So you’ve begun the process of house hunting and you’ve developed a clear image in your mind of what you want your Burlington dream house to look like – that’s great. While knowing what you want is a good thing however, being overly picky about things that don’t really matter, can make finding your dream home much harder – and if you do happen to find your dream home, you will likely pay a premium for it.
The truth is, there are certain things like stucco maintenance that you can’t overlook, but others that are ok to overlook. If the previous homeowner’s taste in certain décor is not what you’d like, they are easy and relatively inexpensive to change.
Let’s have a look at some of the things that are ok to ignore during house hunting.
Paint Colours
The previous homeowner was a grandmother who had all the wall painted pink and purple. Or perhaps one of the bedrooms is a clear example of a DIY sponge paint job gone wrong. That’s okay! Paint is easy to change and if the house is otherwise to your liking, you shouldn’t let an undesirable paint colour stand in the way of you making an offer.
Hardware and Light Fixtures
Little things like door knobs, cabinetry hardware and light fixtures can have a big impact on the overall look of a room. But if you don’t like them, they are a minor thing to change. When home hunting, if you find there is something about a space that you don’t like, try to define exactly what it is.
If you can see yourself liking a room more with different light fixtures, or hardware then force yourself to ignore the outdated fixtures as you make your decision.
The Age of the Home
When it comes to home buying, newer isn’t always better. Besides having some great character, older homes have often been built with quality materials and craftsmanship. On the other hand, many newer homes have been built quickly with less expensive materials and poorer construction.
Lack of Curb Appeal
Are you looking at a home that has bushes by the front porch that look like they haven’t been trimmed in years? Or is the flower bed overrun with weeds?
That can actually be good news for you! Poor curb appeal can lower a home’s asking price. And if you decide to buy, it won’t cost you too much to have that shrub removed or to put in a whole new patch of lovely flowers.
There is a saying that you shouldn’t sweat the small things – and all of the items mentioned are small and easy to change if you don’t like them. Things that you should never ignore when house hunting are bad neighbours who don’t take care of their property, bad smells in the home and bad layouts. All of these can be difficult or impossible to change.
Knowing what you can ignore as well as what you should not ignore, will help you in your decision making and it may even help you land your dream home for a better price.
