North Fork, Long Island, NY Real Estate Blog OptionsRealty.com » Blog Archive

I Just Bought My Dream Home. I Hate It.

April 27th, 2007 category: Buyers, Real Estate Philosophy

While locating a great home can be exciting, there are things to keep in mind that might assist in the final decision making process- things that have very little to do with the actual home, but everything to do with your day to day life. Below, a few suggestions gained from friends of mine, my own experiences, and observance of hundreds of buyers that have made my time selling real estate worthwhile.

1. Visit the grocery store that caters to your potential neighborhood. This is the place that your family will spend time, quality or not. It is a great way to observe the neighbors that call this area home.

If the store is limited on your favorite items, are you prepared to travel to a better-stocked store on a regular basis? Are the lines always long? Is the parking adequate? I had a friend who was considering marrying a man that lived in a retirement community. When I asked her why things didn’t work out, she said that she just couldn’t stand the smell of mothballs at the grocery store.

2. Visit the local school AFTER school hours. Schools provide tracks for running, and often an area for dog walking. Are you comfortable there? Is it well lit for evening walks? If you are uncomfortable with seclusion, does it abut homes, or woods? If you prefer privacy because your dog is rambunctious, are there too many other walkers? I disliked one neighborhood because no one could decide, on a large circle track, which way to go, and my boxer got too interested in passing dogs to actually walk calmly. I stopped taking her there.

3. If you have children, discover locations for their activities. Is the soccer field in one part of town, and the dance studio the other? Is there available day care that operates within a reasonable distance from home, with hours that are convenient? Spending time battling traffic with one child in one location and the other waiting to be picked up across town can be draining. Screaming in the car due to stress (yours or theirs) takes the fun out of activities.

4. If you attend church, go to a service before committing to a home. Do you like the flavor of the service, and the message delivery? If not, locate the church that appeals to you and consider the distance. While it may only be a weekly destination, friendships that develop can extend beyond the services, and visits to a different location to see new friends can be time consuming trips.

These are just a few suggestions to consider before you fall in love with that gabled roof, or huge family room, or perfectly wonderful back yard. While the house itself is critical, you are also buying a lifestyle that should be comfortable and happy for you and your family. Moving because of preventable investigation is not fun, but can be avoided.

Next time: tips on finding the right vacation home. Nothing is worse than a pre-teen with “nothing to do”…