|
|
Selecting a Home
How do you choose between two properties that both seem suitable for your family? You can make such a tough decision easier by going back to your starting point.
Consider the following:
- Do both properties meet your stated housing needs and wants. If you have written a clear and concise list of requirements one property should come up trumps over the other. If not, do they both match your budget and loan raising abilities? What do you and an independent friend think that the re-sale value will be? It is best to consult an independent party as they will not be as close as you are to the deal.
- What else should you know about the house? Have you had Archicentre look over the buildings to check the structural state of the residence?
- What is the neighbourhood like? Are you sure that it is one that you think you could live in and be happy in? What are your direct neighbours like? Go and meet them it could help make your decision. Having neighbours that you get along well with is so important. Good neighbours are like gold!
- What is the character of the neighbourhood? Is it clean and tidy and is it inline with the sort of area you want? Does it project a certain social status?
- Be sure the schools that you want to send your kids to are within easy travel time. What are the local Government and private schools in the vicinity like? Even if you are single, schools are important because they play such an important role in the re-sale value of the property you are purchasing.
- What is the comparison between the two places you are looking at in relation to public transport? How close is the local station, the bus stop to the city, the bus and tramlines to the local schools? Is there a tram nearby? Whether you use all or any of these services is in consequential. The fact is they do play a big role in resale value. They will also play an increasingly larger role as greenhouse taxes hit and petrol prices move up as a result. You may well not be a public transport user now but who knows what the future will bring? It could play an increasingly larger role in your life later on.
- Compare the availability and proximity to parks and gardens, to recreational areas, to public libraries, to shopping centres or shopping malls. Are there a lot of good quality restaurants nearby, sporting grounds, service-clubs, medical and dental facilities. All these things are the assets that you buy a share in when you buy a home and the proximity of two similar homes to them could well make the difference in your final choice.
- Another big question to consider is the ENERGY and WATER issue. Do either of the places you are looking at offer savings in these areas? Is a water tank connected? Is one place or the other double glazed? What is the insulation in both places like? Water and energy are going to play an increasingly larger role in home resale values.
- In making your comparison between two like places, you might consider how long you expect to stay in the particular area. Is this your first home? Is this where you will begin a family and move once it starts to grow or are you a confirmed single and enjoy the "confirmed single" attributes that an area has to offer?
|
T E S T I M O N I A L S
"Thank you for making the sale of father's estate properties so easy at such a difficult time."
"What can we say - an absolutely fantastic result. You handled all situations professionally, with good humour and a totally positive attitude."
|
