Need or Want?

Before you look at houses or condos in person, it’s essential to know what you want.  Why not just visit as many properties as possible and see what you like?  If you follow that strategy, you’re almost certain to miss something important, especially if you get ‘wowed’ by impressive finishes or large spaces that can blind you to what the house truly has to offer.  For many home buyers, looking at homes in person only happens after they have a basic game plan of what they can’t live without, what they need, what they want, and what would just be nice to have, in a home.  That’s the way it should be!

So how do you make up your list?  It’s important to differentiate between what you truly need – or, seen another way, what are the deal-breakers for you – versus what you would merely like to have (things you can definitely live without!)  Money might turn out to be the deciding factor between certain needs and wants, in some cases.  But sometimes needs are totally fixed:  things like number of bedrooms, wheelchair access, and space for an office…your list will depend on your own present and future needs.

If you’re a couple, each of you can fill out your own list of needs and wants.  Next, compare notes to come up with a single list that you can use as you begin to evaluate homes.  The goal is to find a place within your price range, that includes all of your needs and as many of your wants as possible.

Photo by Julia Anderson

Location

You’ve heard it a million times:  location, location, location!  Here are some honest questions to ask yourself when thinking about exactly where in Calgary you would like to put down roots.

• Do you want to live right in the city, or in the suburbs, or in the countryside?
• Do you want acreage, a pool, or will a smaller plot of land suffice?
• How easy will it be to get to work?
• How much will commuting cost in terms of gas?
• Where will your children go to school? How will they get there?
• Do you need a fenced yard for pets and/or children?
• How close would you like to be to family and friends?
• Do you want to be able to walk easily to shopping and conveniences?
• Do you mind being on a main artery or do you prefer a quiet dead-end street?
• Do you require mixed-use space (i.e. special zoning) for a home business?
• If you plan to rent out the property, is it in a good location for tenants?  If you plan to live in it one day after renting, are you happy with the location yourself?

As your Realtor®, David will ask you thought-provoking questions that will clarify the best places for you to start looking.  If you’re new to the northwest Calgary area or you’re not sure what its different neighbourhoods have to offer, we will make valuable suggestions based on your current and future needs.  The area(s) you are looking in will determine the property listings that David filters for you and sends to you electronically.  Of course, the listings will also match your other search criteria (like price range, number of bedrooms, etc.) but most importantly, they will be in the right location.  The Calgary Real Estate™ team has access to the most up-to-date MLS information so you will never miss a listing.  Properties that are listed for sale will be emailed to you each day, pre-filtered to match your criteria, so you can see exactly what’s out there, and be ready to move on great opportunities.