When you’re young, you don’t really think about the small details that helps improve a home. On my first house hunting experience I didn’t really know what I was looking for. I knew the basics like check the condition of the roof and walk through the basement looking for cracks in the foundation.
Pro Tip: If possible, go to an open house or book an inspection a day or two after a heavy rain. If the house isn’t water tight you’ll know by the wet walls or water stains on the ceiling.
After living in the house for 5+ years I have curated a list of what I find important if I decide to purchase a second home. These are things that I took for granted, like the pros and cons of having tiled counter tops and what direction your windows are facing for optimal lighting.
Anything other than tile counter tops!
On one hand a tile counter top is nice because you can put a hot pot on it without it damaging the counter. I’d argue though that that is the only positive thing about owning a tile counter top.
The cleaning and disinfecting is a nightmare. Grout is so porous, every time I cooked I’d have to disinfect the counter and grout with vinegar and baking soda.
If you wanted nice, clean looking grout forget about even coming close to your counters with coffee of spaghetti sauce. I’m sure there was an easier way, but I’d tear apart countless sponges trying to make our counters look anything other than filthy.
The perfect balance of light and shade
I am a plant lover, I can’t get enough of the greenery in my home. That being said, if your best source of light is a North facing window forget about it. On my next house hunt I will be sure to scope out plant worthy windows and what direction they are facing.
A South facing window receives the most amount of light where as an East facing window receives morning light and a West facing window receives evening light. If you want flowers in your house they do best with a South facing window because they require a higher level of photosynthesis. East and West facing windows are great for cacti, succulents and plants that are happy in the shade.
If you’re house hunting in the winter make sure you pay close attention to the trees and the proximity to the windows. You can be certain that the tree close to a window will block out the sunlight when it’s covered in leaves.
That being said, if you lack a large tree or any overhead covering be prepared for a scorching hot yard. You’ll have to invest in a gazebo or an umbrella to bear the summer heat if you’re a backyard lounger or if you have animals.
I can assure you there are far more important factors you want to consider before buying your first home. It’s all about location, location, location. This list is to help you consider the factors that could become a nuisance over time.
When you do purchase your first home be sure to check out our moving checklist. It’ll help you create a timeline to help you move with ease. It’s important to stay as organized as possible while your in the moving process. Good luck!
What are your top 3 priorities when hunting for a new home? I’d love to hear about them! Drop me an email at [email protected] or, better yet, share it with the world and drop a comment below.
