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Question: Is there a checklist for prioritizing which amenities you want
in a home?
Answer: Here's a rating system that you may find helpful in determining
the features that are really important to you in your next home. By the time you
complete the system, you'll know which items you absolutely must have (top
priority) and which you'd like to have but could live without.
First, jot down the following six
categories with various selections you'd consider:
(1)
type of home (townhouse, detached single
family, condo)
(2)
architectural style and design (single
level, tudor)
(3)
neighborhood features (close to shopping,
preferred school districts, proximity to major highways)
(4)
interior features (number of baths and
bedrooms, formal living room, island in kitchen)
(5)
exterior features (half-acre lot, storage
areas, carport)
(6)
other features you feel are important (like
appliances included.)
The first time through the list, mark
a "1" next to all of the items you'd like to have in a home. Consider
this your
ultimate wish list. The second time through the list, concentrating only on the
items you checked before, add a "2"
next to each item that you must have. Take some time here and choose only those
items that you feel you can't live without.
Each item that warranted a total score of "3" becomes a
mandatory feature (based on your budget, of course.) The balance of the
amenities are nice, but not necessary.
Your final step is to prioritize all the number 3s. Go back through the list and
arrange each "3" in order of priority.
This will help you focus on the houses that contain the majority of your
top-rated features and you won't be as likely to be swayed by Italian tile or
other nice, but not necessary, amenities.
Keep in mind that there are very few
perfect homes that contain all the amenities you're after (especially if you're
on a budget.) Ultimately, home selection is about tradeoffs.
Question: We're purchasing a new
home and it appears that there's less "flash" and more square footage
in homes than when we first purchased a new home in 1975. Is this a national
trend?
Answer: What you're seeing is, in fact, a strong national trend. The
median size of new houses nationwide today is 2,100 square feet, up nearly 500
square feet from 20 years ago, according to a 1995 survey by the National
Association of Home Builders. More
of today's homes are setting aside elegance for comfort
and economy in amenities like fireplaces, two-car garages and central air
conditioning. Sacrificing luxurious appointments helps keep down the cost of the
additional square footage.
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