Download a copy of Ilyce Glink's Home Buying Wish List Template (Microsoft Word format, 36 kb)

I’m Ilyce Glink and welcome back to expertrealestatetips.net.

If you want to be happy in the home you’re buying, you have to put together a wish list. A wish list is everything you want in your new home. And that’s not all that hard to do. But if you really want to make it work, you’ll want to think about your habits and daily routine.

You can call it a lifestyle workup, if you want, but I’d like you to consider these issues before you sign an offer to purchase:

First, start by thinking about where you live now and how that’s working for you. Do you prefer to be closer to a city or farther out in the suburbs? Do you like your neighborhood or are you looking for something different?

Next, think about your commute and whether you want to drive or take public transportation?

Do you entertain frequently? Do you need a guest room for overnight visits? What about a home office? If you or your spouse work from home this becomes more important. Do you each want your own home office?

If you have kids, where will they play? How will they get to school? Will you have to drive them everywhere?

You should also think about how many cars you have, or will need, depending on where you live, and if you want to have a garage space for each of them. And if you have a lawn tractor, you might want a space for that as well.

There are many more lifestyle questions you should ask and answer, so that when you start looking for a home, you won’t waste anyone’s time.