OUR DIFFERENCE

1. Your Monthly Budget
Decide how much you can afford per month related to the cost of the home. Factors to consider in this calculation are:

• mortgage payment
• property taxes
• heat and utilities
• commuting costs
• maintenance
• insurance

2. Your Wish List
Think about what you need in your home--the "musts haves"-- and what you want in your home--the "would be nice to haves." Don't forget to include the aspects of location. Some items to consider are:

• size of property (remember that maintenance such as mowing and snow removal increase with the size of the property)
• external and internal design
• finishes and fixtures
• quality of and distance from schools
• convenience to retail and food shopping, restaurants, and entertainment venues
• types of services offered in the area such as a library, city sewer and water versus septic and well, and trash pick-ups
• travel time to jobs, family and friends

When you add up the pros/cons, is it better to stay where you are, find a used home, or build a new home? Which option allows you to check everything or most things off your wish list?

3. Resale Realities
Resale may be an important factor to consider in your new home. If you may move in a couple of years, you will want a home that will appeal to the next buyer. This could have implications for design, location, fixtures and finishes.

4. Profile Your Needs
Create a profile that outlines all of the above. This is the working document that you can use when talking to builders to see if you can meet your new home objectives.

5. Do The Homework
Research builders that can meet all of your needs not just your price point. (Refer to our 10-point builder inspection guide for an outline) You may have to make trade-offs in order to achieve those things that are highest priority on your list.