April 11, 2018 | Alan Donald
Define Your NEEDS & WANTS
Some buyers do not have a clear picture of what they want, and in a “buyer's market”, where there are literally thousands of available homes, they can get confused and frustrated quite easily. In a "Seller's Market", there can be limited amount of choices so taking into consideration what you need versus what you want is important so as to not settle for a home that is not the proper fit for you. I recommend that you sit down, draw three columns and write down your preferences, criteria and tastes, and rank them in priority, for example:

CRITERIA NEED (must have) WANT (would prefer) Rank
Excellent Schools JB Edwards or MP Academy Buist Academy 1
3-bedrooms X Bonus Room or FROG 1
Pool   X 3
Commute Time to Downtown Max. 50 min. Less than 20 min. 2
Garage 2-car minimum 3-car 4
Size (sq. ft.) Min. 2,000 sq. ft. 2500-3500 sq. ft. 2

NOTE: If there is more than one decision maker, make sure you all agree on at least the NEEDS column. It is important that you share these criteria and priorities with your REALTOR, to help him/her give you better selection of properties and provide better advice.

What type of home are you looking for? There are so many choices that it is important to have an idea of what you want and need before you begin looking. The list below may help you clarify your thinking on what is important to you when you are ready to purchase:


- What neighborhood(s) would you like to live in?
- What price range do you have in mind?
- What type of home interests you? (one-story, two-story, split-entry, townhouse, condo, duplex)
- What style appeals to you? (contemporary, traditional, no preference)
- Are schools a factor?
- Do you need to be close to public transportation?
- How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?  How many do you want?
- What other interior features are important to you? (separate family room, formal dining room, home office, etc.)
- What about exterior features? Have you considered a garage, yard size, patio/deck, hot tub, view, or waterfront?
- Are there any special features you are looking for in a home?


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