How to Prioritize Need to Have vs Want to Have in

Most home searches start the same way - with a long list of items that you must find in your new house. Whether it’s walk-in closets, a pool, a privacy fence for the pooch, or his and her sinks in the master bath, the more you look at homes with features you like the longer the list becomes.

Throughout the big search your “must have” list often turns into “would like to have,” as you evaluate the home inventory in your area and how much your perfect dream home will cost. So, how do you prioritize all the items on your wish list to determine exactly what you need and what you don’t?

Things You Can’t Change – The “Deal Breakers”

When determining the deal breakers for your new home, it’s smart to start with the things you can’t change. For instance, you can’t pick up and move your home to another part of town. So even if your home’s interior isn’t perfect, you should pick location over a remodeled kitchen. After all, you can always make changes to a less-than-perfect kitchen in the area you want to be in.

Some of the important things that may be difficult to change once you purchase a home include:

• The home’s location – Is it in the neighborhood you love? Does it allow your kids to be in the best school district? Are you driving distance to the family members you were hoping to be closer to?
• The layout – If you know you want a home without stairs, or a kitchen that opens to the living room you’ll have a hard time making those changes in the future. Even if the décor or finishes aren’t perfect you’re much better off picking a home with good bones that you can make changes to in the future.
• The budget – While you might reason that you should go with a more expensive home because you will likely be making more money in the future, it’s always best to stick with what you can afford today. If you really want to upgrade later, you can, but it’s harder to be underwater with a house at the top of your budget today.

Areas for Improvement – The “Would Like to Have” List

If you plan to be in your new home for a long time, it’s important to look past some easily fixed cosmetic or décor issues. Take a look at your “must have” list, and consider how many of those items can be added to your potential new home at a later date.

The important part is getting into a home that covers the deal breakers that can’t be changed later. And also considering the changes you do want to make later and if that home can support your “would like to have” list.

• A swimming pool – While this may be high on your “would like to have” list, don’t only look at homes that have swimming pools currently built. You can also consider homes that have backyards large enough to accommodate a pool later. This may widen your “pool” of homes to choose from – pun intended.
• A brand-new kitchen – Let’s say you’re looking at a home that checks most of your boxes but you hate its outdated appliances and countertops. No problem! These can be changed later and should be overlooked when you’ve found a home that checks every other box.
• A home with curb appeal – Try to look past the initial impression the front of your potential new home makes. Paint, siding and details like shutters can make a world of difference to the façade of a home. And don’t forget about landscaping!

Deciding what items on your check list are a “must have” versus a “nice to have” has less to do with compromising and more to do with being creative. Look at your list and determine which of those items can’t be changed later and stick to those. After all, what fun is a new home without some projects to take on as a DIY homeowner?