The First Reader and I have been building castles in the air. They look more like low brick ranch houses, but that's just because it's his beau-ideal of a home. We will, soon, be ready to house hunt, in the meantime we are dreaming, making lists, and plotting for the next step towards having a real home again. As the First Reader recently commented, the apartment feels like camping. Comfortable camping, but nonetheless, impermanent.
Here's the initial list...
Must Have No HOA 3 bedrooms - one must fit a queen bed Workable Kitchen Covered Outdoor area Off street parking Gas line to house AC - Central unless price allows installation local friends Approved address At least 1 Bedroom and Bath on First Floor - all one floor preferred Enough yard for dog
All of those things are easy enough. It's when we start adding in the other wishes that the field begins to narrow!
Want to Have Covered Parking Pantry Garage Fireplace Garden/Chicken Space (fantastic if existing) Porch/Patio 2 bathrooms Pecan Tree (mature, bearing) Gas Range Dishwasher Insulation/Modern Windows Workshop Walkable Neighborhood (ie safe to walk) Not on main road (safe to acccess driveway, not on busy curve) Well/Septic in good shape if not city Fenced/Fenceable Decent closets Shower
And the little bits that I have seen, and went ooh! or would just be fun to have... ok, the hard floors are kind of necessity with my allergies. But they can be achieved post-buying, we don't *have* to have them before we buy.
Would be nice... Bonus! All hard floors Built-ins great natural light Peach Tree Foundation warranty greenhouse shade trees place for hot tub
And of course there's a list of 'walking away, now...' when we see them.
Deal Breakers Too small to entertain Unsafe neighborhood Bad roof Bad foundation Termites Undrinkable water
What would you add to the lists? What do you love or hate about a house?