| Buying

Congratulations! You have decided you want to buy a home. It may be your first home, it may be your dream home – whatever it is, I want to make sure you are prepared going forward. Here is a home buying checklist to help you on your way to one of the biggest adventures you will embark on this year!

Location

An important part in purchasing a home is deciding which neighbourhood you want to be located in. Some want to be situated very close to work, others want to be close to their family and friends. Consider whether you want to have easy access to a highway or a transit stop/station. How much of your budget do you want to play with to be near a park, a school, a shopping centre or health care facilities?

Make sure that when you are deciding on the location that you visit it at all times of day and night to ensure that you will be happy there in all situations – work, rest and play.

Dimensions and Features

Next on the home buying checklist are the dimensions and features of the property that you find most important. Some relevant questions to consider are:

  • What kind of square footage are you looking for? 1,000+? 2,000+?
  • If you are looking at a house, do you want a basement? If so, how important is a finished basement to you?
  • How many bedrooms and washrooms do you want? How many do you need? (Note that you may decide that what you need wins over what you want)
  • How important is an upgraded space to you? How willing are you to do renovations yourself? What level of improvements would you feel comfortable doing in your own home?
  • Do you want outdoor living space such as a balcony or even a yard? Do you need that outdoor living space to be private?
  • Do you require parking? If so, how many spaces?
  • Do you prefer a single-floor or multi-level dwelling?

Utilities

As utilities will make up a consistent, and sometimes significant, chunk of your budget, it is important to determine your preferences when it comes to heating and cooling. Would you prefer oil, gas or electric? Make sure to do your homework in advance to learn the pros and cons of each of these options before deciding. Would you rather have radiators or forced air? Do you want baseboards? What level of insulation are you comfortable with? If you are looking at a house what kind of exterior finish do you prefer? Brick, wood and aluminium siding each impact heating and cooling costs in different ways.

Taxes, Zoning and Development

We have discussed the neighbourhood surrounding the house, we have looked inside the house, we have considered the infrastructure of the house – now it is time to take a look into the property’s future. Inquire from your real estate agent what the property taxes are for the property you are interested in – if they cannot provide it, City Hall will. If you are going to City Hall to ask questions about the property you are interested in, be sure to also ask if there are any development or infrastructure projects planned for the future. It might be that the beautiful view from your living room window is temporary. Or the seemingly endless construction a few streets away will lift soon and make the area far more accessible. You can also find out what zoning laws and by-law restrictions there are around home-based businesses and other home-related questions you have.

This home buying checklist is not exhaustive, as anything that is exhaustive can be overwhelming. This is meant to be a great foray into figuring out what you want and what will work for you in your new home. If you have any questions or comments regarding buying a home, please do not hesitate to ask me! I would love to help you on such an exciting journey.