Buying a house is one of the biggest and most important decisions of your life. After all, your home isn’t just a place to hang your hat or a financial investment—it’s where you’ll build memories, experience important events, achieve your personal goals and a whole lot more.
As exciting as the prospect of homeownership can be, the idea of finding the right house can feel overwhelming at times. You may have a long list of questions running through your mind: Do you want a ranch-style home or a two-story house? Is an open floor plan important to you? How many bedrooms do you need to accommodate your family and/or guests comfortably? What about garage bays—how much space will you require?
If you’re looking for your dream home, it is essential to identify all your specific wants and needs. That’s why creating a house hunting checklist with everyone you plan to live with is a terrific first step in the homebuying process! This simple yet powerful tool will guide you as you identify your needs and preferences, ensuring that the home you purchase truly aligns with your lifestyle and long-term goals. Doing so will enable you to discuss, pinpoint and search for all the features that will make you fall in love with your new home.
A house hunting checklist is not only about writing down features you want in a home, but also about keeping track of what’s realistic based on your needs and budget. This checklist should reflect your unique preferences, your family’s lifestyle and the location that suits you best. By listing what matters most to you and your housemates, you’ll feel more confident and organized throughout your home search. Plus, with so many homes to choose from, it’s easy to forget important details, so having a checklist will help you remember key features during home tours.
We recommend that you print out your house hunting checklist or store it digitally on your phone or tablet, so that you can carry it with you during home tours to be sure that you aren’t forgetting any important needs in all the excitement of finding your dream home! Here are some items you might want to consider adding to your checklist:
☑ Timeline:
- Urgent (90 days or less)
- Non-urgent (3 to 6 months)
- Not time-sensitive (6+ months)
☑ Basics:
- Ideal number of bedrooms (2+, 3+, 4+, etc.)
- Ideal number of bathrooms (1.5, 2+, 3+, etc.)
- Garage capacity (1-car, 2-car, 3-car, RV Garage, etc.)
- Type of house (Ranch-style, two-story, paired home, etc.)
☑ What do you want in a floor plan?
Examples:
- Primary suite with a private bathroom
- Kitchen open to great room
- Laundry close to bedrooms
- Ample storage space
- Deck or patio
- Study/home office
- Flexible space for a play area or gym
- Finished basement
☑ What special features are you seeking?
Examples:
- Hardwood floors
- Air conditioning
- Kitchen island
- Walk-in pantry
- Walk-in closet(s)
- Low-maintenance landscaping
- Homesite backing to open space
☑ Neighborhood & location details:
- Ideal commute time
- City/neighborhoods you’re already considering
- Freeway or public transportation access
- Proximity to work/employment opportunities
- Close to shopping, dining & recreation
- Near airport, hospital, etc.
☑ Amenities and other things you might look for:
- Quality schools Community clubhouse, pool, fitness center, etc.
- Onsite or nearby parks & playgrounds
Following a house hunting checklist like this can help you find a home that fits your wants, needs and lifestyle. As you tour different homes, it can be difficult to remember all the details, especially if you’ve seen several properties in one day. Taking notes after each showing will help you remember what stood out and what didn’t. You can jot down your thoughts on each home’s layout, features, overall feel and even community amenities to make it easier to compare later.
If you need assistance when narrowing down your neighborhood options, our New Home Specialists are here to help! They have local expertise and can help you find your perfect fit. After all, community matters!
Additionally, if you’re looking to move soon, a quick move-in home from Richmond American might be a great choice.* These professionally curated homes are ready to close in as little as 90, 60 or even 30 days. On top of being able to get settled faster, you’ll avoid the uncertainty of fluctuating interest rates and be able to actually see the exact house you’ll be living in.
Good luck with your house hunting journey—we wish you the best in finding the perfect home that will become your haven for years to come!
Take the guesswork out of homebuying!
Our free First-time Homebuyer Guide is filled with tips to help you navigate your homebuying journey.
