Everyone is going to have different priorities when it comes to finding a new place to live. Whether you are buying or renting, much of the criteria will be the same, depending on what is most important to you when searching for a new home.
It can be extremely exciting to start searching for somewhere new to live, but don’t get carried away; you must have an idea of what you want before you start looking, as you don’t want to make an expensive mistake. Even if you rent and are free to move without penalties after six or twelve months, that is still six or twelve months of living somewhere you’re not happy with, and that’s not going to be fun at all. It can also be useful to research and find more information about just how much you can really afford to spend each month; there are tools and calculators online to help with this.
Therefore it makes a lot of sense to make a good list of what you want from a property. Not only will this whittle down the houses or apartments that you want to go and view, but it will help you to understand what you can get for your budget. You might even change some of your priorities once you know this better. Here are some of the things you should think about when you are looking for a new home.
Location
The location of your new home is one of the most important things to consider when you know you want to move. There are many factors to think about when it comes to working out the best location for your new home, and they will include:
- The commute to work
- Good schools in the area
- Proximity to friends and family
- The local facilities such as shops, gyms, parks, restaurants, and more
- Public transport links
Again, just with everything else when it comes to finding your ideal new home, you’ll know what suits you better. You might be happy to have a longer journey to work as long as you can come home to a lovely Trefoil Setia Alam apartment, for example.
By understanding where you want to live, you can much more easily see what your budget is going to allow for, plus you’ll only need to look at properties within that area, making your choice much easier in the end.
The Size Of The Property
If you had an unlimited budget and you could live wherever you wanted, the size of the property you choose could be enormous – you really could have it all. However, since most of us don’t have an unlimited budget, the property’s size is something you need to consider.
Start with the bedrooms. There will be a minimum number of bedrooms you want in your new property, and this figure is unlikely to change. This is, therefore, a constant that needs to be factored into your search.
Then you need to consider the reception areas. Some people like the idea of having a kitchen diner, whereas others will prefer a separate dining room. There is also the option of having a living and dining room combined and a separate kitchen. This will usually be down to personal preference, and this is something that might change depending on the houses and apartments available when you start to look around.
Your budget will also play a big part in the size of the property you choose. If you are definite about where you want to live, you should look at the average prices of one, two, three, or more bedroom properties. Can you afford a property in the location you want that offers you the bedrooms you need? If not, what kind of compromise can be made? Will you change location, or will you try to fit into a smaller house? If you are buying and there is plenty of land, you could potentially extend the house, so buying a smaller one wouldn’t be such an issue. These are all important things to think about.
The Age Of The Property
Both older and newer properties have pros and cons, and it’s a good idea to be aware of what these are so that, if you find a property you like, you can immediately look at the issues that might arise and determine whether you are happy to live there or not.
With older properties, there might be a lot of maintenance to do, which can be expensive. You may even need to rewire the entire house or update the plumbing. Not only that, but if you are buying an older property, the décor could be extremely outdated, meaning you’ll have to put time, effort, and money into updating it. Plus, the appliances might also need to be updated.
Newer properties will usually need less work done to them, but they can often be smaller and without much character. This is ideal for some who don’t mind a blank canvas to put their own stamp on when it comes to décor and their furniture, but others will always prefer something with a little more of an interesting look or layout. What do you like best?
Is It Too Good To Be True?
Although being negative and cynical isn’t a great way to live your life on a daily basis, when it comes to a big purchase and life event such as finding a new property to live in, it pays to be at least a little bit cautious.
You should always try to determine why the current owner is selling or why the old tenant is moving out. There could be a good reason for this, and that might change your view on whether or not you want to live in that house. If the problem was noisy neighbours, for example, perhaps it’s best to look elsewhere. The same is true if the house has a lot of work that needs doing to it, or there is a new development that will be built overlooking what is currently a lovely view. It might even be that someone died in the property (this won’t, of course, be an issue for everyone, but it’s good to know if it might be a deal-breaker for you).
If you can’t find this information out for yourself, you should certainly investigate the property fully before making any financial commitment. Search online for new developments being built or public disputes that could cause you problems.
If you have done everything you can to find out the history of the property and what might be happening in the future, and if the property itself works within your budget and your needs, then it could be the right one for you.
Did you enjoy this post or find it useful? If you did, then why not share it so others can read it too!
