Are you buying a house for the first time? We know most people already have their dream house in mind. However, buying houses is a big step and there are a lot of things to consider. It is extremely important to consider these elements carefully before buying a house as this may be a lifetime decision. In this post, we came up with a list of 7 things you should consider when buying a house.

Location, Location, Location

The first thing to consider is the location of the house. The only thing you can't control is the location. Once you bought the house, you can't change the location of the house. You may have kids who go to school or you have to go to work. When searching for a house, make sure you check the proximity to your kid's school and your workplace as you don't want to have to drive for one hour to go to work. You should also check the walking distance to grocery stores, parks, etc., and whether you like the environment of the neighbourhood. Another thing to pay attention to is noise. If you prefer a quiet place, you may not want your house to be located right next to the road.

Number of Bedrooms and Bathrooms

You may already have an idea of how many bedrooms and bathrooms you would like. Most people prefer to have at least 2. If you have children, you will probably need more. You may think your children can share one bedroom but they grow up very fast. They will need their own privacy very soon. Each family member has different habits and schedules so you may want to consider if they should have their own room. Another thing to think about is whether you want extra rooms as guest rooms, study, or playroom, etc. If you have a big family, it's better to have more bathrooms so you won't have to wait for others to finish using it. Especially if you will have guests, you may want to have a separate bathroom for them.

Kitchen

Do you enjoy cooking and/or baking? If you do, then you would probably like a spacious kitchen to store and use all your appliances. You may also have specific needs for the kitchen whether it's the kitchen counters or the equipment itself. Make sure the house has a kitchen that meets your expectations. While you can always remodel, it will likely be very costly so you want to find one that has everything you're looking for.

Floor Plan and Size

If many people will be staying in the house, you would probably need a bigger property so that it's not crowded. Or you may be dreaming of a house with 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms with a large backyard and swimming pool when you live alone. Definitely think about how much space you need and determine whether the size of the house has enough space or too little space for you. Make sure you look at the floor plan of the house as well because the size may not reflect some of the concerns you have. The spaces may not be very practical even if the house is big. There may be lots of stairs which would definitely be a concern if you are living with older people.

Age of The House and Condition of Appliances

Unless you are only looking for houses that are newly built, you will likely find houses from several decades. Older houses tend to have more potential problems such as floods and mould. The result of this is more repairs and upgrades, which may be very costly. The same goes for the condition of appliances. The condition depends on how well the previous owner maintains them. The house may not be old but the appliances are. That way you would need to replace them and again, cost more money. Therefore, consider carefully if you want a very old house.

Temporary Housing

You may be selling your place while looking for a new place. If that's the case, your home needs to be ready for an open house. Many people choose to leave the house for potential buyers to see on their own. Why not just have your home ready for an open house and stay with us at Avalon temporarily. Avalon offers extended stay accommodation so you can take your time to find your dream home. All our premium suites at Avalon are fully furnished with a fully equipped kitchen and all the amenities you need. We have 5 types of suites ranging from studios to 2 bedroom suites so just pick one that accommodates your needs. We even have a washer/dryer in all our suites. With all these features, staying in any of our suites will definitely make you feel at home. We have free fast wifi so it's perfect for you to work from home. We're located in the heart of Toronto's most upscale neighbourhood at the corner of Yorkville & Avenue Rd. Just a few minutes walk away from TTC, one of our major transits. You can rent it on a month-to-month basis so you can move out anytime when you buy a house. Just let us know 15 days prior to the date you want to stop renting. No contract needed. We even offer a 5% discount for extended stay plus a 13% discount on the HST for booking over 28 days! To learn more, visit our website or call us at 416.731.1372.

Buying a house can be both exciting and daunting as there are so many things to worry about, especially if this is your first time buying a house. Don't worry! If you keep these points mentioned in the post in mind, it should be a lot easier to find your dream house. Of course, buying houses is a big step and there are other things you should pay attention to. Therefore, I encourage you to do more research as well. It never hurts to learn more! If you are looking for extended stay housing to stay in while searching for your dream house, come stay with us at Avalon! To make a reservation, contact us at 416.731.1372 so we can give you a discount! Good luck with your house hunting journey! 🤞