If you’re planning to move you should first reflect on what you love (and what you can’t wait to leave) in your current home, as you begin your search for your next one. We’ve come up with a list of questions to help you discover what you like and don’t like about your current home to guide you in your search for your next home. Feel free to print this list and make your own notes! It will help you immensely when you meet your realtor.

Learn more homebuyer tips by downloading our homebuyer handbook right here.

1. Getting to Know Your Home

  • On a scale of 1 (the worst) -10 (the best), how do you like your current home?
  • What’s your home’s best feature? And its worst feature?
  • Do you like the style of your home? If not, is there an architectural style or era you prefer?
  • What’s your favorite room, and why do you enjoy spending time there?

Understanding how you feel about your current home will help you immensely when you begin looking for your next home.

2. Square footage: Do you have enough?

  • Do you have enough space or too much?
  • Where could you use more/less space?
  • How would you describe the layout? Does it suit your lifestyle?
  • Do you have enough or too many bedrooms?
  • Do you have enough or too many bathrooms?
  • Do you like the number of levels?
  • Is there enough natural light, or is it too sunny?
  • Is there a specialized room you’ve never had but have always wanted (such as a home office, workout room, sewing room, laundry room or mudroom)?

You should know how much space you need before you begin looking for your next home. Understanding your space requirements will help your agent know what you are looking for and prevent you from wasting time looking at houses that will not work for your space requirements.

Do you have more questions about buying a home? Read these buying blogs next:

3. Around the house

  • Is your home accessible for your needs? Are there too many stairs? Do you need to install a ramp or elevator?
  • How do you feel about the fixtures and finishings?
  • What is your aesthetic: do you prefer rustic and vintage or modern and contemporary?

As people get older, it is essential to look at accessibility in houses. If you plan on staying in your new home for many years, you should consider how the house’s structure will make you feel 10 or 15 years in the future.

4. Around the neighbourhood

  • Are you happy with your neighbourhood? Think about all its characteristics, including walkability, parks, nearby activities, density, noise level and neighbour involvement. What do you love? What do you hate?
  • Do you have to travel far for basics such as groceries or a doctor’s appointment?
  • Are you happy with your commute to your work?
  • Are there enough activities going on around you — or too many?
  • Is the neighbourhood safe?
  • The area you live in is equally as important as the house you purchase. If there is an area you would love to live in, let your Real Estate agent know because they start showing you listings.

By answering all these questions, you will discover your dream list of items that you would like in your new home.

Our two cents

When you’re ready to take the plunge, give the Lisa Hartsink team a call. We can guide you through the Real Estate buying and selling process with our extensive industry knowledge, experience and commitment to meeting your Real Estate needs.

We want to help our clients find their dream home and make the best buying or selling decision. From the very start of your search to beyond the day of closing–whether it’s a house, townhome, condo, cottage, farm or commercial property that you are looking to invest in or sell, we can help.

Contact us today at 905-873-9944 or info@lisahartsink.com.