You've spent hours searching on Pinterest. You know what your dream bathroom looks like. Which kitchen you like and which colour should go on the wall. But now it's time to translate your wishes into a manageable wish list. This wish list also needs to be achievable. The more concrete your housing wish list, the easier it is to search for your ideal house. With a concrete wish list, it also becomes more attractive for home sellers to invite you to view their house. Lists are nice. They bring order, structure and overview. So what's important when you're making your housing wish list?
1. Location
Where do you want to live? Cycle around the city or neighbourhood. Use this to decide what's important to you. Is the view important, are the amenities in the neighbourhood important, or is accessibility a key point? There may always be several neighbourhoods that meet your wishes. Include all the neighbourhoods or districts in your housing wish list to increase your chances of success.
2. What can you afford?
Get advice on what your budget is. This can depend on a number of things. What do you earn per year? What are your outgoings, such as alimony? But also: what do you want to spend? A gift can also make a difference to what you can spend on a house. It's important to set yourself a limit and to really stick to it. Make sure you know what costs are involved with a home, so you don't face any surprises afterwards.
3. Who will you be living with?
It's important to assess the housing wishes of the people you live with properly. Does your partner need a separate study? Then make sure there's an extra room. Do you have hobbies that require a lot of storage space, such as windsurfing? Nothing is more annoying than having the sails and gear in your living room. Make sure there's room in the house or for external storage. It's also important to look at what matters to you all in a home. Do you think it's important for all the children to have their own bedroom, or do brother and sister actually enjoy sharing? Is the bathroom absolute chaos in the morning? Then add a second bathroom to your housing wishes too.
4. What does the future look like?
Do you expect to be promoted, and could that result in a job abroad? Then look into the options for renting out your house in advance. Are there two of you living together now, but would you like children? Then check in advance whether you could stay in this house for the first 5 years. But it may also be that the children are now teenagers who need a lot of space, but won't be living with you in two years' time. Is there then a way to use the space differently?
5. Type of house
Which houses give you a warm feeling? Is that a sleek, modern new-build home, or does your heart beat faster for a charming old house from 1900? It's important to weigh up the pros and cons of certain building styles and building periods. It's also important to consider what type of house you want to live in. Is a ground-floor home with a garden your dream, or is an apartment in a large complex a better fit for you?
6. Accessibility
Do you travel to work every day by bike, car or public transport? There's nothing more frustrating than not being able to find a parking space in the evening and having to crawl through traffic to the motorway slip road in the morning. But even if you depend on public transport, it's handy if the bus stop or station is nearby. It saves you a lot of time and frustration every day.
7. Amenities
In the city, most amenities are close by. Still, it's important to look at how far away they are. Can you walk to the supermarket, or do you need the car for that? Are the sports facilities in the area of good quality, or do you have to go to the other side of the city? Nature can be an important point too. Do you want to live close to beautiful natural areas, or is driving to the woods no problem either?
Make a wish list, but make sure your housing wish list is realistic. That way, you can tick off for each home whether it meets your wishes. Attach a weight to each wish as well. Then, if a home meets all your most important housing wishes, it might just be your ideal house.
