BEFORE BUYING: DEFINE YOUR NEEDS

After determining your budget and the location of your future property, you need to think about the features that you would like to have in your new home. This will help you find the perfect gem among the approximately 100,000 properties that are currently for sale on Centris.ca. Where to begin?

A LIST OF WANTS AND NEEDS

As you think about your needs for the coming years, prepare a list of the essential items that your new home must have, and a list of things you would like to have but that are not essential.
Your list of essential elements should include the type of property, the size of the rooms, the number of bedrooms and the presence of a garage. Items such as a pool, a fence or an air conditioning system are definitely interesting to have, but keep in mind that you can always add them later.

Also remember that your needs will change over time. Does the house you want have enough space to set up an office or a workshop, for example? Similarly, if you have kids, will their need for space change over time – will you require more bedrooms or bathrooms during the teenage years?

START YOUR SEARCH

Once the main elements have been determined, start your search using the different criteria available on Centris.ca. Make sure that you are accompanied in your search by a real estate broker, as they can tell you if your expectations in terms of size, price and location are realistic. In addition, your broker will be able to guide you in your choice while taking into account the property’s possible resale value, for example.

Your broker will also help you analyze questions such as, if you choose a different neighbourhood, can you buy a larger home? Or, can you get a better location if you decide to let go of some non-priority items? By knowing your priorities, your broker will advise you on the properties that best meet your needs.

Source: centris.ca