Searching for a home is fun, but it quickly overloads folks. The first thing to do is get a clipboard from the office supply store and boost some notebook paper from the kids. Taking notes and making charts is essential to a home search. When seekers decide which neighborhood fits them, it’s time to narrow down the search. They will consult several lists and charts on the clipboard, and make notations as they view each house. Here are a few things to consider.

1. Type of Dwelling

Seekers will decide first on which type dwelling fits their circumstances. Condos might be better for those who dislike maintenance. Multi-family homes could be right for the owner needing help making the mortgage payment each month. A co-op would be the way to go for the homeowner who wants an investment, while a single family home would fit those searching for their own space. Once they decide on a type, it will be time to see what’s available.

2. Homeowner’s Needs

On a separate sheet of paper, searchers will need to list their needs. Do they need space for the children to grow? How about a nursery for future babies? Will they need space for entertaining people from work? Is there a corner for a home office? Some buyers prefer older homes for upgrades such as a deck, an attic apartment or a finished basement. Other searchers prefer a new construction they can imbue with their personalities. If searchers prefer, they might opt for a house onto which they can build rooms when the time arrives for such consideration.

3. The Houses

Naturally, folks buying a home don’t want a lemon. Make sure to check the foundation, roof, sump pump, and ask about the drainage. Seekers don’t want a flooded basement in the spring from poor drainage. Ask about the power bill, because if the windows and doors need re-vamping, it will cost money to repair. Searchers don’t want to buy a house only to rebuild it. After searchers check the structure, they need to check what they can’t see. Radon is a gas that comes from the earth and dissipates into the air. However, when a house is in the way, the radon dissipates inside the structure. It can’t be seen or smelled, but it does cause quite a bit of damage. Seekers should ask if the gas is re-routed to the attic vents to be vented to the outside. Next, searchers need to ask if mold has been alleviated. If the basement has flooded in the past or if the ducts haven’t been cleaned since the house was built, it could make the buyers ill.

4. The Money

Buy what is affordable. If searchers have to dig deep to afford the house, they won’t be prepared when disaster strikes. On the other hand, if seekers buy a house only for its resale value, it will never become a home. Home searchers should buy what they like and worry about resale value later, when and if that time comes.

5. The Landscaping

Of vital importance to new home buyers are trees and plants. The root system helps in drainage so rainfall won’t get into the basement and flood. Trees provide a wind break so the siding, windows and roof aren’t punished by wild weather. They and other plantings also provide a measure of privacy between the house and the neighbors. New construction doesn’t have old trees like that, whereas older homes boast some level of protection from its trees and plants.

Looking for the perfect home can be fun. It takes a little investigating, a little dreaming and a little common sense to pull it off. Ultimately, it isn’t the checkbook, but the magic reaction between seekers and the house that determines the perfect home.