Hi ,

Buying a property is a big decision many will make, so it’s important to write your list of ‘must-have’ criteria for your new home. Doing so, can avoid you wasting time viewing properties that don’t tick all your boxes.

There are many ways you can hone in on your criteria, but we suggest having a list of ‘non-negotiables’ or ‘must-haves’ and then a list for ‘nice to have’. For example, having 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms are your ‘must-haves’ but a fireplace or pool would be on your ‘nice-to-have’ list. These requirements are personal to you, but how do you come to make those decisions. Here are some things to think about from a Buyers Advocate.

What is your lifestyle?
Are you an active family and spend a lot of time outdoors, or do you prefer to spend your time indoors? You might enjoy gardening or spending time with your family in the pool. Are you likely to spend a lot of your time at home, or do you like to spend as much time out and about as possible? Figuring out your own relationship with your home is the first step in figuring out your buying criteria.

How do you use your home?
With working from home becoming a more popular practice for most Victorians, is a home office something you must have? Are you someone who likes to host dinner parties with friends and family? Where do you spend most of your time when you are at home? If you think of the ways you use and enjoy your current home, you are most likely going to add those to your ‘must-have’ list.

Who’ll be there – and for how long?
Another consideration to make is dynamics changing as the years go on. Families change, and nothing remains the same forever. If you’re planning to be in your next home for a while, it’s worth considering which members of the family will be living with you, both now and in the future. If your children will move out of home reasonably soon, you may want to buy a property that’ll work better when they’ve gone. On the other hand, if you’re planning on expanding your family, you may want to buy a home with more space than you currently need.

Overall, how rigidly you stick to your hit-list will depend on how long you plan on staying in your next home and how committed you are to your must-haves. Does location matter more than your must-haves, or would you consider buying a property outside your dream area to get the features you’d love? Whatever your priorities, buying a home is a hugely personal decision – make sure you consider exactly what matters most before you take the plunge.