House hunting can be a lot of fun. If you know what you are looking for it can be even more fun. Before going on home tours get a notepad and pen and scribble down what's important to you. Make a list of 'must haves', 'nice to have' and lastly, 'would be OK if could get'. While looking around write down the home location and what caught your eye. When you have free time to go over your list, think about it and discuss it with someone, perhaps with the people that are making the decision with you.

Location Preference

Neighborhood preference will be determined by the lifestyle and personality of the home buyer. If one home buyer is an artist who goes out nightly to parties and enjoys traveling, his/her choice of neighborhood may differ from a home buyer who has a child on the way, enjoy quiet nights by the fireplace and finds traveling scary. Searching for the perfect neighborhood has to be match the needs and wants of the buyer.

Many families who have children will ask about the schools in the area. What is overlooked by some real estate agents is that schools matter a great deal to young families. Schools that have a low rating could actually be a deal breaker in many cases. Churches, playgrounds and grocery stores are also on the top of the list for families with children. When Looking for a Home Find a Great Location. A large accommodating playground is extremely important to mothers who have young children, for obvious reasons.

For college students or adults right out of college who are just starting their careers, nearby coffee shops, libraries and nightclubs my suit them better. When it comes to nightclubs many buyers prefer that the nightlife not be too close to home. However, it is an inconvenience for the buyer if it is too far out of the way. If the buyer can hop into a cab and be there within 20 minutes, typically that is a good thing.

Making Improvements to Heighten Home Value

The term energy star is a symbol that is acknowledged by the government. This symbol applied to appliances means that the equipment has the potential to overall reduce pollutants. It means that the owner will experience a saving on their energy bills. Energy rated labeled appliances typically across the board has excellent performance and top-notch features. How to Increase the Value of your Home. A home that has energy star appliances in their kitchens or basements (water heater) or in their laundry room (washer/dryer) will find that the value of the home goes up.

Applying a fresh coat of paint on the outside of the home, in the kitchen and in the bathroom can add quite a bit of value to a home. When it comes to painting indoors, it would be a good idea to choose paint that is eco-friendly. When showing the home, it can be explained that the paint was specifically chosen due to environmental concerns. That is healthier for the inhabitants because their not breathing in toxic chemicals. This shows that the owners are environmentally conscious and that are aware of safety home precautions.

Neighborhood Security and Landscaping

When it comes to security in the neighborhood, this can be one of the requirements of many buyers. Safety is just important and sought after by virtually everyone. Not only in the neighborhood in the form of neighborhood watch groups, but also in the home. Home security cameras that are already installed and ready to go can be a huge sigh of relief, especially for families.

Landscaping may not seem important at first, however later on it may become a big deal when attempting to sell the home. If there are trees that are hanging too close the home or large bushes that need trimming, all of this will be noticed by potential buyers. Prior to showing the home, if it is economically possible, make sure that the back and front yards are colorful and beautiful. Sell Your Home by Sprucing up Your Backyard.

If there is enough room for a small oasis, that will perhaps add value to the home. Having a professional to help build a small pond in the backyard could be the one thing that brings a buyer back. It can be built on the side of the yard, leaving plenty of room for the new family to run around with their pets. If considering building a tiny pond or flower bed, remember that it's always a good idea to leave room for picnics, cookouts and just plain fun!