October 22, 2008 – 3:19 pm
Beginning the Search for Your New Home
Finding a home in the greater Seattle area can be a pleasant experience — or a huge chore. It all hinges on your preparation.
When you scan the newspaper listings for homes for sale in Seattle, homes for sale in Everett, homes for sale in Bothell, and homes for sale in Redmond you see so many that you hardly know where to start. Worse, the sketchy information makes it feel like you’ll have to make dozens of calls before you can even start to choose which ones to see..
MLS listings give the bare minimum – but generally not enough to really tell you the whole story behind a home and if it is right for you. Homes magazines and newspaper ads offer even less information and are usually out of date by the time they are printed. That means you’ll need to rely on my experience and familiarity in the Seattle area real estate market to weed through the offerings and guide you to homes that will meet your needs and desires.
Make your search easier - write down your wants!
This is the time to sit down with pen and paper… and any other people involved with your decision… and make a list.
Think of everything that is really important about your new home. Write down all your wants and needs, and those of the people who share your home. Include the number of bedrooms and baths, of course, but there’s much more to consider.
Begin with the location. What Seattle area neighborhoods area do you want to live in? Do you need to be close to down town, or would Bothell, Redmond, Everett or even Marysville suite your needs best?
Do you need your new home to be near schools, or shopping, or work, or places of worship? Do you want privacy or will you be happier having fast access to a major highway? What about neighbors? Do you prefer the security of people nearby, or would you rather they were out of sight? Does it matter if you have a view, and if so, what kind of view do you love?
Then there’s the lot. Do you want a large space for gardening and landscaping, or would a small yard suit you better? Maybe you prefer a condo, with no yard care at all.
Now consider the house itself. Think about your lifestyle and the people who will share your home. Are special rooms necessary? Do you need an office, an exercise room, a separate TV room for the kids, a crafts room, a sewing room, or maybe an attached greenhouse?
Do you have oversized furniture that calls for spacious rooms? Do you need large spaces for entertaining, or are you more comfortable with a small and cozy living area?
Do you prefer everything on one level or do you long for a basement or a second story? Do you need an attic for storage? If a garage is a must, should it have room for a work bench or separate shop area?
Now you know what you’re looking for, and it’s time to set priorities.
Because finding a Seattle area home for sale that meets every want and need with no alterations may not be possible, you need to make decisions.
Go over your list and consider everything. When you’re finished you should be able to hand me two lists. The first will show what you absolutely must have in your new home. The second is the “wish list” of amenities that would please you but aren’t set in stone.
You’ll save yourself hours – perhaps days - in your search for a home merely by eliminating homes for sale that don’t meet the criteria on the “must have” list. With both of your lists in hand, I will be able to narrow down your new home search, and help you find the Seattle area home of your dreams.
Jacquie Cliff - The Amazon Negotiator
Let me lead you through the Real Estate Jungle!
Real Estate Agent, Loan Officer and Accredited Buyers Representative serving:
Lynnwood, Bothell, Mill Creek, Seattle, Bellevue, Marysville, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Everett, Snohomish, Kirkland and the surrounding areas!
Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!
Copyright © 2008 By Jacqueline A. Cliff, All Rights Reserved.
‘Beginning your Seattle Area Home Search’
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Right off of I-5 is a great little Irish Pub in a place that you wouldn’t normally think to find an Irish Pub. But luckily for those of us in the Lynnwood and Everett area, 
