Looking for a new home is both an exciting and challenging time in any person’s life. When you’re specifically looking for your “forever home”, your stress levels can start to peak. Studies are showing that people are starting to look for their “forever home” from an earlier age. Buyers are no longer taking the housing ladder one step at a time. They want to enjoy their perfect dream house for a longer period. Buyers want to raise a family, see their kids grow up and then retire  - all in one home. 

A “forever home” is a house that can adapt to a family’s changing needs and lifestyles. From surprise twins to grandparents moving in, children leaving the nest and everything in between. Keep scrolling to learn our top 6 tips on how to find your perfect forever home!

Flexibility

As we mentioned above, your “forever home” needs to be able to handle whatever life throws at you. This does not necessarily mean that bigger is better. Quite the contrary. What’s most important is that the space is flexible so that when children or grandparents are no longer living in the same home, it still works for that person or couple.

Having an annex is an increasingly popular addition to any family home. Getting on the property ladder is only getting more expensive, so having a “granny flat” can be a cost-effective way to have family members in one location but with a bit of independence. This can also be a great way to keep multi-generation families in one spot. As the children grow older, they can take the main house for their family and the grandparents (or original owners) can move into the annex; or they can rent it out on vacation rental sites like Airbnb or HomeAway and make a profit. 

Having a space that can be closed off or opened up as needed is important when looking for a “forever home”.Rooms should have good proportions in any home, but this is essential if you’re looking to make your home as flexible as possible. Go for regular shaped rooms with high ceilings if possible. It is also important to take preventive measures to keep your home safe and secured - click here to find out more on how you can achieve that.

Fixer-Uppers

If you’ve found the perfect location for your “forever home” but don’t have the budget to buy your perfect house, don’t be afraid to look at a home that needs some TLC. Not every “forever home” starts out looking like a million bucks. 

It’s important to make sure that your “forever home“ is in a location that not only meets your needs today but will be able to meet your needs 10, 20 or 30 years down the road. Are there many employment opportunities for you and/or your partner? Is there a good infrastructure in the town? Is there good access to transport? You can always improve the appearance of a property but you can’t change the location, so be sure that the location of your “forever home” is as perfect as possible.

Schools

If this is going to be your “forever home”, and you either have or are planning on having children, then researching the schools in the area is very important. Since your children will  likely be attending the local public schools for their education, you want to make sure that the schools in the area have a good rating. If not, you can also look into any private schooling that may be in commuting distance. Not only is this an important investment in your own children’s future, if you do have to sell your home in the future for whatever reason, but this can also be a major selling point of your property. 

Understand the Difference Between Your “Wants” and “Needs”

We would recommend this exercise before anyone sells their current home, but it is doubly important if you are looking for your “forever home”. It may seem obvious, but your wants are things you don’t want to compromise on. Your needs are things you simply cannot compromise on. Realistically, the home you buy should tick off all your needs and a good deal of your wants; with the knowledge that in the future more of those wants can be added to the home. Finding a balance between these two lists will ensure you have the right “forever home” and eliminates any buyer’s remorse. 

Don’t Lowball

If this is your forever home you’re only going to be doing yourself a disservice by constantly lowballing the seller. Don’t negotiate yourself out of the sale. Find out what the seller’s absolute bottom line is and see if you have the budget to meet that price. 

Saleability

While this house may be your “forever home” circumstances can change unexpectedly. Always keep in mind on how saleable the property will be in the future. If you do end up leaving your home to your children or grandchildren, they may need to sell it for one reason or another. Having a home that can be quickly sold may be a huge benefit for anyone that is lucky enough to inherit your dream house.