This home selection checklist is a tool to help you select the right home for you and your family. Before selecting a home and obtaining a mortgage, you need to know if you will be satisfied with the home you select for years to come. Home selection is an important step in your life, and using a smart selection checklist will help you think of all the things you need to know about a home before you buy it. Take a checklist with you to each home you can select and write down all the important home selection points on the checklist. Use the checklist for each possible home selection and you will have a “data book” to review and analyze before your final home selection.
These important factors in home selection are designed to help you create your own checklist.
You can then research the homes for sale and make a checklist of how each home compares to other homes that you have selected to view. When you’re ready to get a mortgage, you’ll know exactly the pros and cons of each home from the selection checklist.
- How old is the structure? Older houses require more maintenance. Mortgages on older homes can be more difficult to obtain. The mortgage insurance and homeowner protection required by the mortgage company you select may be more expensive on the home. List any items in need of repair on the selection checklist if you select that home.
- How many stories does the house have? If you or a member of your family is aging, or you expect to live in your chosen home for years, stairs can be a major problem. If you are young and won’t be living in this selection of homes for years, this shouldn’t be a problem. Put this on your selection checklist if it is a concern to you and your family. Write down any selection items that might make family visits difficult on your home checklist. It would be a huge inconvenience, to say the least, if your family is unable to visit due to stairs or hills.
- What material is the construction of the house made of? Concrete block and slab construction homes pose a lower fire threat and this will be reflected in your home insurance and perhaps even mortgage rates. Place your preferred building type on your home selection checklist.
- Kitchen area: How large will a kitchen fit your lifestyle? Is the refrigerator old or new? Is the stove in good condition? Do you prefer to cook on gas or electric? Do you want a garbage disposal? Determine exactly what is important in a kitchen and put those selections on your checklist. Then rate each property you can select as to how many of the checklist features are included. Of course, some functions in the selection checklist are quite easy to add; other characteristics of the selection checklist cannot be changed.
- Living Areas: Is a formal living room and study high on your personal selection checklist? List each need on the housing selection checklist. Are there windows for plants, if you are a plant lover? Is the carpet in the possible home selection in good condition? Think about these elements before signing a mortgage! Write down any likely expenses on your household checklist for later review. Use them in your mortgage budget
- Laundry Facilities: Does your selection of home have laundry hookups that don’t require you to go up and down stairs to get clothes from the bedrooms to the washer? Are the connections in good condition? Note on the selection checklist. Put on your selection checklist all the items that you would select to replace when you move into the home. Write the anticipated cost of replacing items you select as unacceptable on the checklist. Remember to budget so you can pay off the mortgage and renew your home selection after the purchase.
- Bedrooms: Is your family formed or do you plan to have more children? Are there enough bedrooms to allow guests? Is the master bedroom in your home selection large enough? Getting a mortgage on a home that is too small can be a big mistake. Put exactly the house size you need to select on your selection checklist.
- Closets: Will there be enough closet space for your family’s clothes? Put on your checklist how many cabinets you need.
- Bathrooms: Will there be enough facilities in your home selection to allow everyone to have space for their personal items and enough time to use the facilities? Large families require several bathrooms; Be sure to put this on your home selection checklist! A selection that needs added bathrooms plus mortgage payments can be expensive. Consider this in your mortgage budget.
- Roofing – note materials and condition. If it looks like the roof will need to be repaired soon, consider this major cost in your mortgage price. Roofing is very expensive. Research the cost of replacing a roof before bidding. Write these costs down on the household checklist. Will your budget cover your mortgage and roofing expenses?
- Water heater – Look at the water heater and determine its condition. Look for places that may have leaked and any resulting damage. Also, is the water heater gas or electric in the home selection? More notes for your home checklist.
- Air conditioning / heating: Do these units in the home selection appear to be old or new? Are they energy efficient? If you sign a mortgage on a home only to find out that all your heating or HVAC requires replacement, it could cause you financial stress. Check the estimated age of each appliance and piece of equipment in your potential home selection. Include checklist notes for expenses to replace older items. Place notes on your home mortgage selection stating that you may want a home inspection or warranty if the equipment appears older; Your checklist selection can prevent you from making a major mortgage mistake!
- Cost of Utilities – Don’t be afraid to ask homeowners to look at your electric, gas, and water bills. If your home selection is well insulated and energy efficient, they will be happy to show you. Energy costs are high on your home selection checklist.
- Neighborhood: Do you want to be in a gated community? Is there a children’s play area near the house? And the schools? Is the neighborhood surrounding the home selection clean and attractive? Take a walk around the neighborhood; Check out other homes for the area before making your home mortgage selection. Safe neighborhoods help not only facilitate mortgage approval, but also insurance. Include this item on your home pick list.
- Yard – If you have children or pets, you may want a large yard. If you are a gardener, a good garden is important. Again, make a list of everything that really matters in selecting your ideal home.
- Parking: Is there space for your vehicles and guests? There is a garage? Garage? Is the driveway in good condition? Include what matters to you on your home selection checklist. Again, if these require repair, put these notes on the checklist so you can budget accordingly.
- Future Expansion – If you want to expand the house at some future point, is there room on the property without overcrowding? Consider the future before mortgaging a home that you may have to sell later as your family’s needs grow.
- Zoning and Restrictions – If you are running a home business, is it allowed in the potential neighborhood? Choosing a home that avoids the activities you value would be a serious mistake. Some communities have restrictions regarding working on your car or motorcycle, parking a boat, and other issues that you should be aware of before making your final home selection. Keep this point on your selection checklist if you work on your car or have a boat next to your house.
- Work: Is the house of your choice close to where you work? If not, is it easy to access the highway for easy travel from home? Will you come to hate the idea of going to work from this location? Write the miles you will drive per day and the cost on your home selection checklist.
- Shopping: Grocery and convenience stores, gas stations and the like should be very close to your home pick. Write down on your selection checklist how far from your home to the closest shopping centers. Checklist where you would go from home to shop.
- Sidewalks – This item on the home selection checklist is important for families with children. If there are no sidewalks, children will not be able to easily walk to visit friends, ride their bikes, or do other activities that children love. Also, make a checklist if you like to walk or hike for exercise.
- Amusements, Churches, Activities – If you have activities that you like to do, consider the drive time of your home selection. Will your kid’s movie visits on Saturday turn out to be a long trip? Are there at least a few doctors near the potential home? The diversions your family enjoys should be reasonably easy to get to.
- Neighborhood lighting: If you like to go out at night or if your children are going to play outside, is the area well lit? Not only are these selection criteria important to your kids, burglars hate a well-lit home and neighborhood. Check out some security questions you need before considering a mortgage.
- Traffic: If you have children, your new neighborhood should have little traffic. Also, traffic equals noise. Consider also this important fact. A house on a highway has frustrated many.
These home selection checklist items are intended to help you think through the important home selection options checklist before obtaining a home mortgage. Make yourself a personalized home selection checklist that includes the things that matter to YOU and YOUR FAMILY, and then take it with you when you buy a home. With a checklist
in hand, you can make the selection that will make you happy for years and years!