13 Things That Should Matter When House Hunting
Consider quality of life as well as construction quality when house hunting
If you are in the market for a house, you’ll likely want to make sure you have a roof that won’t leak, a solid foundation, proper wiring and so on. But what about the things not covered by the inspection? Sometimes it’s these less obvious factors that end up making the biggest impact on your day-to-day experience of a house – things like the quality of light and flow from room to room. Here are 20 things to look for – and happy house hunting!
3. Interior layout
Like indoor-outdoor flow, the interior layout, or floor plan, can have a big effect on your daily life. Walk through the rooms, imagining your typical day. Are there sharp corners and narrow passages to navigate, or is there an easy, natural flow from one room to the next?
How to read a floor plan
Like indoor-outdoor flow, the interior layout, or floor plan, can have a big effect on your daily life. Walk through the rooms, imagining your typical day. Are there sharp corners and narrow passages to navigate, or is there an easy, natural flow from one room to the next?
How to read a floor plan
4. Window size and placement
You can of course can add and modify windows, but it’s not the cheapest change to make to a house. Ideally, look for a home with ample, well-placed windows.
5. Amount of natural light
This is a big one, yet it’s surprisingly easy to overlook when attending open houses. Once you have a few homes on your list that are strong contenders, make appointments to give them a second look at a different time of day. This will give you a fuller picture of what the light is like in the home.
You can of course can add and modify windows, but it’s not the cheapest change to make to a house. Ideally, look for a home with ample, well-placed windows.
5. Amount of natural light
This is a big one, yet it’s surprisingly easy to overlook when attending open houses. Once you have a few homes on your list that are strong contenders, make appointments to give them a second look at a different time of day. This will give you a fuller picture of what the light is like in the home.
6. House orientation
The way a house is positioned affects how much natural light it gets and can influence heating and cooling bills as well. A south-facing home will maximise natural light – though a north-facing home can be just as bright if the main living space is in the back of the home and there are ample windows all around.
The way a house is positioned affects how much natural light it gets and can influence heating and cooling bills as well. A south-facing home will maximise natural light – though a north-facing home can be just as bright if the main living space is in the back of the home and there are ample windows all around.
7. Staircase steepness and length
You may not have the slightest problem with stairs – but this is one of those times it’s helpful to think about the future. If you think you might ever want or need to take in an elderly relative, or you plan to age in place, a long, steep staircase may not be the best feature.
You may not have the slightest problem with stairs – but this is one of those times it’s helpful to think about the future. If you think you might ever want or need to take in an elderly relative, or you plan to age in place, a long, steep staircase may not be the best feature.
8. Architectural details
Great architectural details, like exposed beams and beautiful moulding will make everything else you do to your home look even better. Start with good bones.
Great architectural details, like exposed beams and beautiful moulding will make everything else you do to your home look even better. Start with good bones.
9. Kitchen features
Ask whoever does most of the cooking in your household to make a wish list for the kitchen. Does he or she prefer to work on a gas stove? Other things to consider in the kitchen could include its shape or layout, natural light, number of sinks, storage area and overall size.
Ask whoever does most of the cooking in your household to make a wish list for the kitchen. Does he or she prefer to work on a gas stove? Other things to consider in the kitchen could include its shape or layout, natural light, number of sinks, storage area and overall size.
10. Number of bathrooms
Adding a bathroom is expensive, so choose a home with enough baths to meet your family’s needs. Even if you are a household of only one or two people, an extra powder room on the ground floor can be a big boon.
Adding a bathroom is expensive, so choose a home with enough baths to meet your family’s needs. Even if you are a household of only one or two people, an extra powder room on the ground floor can be a big boon.
11. Ceiling height
Some attic rooms have less than adequate ceiling heights. If someone in your household is tall, bring him or her along to the open house to make sure the fit in all the rooms is comfortable.
Some attic rooms have less than adequate ceiling heights. If someone in your household is tall, bring him or her along to the open house to make sure the fit in all the rooms is comfortable.
12. Closeness of neighbours
If privacy is important to you, be sure to check the views from every window and walk the perimeter of the property to get an idea of how close you will be to your next-door neighbours.
13. The neighbourhood
This may be where you started your search, but have you really considered all aspects of your potential new neighbourhood? Schools are of course important for families with kids, and proximity to work and family closely follows on many folks’ wish lists. But you may also want to look into how walkable (or bikeable) your neighbourhood is, what community amenities (libraries, parks) are nearby and what public transportation is available.
TELL US
What is one thing you wish you had payed more attention to before buying your home?
If privacy is important to you, be sure to check the views from every window and walk the perimeter of the property to get an idea of how close you will be to your next-door neighbours.
13. The neighbourhood
This may be where you started your search, but have you really considered all aspects of your potential new neighbourhood? Schools are of course important for families with kids, and proximity to work and family closely follows on many folks’ wish lists. But you may also want to look into how walkable (or bikeable) your neighbourhood is, what community amenities (libraries, parks) are nearby and what public transportation is available.
TELL US
What is one thing you wish you had payed more attention to before buying your home?
The ease with which you can move from indoor to outdoor living areas and back again can make a huge difference in your day-to-day experience of living in a home. If this is important to you, look for French, sliding or accordion glass doors leading from the main living spaces to the outdoors.
2. Size of rooms
Not too big, not too small. Channel your inner Goldilocks to nail the just-right room size for your lifestyle. Imagine setting up your own furniture in the rooms as you walk through – bring measurements if you can.