewhere, so you may be more inclined to overlook a few negatives. But, you are the one who is going to have to live with them, so it is critical to make sure that while you aren’t sweating the small stuff, you are recognizing the truly important things.

IMPORTANT

 Price range — If you don’t have a solid idea of where your top or bottom price may be, lets get you pre-qualified with your bank or get you working with a great mortgage broker, there is nothing worse then having your heart broken after viewing your dream home that is just outside your financial reach at this time.

 Location –There are a million little things we can lump under the category of location including neighborhood, schools, view, and lot size to name a few. You can fix and remodel a lot of things, but you can’t move the house.

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 Structural integrity –If you lay a marble in the middle of the family room floor, does it reach warp speed before hitting the far wall? You might have a slab issue. Is it raining both outside and inside? It could be that the roof needs replacing. If your budget or your sense of adventure is in short supply, these may be things that we can call “deal killers.”

 Room count — You need a four-bedroom home but the two-bedroom home is so darn cute and perfect in every other way. If you find yourself suggesting to your spouse that the twins’ bunk beds would fit nicely in the laundry room or the garage, keep looking.

 

 Special features — Do you want air conditioning, storage or hobby space, a fireplace, swimming pool?  Do you have family members with special needs?  Do you want special features to save energy, enhance indoor air quality and reduce environmental impact? You must list out your needs and then the wants to really decide.

 Lifestyles and stages — Do you plan to have children?  Do you have teenagers who will be moving away soon?  Are you close to retirement?  Will you need a home that can accommodate different stages of life?  Is this the fixer upper till the next home or the “forever” home?   5 year, 10 year plans?

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NOT SO MUCH:

Paint, carpet and cleanliness. — These are the easy things, but they are the things many buyers have the most difficulty looking past. If the home needs a thorough cleaning, hire someone or get it written into the purchase contract. Soiled carpeting or carpeting of a questionable style or color is easily remedied, as is tired or flat-out ugly paint. Even if you are on a very restricted budget, these minor deficiencies can be remedied over time. In these cases, you should be most concerned that the other, bigger ticket items have been addressed.
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 Landscaping  — Yes you may pull up and the first thing you see in knee deep grass, or you may love fruit trees yet there is not a apple or cherry in sight. Maybe the lawn is dead, or the rear yard has been neglected and reminds you of a dessert including the tumbleweeds. Congratulations! you have a new weekend project, or you hirer one of Kelowna’s best to create the back yard of your dreams.
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Whether you’re purchasing a brand new home or a resale property, investing in your first home or your next one, buying a home is a big decision. In fact, it’s probably the single largest purchase you’ll ever make, so you want to make sure that you make a well-informed decision.

A sense of humour helps. The laughs are there if you look hard enough!

Rebecca April

Rebecca April has been a practicing real estate agent for the greater part of the last decade. Her unique brand of realty has earned her the respect of her peers and an extensive list of loyal clients. Her latest venture - Dolce Vida Interiors- aims to further serve those clients through the power of interior design.

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