Making a List of Desired Home Features

You want to buy a home that you love. It is important to know what kind of house suits you and what you can afford. 

Keep in mind that it will be close to impossible to find a house that fits all your needs and wants perfectly. That is why you should rank your desired home features in order to distinguish which ones you can do without, and which ones are non-negotiable. This will help you stay organized when house searching.

SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN MAKING YOUR LIST OF DESIRED HOME FEATURES:

Basic:

  • What type of home do you want and why? (single-family home, condo, duplex, manufactured home, etc.)
  • What architectural style of home that is common in Arizona appeals to you? (southwest, pueblo, ranch, mountain, Tuscan, etc.)
  • What new or old would you like your home to be? (new build, newer home, older home)
  • Do you want a single-story or two-story home?
  • How many bedrooms do you need?
  • How many bathrooms do you need/want?
  • Would you like to have a separate laundry room?
  • How much storage and closet space do you need?
  • Do you want a walk-in pantry?
  • Is a garage important? And what size?
  • What size lot do you want?
  • What type of landscape do you want on your lawn?
  • Do you want a pool?
  • Do you want solar panels?
  • Do you want a water softener?
  • Do you want to live in a community with an HOA?
  • Is the home connected to the sewer or a septic tank?
  • Does the home use a public or community water system, shared well, or individual well?


Location:

  • How close do you want to be to work?
  • How close do you want to be to your family?
  • How close do you want to be to shopping or restaurants?
  • Do you need hospitals close by?
  • How close do you want to be to schools?
  • How important are the school district and school boundaries to you?
  • How close do you want to be to a freeway?
  • How close do you want to be to the airport?
  • How close do you want to be to Arizona’s professional sports teams’ venues?
  • Are the homes in the neighborhood holding their value?


Lifestyle:

  • Where do you spend the most time at home? 
  • Do you need a home office?
  • Would you like the layout of the house to be good for entertaining? (open floor plans, fireplace, wet bar, outdoor patio or deck)
  • Is the kitchen an optimal size and convenient to use?
  • Are you looking for a short-term or long-term home?
  • Do you want urban or country living?
  • Does the community have a park?
  • Does the community have walking/running trails?
  • Is the backyard big enough to fit needs such as your projects or play area for kids or pets?
  • Do you want to be close to lakes and designated off-road vehicle areas?
  • Do you need guest quarters or a parents’ suite?