Like planning, house hunting begins at home. We’ve learned through the thousands of home buyers we have helped that the best approach is to be prepared. What appeals to you as a buyer today will probably also appeal to buyers tomorrow. As a careful house hunter, you will benefit years from now when it is time to sell to an equally value-conscious buyer.

We have developed some questions to help you identify your needs and preferences. Once you have clarified what you like in your present community, you will have a better idea of what you want to find. Plus, you will be able to share your preferences with your Long & Foster sales associate who can help you find your new home.

County and City Questions
Neighborhood Questions
House Questions
Area House Styles
Financial Questions

• Would you characterize your present area as urban, suburban, semi-rural, or rural? Is the population density low, medium, or high? Is the population decreasing, stable, or increasing?
  
  
• What natural features are the most significant? Woods? Hills? Flat land? River? Ocean shore? Man-made lakes? Streams and ponds?
  
  
• How do you commute to work? Do you walk? Drive? Car pool? Taxi? Bus? Train? How far must you travel and how long does it take in the morning and evening? Do you use available public transportation for local trips or to visit close-by communities? Can someone reach your home on public transportation?
  
  
• Where do you do your shopping? Central commercial districts? Shopping malls? Strip malls?
  
  
• Community shops or home delivery? Imagine a list of typical stops in one week. How many miles and how much time would visiting the entire list require? Do you want greater convenience?
  
  
• What types of schools does your family attend now? From grade school to graduate school, and from day care needs to special vocational training, what facilities will you require in the next few years? Are there any special needs or plans? Although it is extremely difficult to compare quality of education, some statistical indicators can be helpful: Average class size at grade level; Comparative standardized text scores; Average salary of teachers; Percentage of high school graduates who go to college.
  
  
• What does the area offer for recreation and entertainment? Music? Movies and live stage? Sports arenas? Museums? Nightlife? What types of indoor and outdoor sports facilities are available? Are there public parks, country clubs, athletic clubs, fraternal groups? Do you require any special facilities?

The concept of neighborhood isn’t as precise as county or city. Some people consider the boundaries to be the district around a grade school. Others consider it walking distance within a half-mile radius. Wherever you draw the line, a neighborhood is the immediate area around your house.

No matter how much hard data you gather about a neighborhood, nothing compares with information from local people. Whether it is fellow workers, letter carriers, or people at a bus stop…neighbors are the best observers of a neighborhood. Talk to as many people as you can, and ask them the following questions:

• Do neighbors socialize regularly, or hold block parties, picnics, holiday parties, organize sports teams? What are the ways they have met their neighbors? Walking a dog, commuting, PTA, parties, little league, gardening?
  
  
• How much do the neighbors care for lawns and gardens? Are the houses maintained “like new”, adequately, poorly? Is there a Homeowners Association?
  
  
• Are cars parked mostly in garages, driveways, on the street? How old are the houses? More than 30 years old? 15 to 30 years? New? How far apart are the houses? Are property upgrades common? Swimming pools, tennis courts, fences, walls, patios, extensive landscaping?
  
  
• For convenience, how does the neighborhood rate? Can you walk to shopping or is a car necessary? List your five most frequent destinations. Are they clustered in one stop-and-shop location? Two stops? How much time is required for fire, police, or ambulance services to arrive in an emergency? How close are cultural centers, parks, restaurants, theaters, playgrounds?
  
  
• How do the children routinely reach their schools, play areas, friends’ homes? By walking, bicycle, bus, or do parents drive them? Is public transportation available for commuting or shopping? Do any local ordinances affect pets, parking, lawns, etc.?
  
  
• What are the disadvantages of the neighborhood? Freeway, railroad, or airplane noise? Factory pollution, heavy traffic, exposure to heavy storms, possible flooding?

We’ve saved the best for last. In many ways, finding a home is easier than choosing a county and a neighborhood, because you are considering tangible details. Yet our experience suggests that many people “decide” with emotion and “justify” with facts. This section will help you find a better balance.

If you can clearly describe the features you require, your Long & Foster sales associate can make a preliminary screening for you from the thousands of homes for sale. After you select the best houses, you can concentrate on inspecting your top choices.

• Will it just be you and your pet living in the house or do you have a family of six? Do you prefer a new or resale home? What is your preferred housing style? Townhouse, colonial, contemporary, split level, split foyer, Cape Cod, rambler, or something else?
  
  
• How many total rooms do you need? Bedrooms, bathrooms? How strongly do you require features such as: separate living room, dining room, laundry room, basement or attic, family room, fireplace, workshop area, garage? How much property do you require? Do you have preferences for any particular natural features?
  
  
• Outside. Address of property? House style? Lot size? Landscaping details? Degree of grounds maintenance required? Age of house? Structural condition? Are any major repairs or improvements necessary? Maintenance of building?
  
  
• Inside. Make a sketch of floor plans. Total number of rooms and baths on each floor? Any extras such as intercom, fireplaces, phone jacks? Built-in appliances: dishwasher, garbage disposal, trash compactor? Enough closets? Adequate storage space?
  
  
• Construction. Inspect quality of materials, present condition, craftsmanship both inside and outside. Insulation? Weather stripping or storm windows?
  
  
• Major systems. Plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling. What type of fuel does the heating system use? Approximate annual cost? A professional inspection of the major systems is recommended for a house that you are interested in purchasing.

• Cape Cod. A symmetrical peaked roof often with dormer windows which creates a one-and-a-half story design with living space upstairs in an “expansion attic.”
  
  
• Colonial. A two-story design with center hall or side entry, often with basement. Variations often feature double or single wings with garage. Numerous styles include New England, Federal, Plantation, Dutch Colonial, Georgian, French Colonial.
  
  
• Contemporary. Modern and non-traditional creation of living spaces using a spectrum of shapes, materials, and designs. An “open” use of space is characteristic. May be single or multiple stories.
  
  
• Hi-Rise Condominium. Multi-story building with elevator access to owned apartments; monthly fee usually pays for use of recreation facilities, maintenance, and utilities.
  
  
• Low-Rise Condominium. A cluster of attached units, four stories or less ranging from converted garden apartments to ramblers and two-story townhouses. Resident owns title to living space while jointly owning public areas. Condominium fee often covers maintenance, amenities, sometimes water; other utilities may be individually billed.
  
  
• Rambler. A single-story house with all living areas on same level. Variations include L-shape or U-shape plan, perhaps with basement. Sometime called ranch; if it is small, a bungalow or cottage.
  
  
• Split Foyer. Entry is between floors. Makes use of slope by placing basement partially above ground level on uphill side, thus basement becomes livable space. Also called a split entry.
  
  
• Split Level. Side wing has two levels off main ground floor; designed for maximum living space while occupying the least land. Garage and sub-basement are frequent options.
  
  
• Townhouse. A row of two-or-three-story dwellings sharing common walls, also called row houses. Wide range of styles from contemporary to colonial. The term “semi-detached” describes a pair of townhouse end units, similar in function to a duplex.

• Is the asking price comparable to other houses in the neighborhood? Higher or lower? When carefully comparing properties, be sure to take into account unique features and improvements that vary house-to-house, and consult your Long & Foster sales associate who can provide a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA).
  
  
• Is the existing mortgage assumable? Required down payment amount? What financing method is acceptable to the seller?
  
  
• What are the annual property taxes? Will the taxes increase with the transfer of deed and a new market price? Any local bonds or assessments?