House hunting in Toronto is always a fun prospect – but it can also be stressful and frustrating. Unless you have a clear idea of what you are looking for in a new home, chances are you will spin your wheels trying to find out while your dream home slips away. The best way to achieve success when looking for a new home is to clearly identify those elements that are “must-haves”, those that are “nice-to-haves” and those that are non-essential. For instance, if you definitely want an ensuite in your master bedroom, then knowing that will automatically eliminate a lot of homes that you would otherwise have visited for no reason. However, bearing this in mind, you should also give some places with potential a chance depending on how much work you are willing to put into a property to make it your own.
The best way to figure out what you definitely want in a home is to assess your current needs and list what could be improved in your current home. Do you need more storage space? Do you want an open-concept for entertaining? Do you want a playroom? How many bedrooms do you need? Listing all of those things that you would love to have in a new home will show you all of the possibilities and from there you can narrow them down into essentials and those things that would be just nice to have.
For some people, it is essential that all bedrooms be on the same level – for others this is not really a concern and are happy with bedrooms on different levels. Still others insist on ensuites while others are fine with communal facilities. Fireplace are another big draw for some but can put others off a property. If you are having trouble figuring out what is essential and what is not, think about it this way – what items will make your everyday life easier and more comfortable and for your stage of life? For a young family bedrooms on the same level would make more sense than for a family with teenagers or extended family. Others might have needs that extend beyond the home – for instance being close to public transit, walking distance to school or even shops.
Once you have a list of all those elements that you want in your home, then you can confidently hit the market with your agent knowing that you will be seeing only those properties that match your criteria most closely – saving you time and frustration. It will also give you a leg up on other house-hunters on the market as you will know immediately when you have found what you want.
The best way to figure out what you definitely want in a home is to assess your current needs and list what could be improved in your current home. Do you need more storage space? Do you want an open-concept for entertaining? Do you want a playroom? How many bedrooms do you need? Listing all of those things that you would love to have in a new home will show you all of the possibilities and from there you can narrow them down into essentials and those things that would be just nice to have.
For some people, it is essential that all bedrooms be on the same level – for others this is not really a concern and are happy with bedrooms on different levels. Still others insist on ensuites while others are fine with communal facilities. Fireplace are another big draw for some but can put others off a property. If you are having trouble figuring out what is essential and what is not, think about it this way – what items will make your everyday life easier and more comfortable and for your stage of life? For a young family bedrooms on the same level would make more sense than for a family with teenagers or extended family. Others might have needs that extend beyond the home – for instance being close to public transit, walking distance to school or even shops.
Once you have a list of all those elements that you want in your home, then you can confidently hit the market with your agent knowing that you will be seeing only those properties that match your criteria most closely – saving you time and frustration. It will also give you a leg up on other house-hunters on the market as you will know immediately when you have found what you want.
