Needs vs. Wants

Needs vs. Wants

The most important step you can take before actually going out to look at Fox Valley real estate is to establish a clear understanding between yourself (and your partner) and your Fox Valley real estate agent as to what you will need in a home, and what you want in a home. The following guide is designed to help you think through the critical features that could be important to you in looking for the right home. Please fill in the blanks and identify each item as a need or a want. If you anticipate looking at several houses, rate each category as to its importance relative to other responses. Your answers will help you, your partner, and your agent to create a rating sheet that can be filled out as you inspect potential properties. Keeping track of each property by assigning ratings to the features that matter most will help you to organize each property in your mind. This becomes very useful as the list of properties grows! With perseverance and a little luck, you should be able to locate a property in the Fox Valley that meets your needs and satisfies many of your wants.

Location:

Need - Want - Neighborhood type - Neighborhood size - Type of community (family, retirement, mixed)

Proximity:

To schools - To shopping - To Public services (libraries, parks, police, hospitals, etc.) - To Workplace (via roads and/or public transportation)

Physical appearance and design:

Number of levels (single, split, double) - Detached or townhome - Traditional vs. contemporary style - Exterior (brick, wood, other) - New versus re-sale - Condition (anywhere from immaculate to needs renovation)

Layout/size:

Necessary square footage, inside - Number of bedrooms - Number of bathrooms - Kitchen size, functionality - Formal dining room - Formal living room - Family room - Office or study - Other rooms - Basement - Attic or extra storage - Garage size (attached? How may cars?)

Features:

Kitchen (appliances, layout, eat-in area) - Bath amenities (Jacuzzi?, separate shower? Double sinks?) - Master Bedroom amenities (walk in closet, sitting area, etc.) - Additional bedrooms (required space, closets) - Laundry room (on what floor of house? Which appliances come with?) - Fireplaces (where and how many) - Décor (must it fit your taste, or are you willing/intending to re-decorate?) - Wiring, phone connections (what are your energy and phone system needs) - Utilities (do you prefer gas, electric, oil? Air conditioning?)

Land and Lot:

Size of lot - Type of land (flat, contoured) - Perimeter (fenced? Screened from neighbors?) - Vegetation (mature plants? Lots of trees? Undeveloped?) - Landscaping (designer touch? Jungle look?) - Orientation (comes with a view? Private and hidden from street?) - Outdoor areas (pool? Patio? Deck? Play areas?)