Since your home is probably one of your largest investments, it is important you make intelligent decisions when it comes to buying your Sarasota home. Here are four important facts you should consider when searching for your next home.

1. It’s all about location

The old adage, “Location, location, location” is still true. After all, you’re going to be living in this neighborhood for at least a few years, right? So you’ll want to be sure it’s within easy access to work and, if you have children, it is zoned for a good school district. Other considerations include proximity to shopping and the condition of the neighborhood. Find out about any planned expansions and see if the traffic is light or heavy. Make sure the neighborhood is a good fit for you and your family and how it will affect your lifestyle and daily routines.

2. Finding the right house

Make sure the home you choose fits your lifestyle. Is it big enough for your growing family? Too big for soon-to-be empty nesters? Does the mortgage comfortably fit in your budget? To easily determine if a home is right for you, plan ahead. Decide what you MUST have in a home such as number of bedrooms and bathrooms, total square footage, close to shopping and fine dining, etc. Then write down the things you’d LIKE to have in a home such as an open floor plan for entertaining, views of the waterfront, a deck, a garden tub, etc. Look for a home that includes all of your MUST HAVES and as many of your LIKE TO HAVES as possible.

3. Will the layout work?

Even if the home has enough square footage doesn’t mean it will fit your furniture. Because builders are meeting the need for larger homes, furniture manufacturers are crafting larger coaches, chairs and bedroom decor. Check the floor plan of the home to see if it works for you.

4. Don’t buy out of impatience

Because of current market conditions and your needs, your choices may be plentiful or slim. If you’ve looked at a dozen homes or only a handful and still can’t find the right one, don’t buy one out of frustration or impatience. Either revisit your wants and needs list or keep looking. This is too big an investment to enter into lightly.

Why not relax and let Candy Swick & Company help you find homes that fit your criteria. That’s what they do best. For information on ways to keep stress at bay while looking for a new home, please read Buying a New Home: Six ways to avoid stress.”