How to Create Your Dream Home Wish List
Finding your perfect home can seem like an impossible task, especially in a hot real estate market. You need to determine what’s most important to you in a prospective home then create a list of what you absolutely can’t live without and some things that would be nice to have. The hard part is finding a place that reflects your wish list within your budget. Luckily, working with a trusted real estate agent can help you get closer to your goals. However, you have to start somewhere. To help you jumpstart your house-hunt, here’s how to create your dream home wish list.
1. Start with Visualization
Before you start writing down your list, consider using some visualization techniques. While creating a “vision board” isn’t going to allow you to directly manifest your ideal home on the market, it will help you get a better idea of what’s possible. Consider going through design magazines and looking through some options. Start by determining whether you’ll want to live in a city or suburb, have a home with many rooms or a large yard, et cetera. This will help you get a better idea of what to expect. However, during this stage, try to be realistic. Consider what your budget will be and aim to visualize features of a home within your budget. Creating a home wish list that extends too far outside of your budget will set you up for disappointment.
2. Begin with the Necessities
Once you get into the frame of mind of visualization, start writing down all of the necessities. What will you absolutely need for your home and aren’t willing to live without? Consider how many bedrooms you’ll want, bathrooms, and a general size requirement for square footage. The necessities may also include the type of layout your home will have, where it is in proximity to schools or cities, and how livable your home is at its current state. Some people prefer to find a home that they can renovate exactly to their liking, while others want something that’s move-in ready right off the market.
3. Imagine Your Ideal Kitchen
Once you’ve gone over all of the basics and defined your needs, have some fun. Start creating your dream home wish list by imagining your ideal kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of the house, so consider what features would make it a great space for your family to spend some quality time together. Some great ideas include high ceilings, open floorplans, and plenty of useful appliances to help increase convenience. Some people also enjoy the luxury of a butler’s pantry to keep everything they need easily within reach but out of the way.
4. Design a Multi-Purpose Laundry Room
Every family needs a place to do laundry. Apartment living may require you to visit a laundromat, but if you’re considering your dream home wish list, creating a multi-purpose laundry room is a great way to ensure that your to-do list is completed in the most efficient way possible. If you have pets, this is a great place to add an indoor pet wash station so you can keep your home, and your animals, as clean as possible without having to worry about dealing with a disaster in the shower.
5. Consider the Exterior
One thing that people often forget about when creating their dream home wish list is the exterior. Some people dream of having a luxurious pool to relax next to on hot summer days, others simply want a space they can enjoy with friends during golden hour. The choice is truly up to you. Luckily, outdoor renovations are often a lot more straightforward than indoor remodeling, so even if your new home doesn’t currently have what you need, making changes is always an option.
Your exterior can be as extravagant as you’d like, if you have the space for it. When creating your dream home wish list, consider the size of your yard. If you’re purchasing a new home, consider what you want in a yard. If you’re okay with having limited outdoor space, go through your options and prioritize your needs or wants. Consider whether you’ll get more use out of a swimming pool or a jacuzzi, a putting green or a flower garden, a large entertaining deck, or an outdoor kitchen. Once you determine what your specific needs are, the choice will be easier.
6. Transform the Master Room
Another area that many homeowners tend to prioritize when creating their dream home wish list is the master bedroom. This will be your space, so having a bedroom that you love is an important thing to consider. You might want a large, spacious room with lots of windows or a smaller area that feels cozy with a fireplace. Think about your storage needs and consider whether you’ll want a walk-in closet or maybe even an entire dedicated dressing room. Think about details large and small and consider how you want to start your day every morning. The room you wake up in has a substantial impact on your overall mood for the day, so don’t be afraid to dream big.
7. Make a Plan for Extra Space
Another good idea to complete your dream home wish list is to create a plan for extra space. This space may come from a basement, a spare bedroom, or an addition to the home. Some options that you should consider include an exercise room for working out at home, a media room complete with a big screen and plenty of comfortable couches or chairs, or a game room filled with your favorite nostalgic board games, video games, and some virtual reality. If you’re a wine connoisseur, consider incorporating enough space in the right location for a wine cellar. Or, if you’re a bookworm, look at how you can transform one of the rooms into your very own personal library. You can also use the extra space to give yourself more room for specific hobbies like crafting, playing musical instruments, or creating art through drawing, painting, or sculpting. If you work from home, consider whether you’ll want access to a home office and what that layout may look like. Think about how extra space would increase your quality of life and add it to your wish list.
8. Determine Sustainability
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for homeowners, so consider whether you’ll want your dream home to include eco-friendly features. They’re beginning to replace harsh, environmentally damaging options and many sustainable features will also help you save money on utility bills and long-term maintenance. Some of your options include eco-friendly lighting, smart technology that can adapt for when you’re not home, solar panels, and more. These can be added to your home after you’ve moved in, so they don’t necessarily need to be on your priority list, but sustainable features are a good thing to look for when you’re browsing the market.
9. Include the Nice-to-Haves
Next, indulge and make a list of things that would be nice to have, but aren’t essential. This can include optional features that you wouldn’t mind having but wouldn’t be a complete deal breaker if you didn’t. This could include small details like hardwood floors, a fireplace, and central air or it could include larger items like a spacious pool, plenty of space for an entertainment room, and more.
10. Talk to a Professional
Finally, make sure that you speak with a professional real estate agent about finding your dream home. While it may be possible to find a home with a few of your must-haves, if you truly want to achieve your dream home then the best option is working with a real estate agent you trust. First Star Realty is here to help you find your dream home, regardless of what’s on your wish list.
When you’re looking for your next home, make sure you find a real estate agent who works with your best interests at heart. First Star Realty is committed to helping you find the perfect home that fits within the parameters of your dream home wish list. As a client-centered organization, we put in the work to find homes that will make the biggest impact on your life while staying within your budget. If you’re ready to buy or sell a home, contact First Star Realty today. Our team of highly seasoned real estate professionals provides exceptional, personalized service to all our clients throughout Northwest Arkansas. Call us today at 479-267-1600 or fill out a contact form on our website.
