Q: Would you and John consider posting a home buying guide or list of tips for first-time home buyers? We are out on the hunt for our first place and we’re looking for something that has potential, like your home, but maybe needs a little work and updating. I have read countless articles on things to look for, but I’d be really interested to read your opinion, because you’ve definitely found a great home and done a terrific job of taking it to its max potential! -Erin
A: Great question. Finding the right house rarely means finding a perfect house — it means finding the right house for you. Before you buy, think about how you’ll actually use the spaces day to day. Discuss priorities with your partner for hours if you need to. Are you really going to host large dinner parties every month, or will you spend more time watching movies with family? Those answers should guide whether you choose a home with a formal dining room or a more useful TV room. We, for example, chose a house with two living areas (a living room and a den) because we knew we’d want places to spread out as our family grows.
Take lifestyle details into account: pets, kids, hobbies, and how you actually live. Do you need a mudroom for coats and sports gear? Would a kitchen counter with a spot for a laptop get daily use, or would it be an unused luxury? Make two lists: must-haves and nice-to-haves. Our must-have list looked like this:
- Nice location and neighborhood
- Good schools
- Private backyard
- At least three bedrooms
- At least one and a half bathrooms
- Garage
Our nice-to-have list included features we’d love but could live without initially:
- Wood floors
- A fireplace
- Basement or attic storage
- Front porch
- Sunroom
- Bay window
From those lists you can see we prioritized future potential over finished details like granite counters or perfect curb appeal. Choosing a fixer-upper let us buy for about $25K under budget, leaving money to renovate and make the house ours. If you take this route, ask your realtor to show homes that are sound structurally but need cosmetic updating. Cosmetic work — paint, light fixtures, countertops, or a kitchen refresh — is usually cheaper than addressing structural or major mechanical problems.
Steer clear of homes with obvious, serious damage such as extensive flood or fire damage unless you’re prepared for a major investment. Always get a thorough inspection; it can reveal hidden issues and gives you the option to walk away if repairs are too costly. Conversely, if you dread renovations, add updated systems and finishes to your must-have list so you end up with a move-in-ready home.
Ask how each house can work hardest for your lifestyle. It’s the difference between buying a house that’s impressive to others and buying one that truly fits your family. Maybe granite counters don’t matter to you, but a big laundry room would make life so much easier. For us, the lot and privacy were deciding factors: great location, good schools, a private backyard with tall hedges and woods beyond — perfect for kids and future family life.
We weren’t sold by the house’s initial appearance. It looked dated and a little rough around the edges, but we saw good bones and many of our nice-to-have features: a sunroom with expansive glass and private views, two fireplaces, attic and basement storage, partial hardwood floors, and a welcoming front porch. We accepted flaws like outdated wallpaper, oversized ceiling fans, and an awkward stove-microwave combo because paint and selective renovations could fix them.
We also liked how the house used its 1,350 square feet efficiently: a back patio, sunroom, den, living room, and front porch gave plenty of spots to read, relax, and let kids play. The bedroom layout — clustered on one side — provided privacy while living areas stayed open and connected. No home is perfect (we wished the master were at the back instead of the front), but the layout felt right when we toured it.
Writing down a home’s cons helps you evaluate what’s fixable and what’s not. Small problems you can typically fix quickly and inexpensively include:
- Brightly painted walls (pink, green, yellow)
- Ugly light fixtures over dining or bathroom areas
- Horrid wallpaper
- Cluttered or dated furniture
More substantial issues that could require significant investment include:
- Bedrooms located far apart or on different floors when you want them together
- Under-sized kitchen
- Insufficient room for your existing furniture
- Widespread ugly flooring that needs replacing
- Not enough bedrooms, bathrooms, or living spaces
Balance pros and cons to determine whether a house is right for you rather than merely attractive to others.
After you move in, resist the urge to start major structural renovations immediately. Live in the space for a few months to confirm how you actually use it. We lived with our house for nearly a year, painting and making no structural changes, before deciding to widen doorways and reconfigure the layout. That wait ensured our renovations matched real needs — for example, we eventually turned a formal dining area into a bedroom because we realized that layout worked best for us.
In short: make honest lists of needs vs. wants, prioritize how you’ll really live, get a thorough inspection, avoid obvious structural damage, and give yourself time after move-in before tackling big changes. Happy house hunting!