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Stay focused and organize your time well when looking for the right home.

In the hunt to find the perfect house, it’s easy to get swept away by a home’s most charming details and downplay the important facts that you’ll be kicking yourself for later if you compromise. For instance, even if the house has a killer outdoor “California Room”, if the price goes over your budget, you may end up regretting your purchase. To keep your head in the right mindset, it’s important to set your priorities straight before viewing properties.

Streamline the house-hunting process early on so that you can breathe easier knowing you have a handle on things. Here’s how:

Set your priorities: Before taking a look at houses, sit down and write out everything you want in a home. Start with the big stuff that are deal-breakers, and work your way down to the little things that make a house “your home”. Once you’re done, choose your top five must-haves. When you see attractive features in a home, this list will remind you of what is most important.

Walk through it. Twice. Walking through the house twice helps you take it all in. From the immediate emotional connection when you walk through the front door to cataloging the home’s unique features, you get a better idea of what it’s like if you view it again after your first impression. The first time you walk through the home, you’ll be focusing on the layout. The second time through, you will see unique features and more.  Tour all homes the same way to keep them straight in your mind.  Do you like to start in the back yard?  Or do you prefer to go room by room downstairs and then head to the second floor?  Be consistent.

Check out the property at different times of the day. If you do come back for a second showing, make it a different time of day from the open house or first tour. In different light, you’ll notice different things. Furthermore, you may be able to note if the streets are busy with playing kids or the freeway noise is unbearable.

Look high and low. It’s important to get a good look at the house that could be your new home, so make a point of focusing on things outside your direct line of vision. Move your eyes up and down and all around to check out the ceilings, walls, floors, trim, light fixtures and windows.

Take a moment to envision how you would use the space. Just because the current owner has set up the second bedroom for guests doesn’t mean that you would do the same. You could use it as a gym, office, nursery, etc. Remember that paint colors, furniture arrangements, and window treatments can also be swapped out. Use your imagination to decide the purpose of each room, and get creative! Map out floor plans to see if your furniture would flow. If you love the place, take your furniture measurements with you to understand how your pieces would fit in the desired rooms.  But, please avoid buying a home for your furniture!  If you love the home, perhaps it’s time for a new couch anyway!

Are you thinking of buying or still waiting for your perfect home to come on the market? If so, it’s time to a real estate professional. To get started, contact Jenn Blake Real Estate Group at Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty in San Diego, California at 858-663-6788.