Buying a home is a very personal decision, but it’s also something that you do in close coordination with a network of people. When shopping for a home, here are the groups of people that can help you arrive at a good decision.
The Inhabitants
Skip this part if you’re just going to buy a home for yourself. However, if you’re going to be living with other people, then a family discussion is in order.
If you are the head of the household, then you have the final say, especially if you’re paying for the home. Still, it would be nice to also get the input of your spouse, children, or whoever else you’ll be living with. There are so many considerations to take into account. How many bedrooms will you need? Are any of your housemates going to be roommates? How many bathrooms should the home have? Should it be located near places of work or school? Do you need a suburban backyard, or is an urban townhouse more appropriate for the lifestyle that you all lead?
The last thing you’ll want, after surprising your family with a home, is to be disappointed to find that there are certain needs that have not been met or certain features and facilities that could have been done away with.
The Neighbors
They’re not going to be living in your house, but they can make your life a living nightmare. Conversely, great neighbors can become lifelong friends and confidantes.
The neighborhood your house will be situated in is an important factor in choosing a home. The most important factor is safety. Is the home located on geographically stable ground? Is the area prone to earthquakes, landslides, or floods? Another safety concern, of course, is the people who populate the area. You don’t want your kids playing outside in a place that has a high crime rate.
Apart from this macro-level concern, it would also be nice to get a feel of the kinds of people who are living next door. Are they families, too? Are they friendly and polite? What kind of work are they engaged in? Is it a pet-friendly community? These concerns aren’t so you could judge or police them, which would actually reflect badly on you. You just need to take them into consideration because these are the people you will likely encounter on a daily basis, and you’ll want to see if there is potential for rapport or, at least, a pleasant co-existence.
The Funds
Buying a home is going to be one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make in your life, so you’ll need the right people with the right expertise to help you fund that.
First, you’ll need a broker or a real estate agent to help you find the right home. It’s possible to do this yourself, but there is an advantage to coordinating with these professionals, as they have the knowledge and expertise when it comes to scanning the market and negotiating deals.
Depending on how you’re planning on paying for the house, you’ll also want to work with a mortgage loan expert. They can advise you on what kind of loan programs would match your needs, help you process this, and do all the paperwork for you. Buying a home is serious business — that’s why you’ll need the help of people who are in this business.
The Builders
Depending on your situation, you may or may not need the help of a contractor and construction services. If you’re building a home from the bottom up, then you’ll need to work with an entire team of architects, engineers, and builders to make your dream home a reality. Starting with an empty lot, though more time-consuming, gives you and your family the opportunity to really design a space that truly fits your family’s needs and lifestyle.
However, if you’re buying an existing home, you might just need the help of a smaller team of professionals to do minor tweaks on the layout and inspect the structure. Especially for older homes, it would be good to check if the structure is sound and still in accordance with building, electrical, and plumbing codes.
When it comes to our homes, we call the shots, but this doesn’t mean that we make these decisions alone. An informed decision, especially for something as critical as a home, is the product of consultation with multiple parties. Just as important as choosing the right home is choosing the right people to work with you.