The Housing Guide

The Housing Guide from Housing.com

Home search. That’s not the easiest decision to make, is it? All those options can be overwhelming, and you can’t really afford for this to be a mistake. It’s the search for your next home, so you’ve got to nail this one! Housing has for you a checklist to take you through it.

1.    What do you need?

The best way to start your home search is to know what you are looking for. Get a pen and paper and chalk out all the things that your next home should be. How many bedrooms do you need? Can you do without the extra parking slot? Is the balcony a necessity? Make sure you are clear that you don’t mix up what you want with what you need. Necessities first.

2.    Fix your budget.

It’s okay to have budget constraints. In fact, you should have budget constraints. Property dealings are a huge investment, so make sure it’s worth all those piles of money. Ensure that you have a clear idea about the budget and be firm about your upper limit. Don’t let loan schemes and brokers sway you from your decision. Like they say, don’t bite off more than you can chew.

3.    Locality locator.

Remember that it isn’t just about the house, but also about what’s around it. Zero in on a locality after taking all the factors into consideration. Demography, facilities, amenities, lifestyle etc. Make sure it’s a safe neighbourhood, check the water supply, figure out the public transport. It isn’t too far from your workplace, is it? Does it have good schools? Are there any recreational activities? You may not realise it, but the little things matter.

4.    What do you see?

When you do visit the house, don’t just trust your eyes. Brokers and landlords are in the habit of overselling their property, and you don’t want to fall prey to that ploy. Do your homework. Talk to the neighbours, ask them if there have been any problems with the house. Maybe there’s too much noise pollution, or perhaps the building is much older than they claimed? Check for loopholes, and ensure that you have made a thorough inspection. It’s not about what it looks like, but about what you actually see.

5.    Seize the day!

When you have made your decision, don’t just sit on it! It’s a volatile market, and you never know what the next few weeks entail. The price could escalate, too many competitive buyers could come in or the banks might change their loan regulations. When it comes to real estate, the best time was yesterday. And the next best is today. That’s your dream home in the pipeline, there’s not a moment to be lost.

That’s all from the Housing desk. Happy house hunting!

www.housing.com/in