A Home To Fit Your Lifestyle

Choosing the right home to fit the way you live your life can be tough, there are so many different considerations to take into account: from where you work, the style of home you prefer and even the number of things you own. It all boils down to careful planning and looking at all of your options equally.

Type Of Property

           

The first factor to take into account when looking for the ideal home is the type of property you want to move into. You might want to find a quaint cottage by the river in the country, or perhaps you’d prefer to look for fully furnished condos for rent. Everyone has a different opinion on what makes the perfect home; and really, the perfect home is one which fulfils all of your needs and wishes.

COTTAGE

Cottages are usually characterised by low ceilings, chunky walls and a rustic feel, many cottages also have thatched rooves. If you want a quiet place to live in a semi-rural or rural area, this kind of property is a great choice. The only drawback with cottages is that they are often small and lack that extra space you need to store a lot of items, so this is maybe not recommended for growing families, but is a great option for couples.

DETACHED

Detached houses are usually more expensive than other alternatives because they are freestanding and do not join to any other properties. They tend to be large, very well-spaced out and totally private for those of you who enjoy the peace and serenity of being away from the world. This type of house is ideal for families.

END OF TERRACE

A terrace is a row of houses all connected to each other, the end of terrace home is the final home in the row. The great thing about end of terraces is that they are usually larger than the other houses in the row, and they will often feature a wrap-around garden space.

FLAT

A flat is a small, single storey home which is usually situated in a communal building along with many others. They are generally small, modern and sometimes will be fully furnished when you move in. This is a great property for individuals and also for those who work in the city centre and need a simple commute to work.

SEMI-DETACHED

A semi-detached home is a pair of houses which are joined in the middle by one wall. These are the most common type of home to buy because they offer a little privacy as well as being affordable. They will usually have a spacious garden area too, which is great for raising kids.

Once you’ve delved into the types of property which are out there, you can start to explore other things too.

Your Daily Commute

One of the major things you need to consider when looking to purchase a new home is where you will live. Think about where you currently work and decide how easy it will be to get there from where you plan to move. If you drive, make sure that it doesn’t take you any more than an hour each way, and if you are using public transport- you’ll want to make sure that there is a fairly direct route for you to take to and from work.

Amenities

One thing that you will definitely need to assess if you are moving into an area you aren’t familiar with is what kind of amenities will be available to you. If you have to drive for 40 minutes just to reach a shop to buy a loaf of bread, it probably isn’t the right place for you to be. Search google maps for shops and other amenities in the area to make sure that you won’t be stranded if you suddenly need to nip out for something in the evening.

Activities

As well as checking for the essentials, you will also want to take a look at what kind of things you can do for fun in the area you move to. If you enjoy being in the city centre and going for night’s out with your friends, then you will want to make sure that it is easy enough to get there on your days off. Then you may want to look at if there are any restaurants in the local area, also look out for whether there are any parks or outdoor areas for a relaxing walk at the weekend. You want to make sure that you live in a place where you can access things easily, it will make your life much happier.

The House Itself

When you are looking for your home, you will also be weighing up the qualities and shortfalls of the properties themselves. This will usually include things like the number of bedrooms, how large the rooms are and how much storage space you will have to fit all of your belongings. There are also some other features which you may or may not want to check:

·         Which way the garden faces (south facing gardens attract sun throughout the day)

·         The size and storage of the kitchen, plus room for your appliances

·         The wiring and plumbing systems

·         The overall security of the roof and walls

·         Whether there is a driveway or you have to park on the road

·         The presence of a basement or an attic for storage purposes

Budgeting for Your Home and Your Life

Once you have decided the type of home, the area and the features you want in the home, you will need to look at your budget. It will be unrealistic to hope for a 5 bed Victorian mansion if only one of you works full time. Consider talking to your mortgage advisor to decide the best options for you, and even once you’ve had the offer and application accepted, you will need to think about extra costs such as bills and insurance. Make sure that you can afford to buy a home in the first place.