When considering purchasing a new home, it is important to look beyond the aesthetics of the house. Sure, an old, charming Victorian might knock your socks off, but are the utility bills associated with that house in a cold Detroit winter as charming? Similarly, you need to consider whether or not a cozy cottage makes sense for a growing family. Here are a few things to consider aside from the look and feel of the home.

Location. While this is a given for many homebuyers, it is amazing how many people tell me and their Realtor they are only interested in a specific location (or are not interested in a specific location) only to demand to see a house outside of that location. What you need to remember is that aesthetics can be changed, houses can be dormered, and yards can be landscaped, but you can never move your house. If you want to be in a great school district, then you need to stay within your parameters. Or, if you need to be in walking distance to a bus stop or within twenty minutes of your office, then you need to remember that when house hunting.

Light. The amount of natural light which comes into a house is extremely important. It can impact utility bills, comfort, and your overall happiness in your home. Trying to add sunlight to a dark home is very difficult and very costly. And while you can change the lighting in your home to make up for a lack of natural light, there is no true replacement for sunlight.

Size. You need to determine how many beds and baths you need and then find a house that has that. No more, no less. Unfortunately, I have had more than a few clients who came to me to buy a new home within a year or two of purchasing one. And the most common reason for this is a house that is not the right size. You may find a 6 bedroom 5 bathroom home that is absolutely stunning, but if you only needed 3 bedrooms because you live alone, that mortgage payment is going to feel bigger and bigger every month as the luster of the new house wears off. Similarly, if you need 4 bedrooms because your family is growing, please get a house with 4 bedrooms, otherwise you will have to move when your family situation changes.

Neighborhood. This is a difficult criterion to evaluate at times, but extremely important. Do your neighbors have well maintained homes? Are the lawns mowed or the snow shoveled? How big is your house in comparison to the others in the neighborhood? If your house is the biggest and most expensive in the neighborhood, you might be overbuying, which could mean you won’t be able to make your money back when you need to sell. You also want to consider the lifestyles in the neighborhood – are their children or is it a more mature neighborhood? Do the neighbors seem friendly or standoffish? And which do you prefer (not everyone wants to be friends with their neighbors)?

The House. By this, I mean the actual house, not the furniture and decor. Is it a good house? Is it well built, well maintained, and does it fit your needs? If you need a good yard for your kids, does it have one? If you wanted all new windows, are they already installed? Look beyond the kitchen, the bathrooms, and the decorating – look for the imperfections. Because these are what will keep you up at night in the future, not the new stainless appliances that probably won’t be staying, anyway.

If you are in the market for a new house, please contact me for a preapproval letter so you will have a better idea of what your budget is. And if you have any other ideas of what to look for in a new house, please leave a comment.