Apartment, condo, single family home ... How we decided what and where to buy using our own house hunting checklist.
We did it. We took the plunge. From the nomadic possibilities of apartment dwelling, we plunged into a different sort of unknown: homeownership. With the signing of the final papers came a flurry of emotions. The excitement of being done with rent and landlords that was followed soon after by the fear of “we are going to be stuck here forever” and “I’m not sure we are ready to handle this.”
Not that we hadn’t thought about this before. In true notorious overthinker fashion, we had considered and reconsidered all foreseeable options and outcomes and how our lives would be impacted, for better or worse, in both the near and distant future and on and on and on… But suddenly it all became much more real, permanent, and tangible. I mean, we were standing in front of OUR HOUSE.
As is often the case, things have leveled off over time. We have developed a comfortable routine and are feeling good with our decision, but it was still a difficult decision. We were leaving our manageable apartment with an incredible view in a great location. How did we come to this decision?
- View from our old apartment -
Ultimately for us, it was about weighing out what was most important to us and how we wanted to live. We loved being close enough to walk to the river, but we knew we needed our own outdoor space to relax in and cultivate however we chose. This was how we knew we would be looking for a single family home as opposed to a condo, townhouse, or another apartment. It was great being close to incredible restaurants, but for how often we were actually able to go to them, we knew we didn’t need to be within walking distance. While I loved the ease and simplicity of a 400 square foot apartment, what we really wanted at this point in our lives was just a little more space for projects and crafts, a moment of solitude, proper and organized storage, and family and friends.
That first picture really does a good job of capturing both why we loved our small apartment and why we decided it was time to leave: you have that gorgeous view out of the floor to ceiling window but that couch you see was about the extent of the living room space.
- Jack the pup in our yard ... He is not impressed -
There will always be tradeoffs, but this doesn’t mean you should settle. To me this means it’s time break out the pen and paper or, my favorite, the spreadsheet and get to list-making and brainstorming.
Here are some things to think about that I found useful when trying to decide between different types of properties and locations.
1. Think about how you want to spend your time. Do you want to create a garden or be able to pick up at a moment's notice and not have to worry about cutting the lawn?
2. Now, think about how you will actually spend your time. We all have those idyllic, romantic pictures of what we think our life should look like, but what will you actually be doing on a day-to-day basis and how well does each dwelling and location facilitate that?
3. How much work do you want to do/how much customization do want to be possible? Is move-in ready necessary or are you will to DIY or hire out some work? (Even though we moved straight into our house without any updates, it is 100+ years old and comes with it’s fair share of projects. Already getting a lot of use out of our new orbital sander.) Do you want to make the place your own and customize it to your own specifications? It is important to check with apartment management and homeowner associations to confirm what is allowed in the areas you are searching.
4. Think about what conveniences/locations (work, family, grocery stores, parks, movie theaters, bike trails, shopping, public transit routes, etc.) you want to be near and what "near" means for each (walk, bike, transit, short drive, long drive). Think about when you’ll go to these places and how accessibility will impact this. For me, for example, I know that I hate having difficulty finding parking...like it really puts a lot of stress on the night. So if I have to drive somewhere like this, I likely won’t be a frequent visitor. What locations are important, how accessible do they need to be, and what does accessibility mean for you?
5. With the above in mind, create a list of things you are looking for. Now, separate this list into two separate lists: one of non-negotiables and the other of nice to haves. I found this to be useful but also a bit tricky. When we were actually house-hunting, I was often surprised at what “non-negotiables” I was willing to give up for a property that had a great backyard, for example. Be careful, however, not to be blinded by a few magical seeming qualities and forget what you truly will need to live the way you want.
These will be different for everyone, or course, but hopefully this helps as a jumping off point. I know it did for me. Wishing you all the luck on your journeys.
Stay tuned for projects, updates, and DIYs. Goodness knows we have a ways to go.
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