CHAPTER 01Start with your priorities
Write down your essentials before you search. Keep the list specific enough to compare homes against it.
- Your comfortable monthly ownership budget
- The places you need to reach regularly
- Bedrooms, work space, storage, and outdoor needs
- Your preferred move date and any fixed deadlines
CHAPTER 02Compare the setting, not just the house
Choose a manageable shortlist of locations and compare each using the same criteria.
- Drive your everyday routes at realistic times
- Visit areas during the day and in the evening
- Compare property-specific taxes, fees, and insurance
- Check the services and activities you use regularly
CHAPTER 03Make space for the practical steps
Your exact timeline depends on financing, the properties involved, and your current housing. Discuss the sequence with the professionals supporting your move.
- Financing and budget conversations
- Travel or remote viewing arrangements
- Offer, inspections, and closing steps
- Moving logistics and any ownership overlap
CHAPTER 04Bring the same questions to every showing
Consistent notes help you compare homes after the first impression fades.
- How would we use the rooms on a normal day?
- What maintenance or condition questions need follow-up?
- What is included in the recurring ownership cost?
- What remains uncertain, and who can verify it?