New houses come with many surprises, so it’s important to know what to look for before you sign the papers and move in. Here are some features you want to keep an eye out for, from the wall color of your kid’s bedroom to the type of flooring in your foyer. And if you don’t have time to read this whole article, be sure to check out our infographic at the bottom that sums up what to look for when buying a new home.
Wallpaper
Before you start looking at homes, spend some time thinking about what kind of wallpaper you’d like to have in your new place. This can be a time-consuming process, so narrow down your choices as much as possible before visiting any houses.
Don’t feel tied to a specific color or style: If there’s a pattern or design that speaks to you, go for it! And if you don’t love anything that stands out, consider a geometric wallpaper: The most popular option these days is high-end matte wallpaper from companies like Cole & Son and Thibaut.
Herringbone wallpaper aren’t immediately identifiable—you may not even notice they’re there until they’ve been hanging on your wall for a while. That makes them great when you’re moving into a house with existing artwork or furniture, but they also add character when placed next to stark white walls.
Also, wallpapers work well with virtually any decorating scheme because they add subtle color without overwhelming (and hide smudges). Most importantly: It allows each piece in your home to shine without getting lost behind wallpaper.
Also, keep in mind that abstract paper isn’t limited to colors—it comes in all types of textures, including faux wood grain. Consider scrolling through your favorite online stores and taking screenshots of photos you might want to use as inspiration.
Keep everything organized by adding tags for things like ‘design’ or ‘texture.’ Then once you begin house hunting, pull up each photo you have saved and imagine how a room would look with those elements included; eventually, it’ll become clear which ones you need in your life! In short: Take time to think through what appeals to you about different kinds of wallpaper; then visit local showrooms where samples are displayed.
Bedrooms
The most significant consideration when choosing a new home is usually bedrooms. It’s essential to ensure that you have enough rooms for your family and guests. At a minimum, try to find a home with at least three good-sized bedrooms; you never know if you’ll need a guest room in the future or if one of your kids will have unexpected friends over for a sleepover.
If your budget allows, look into buying a four-bedroom house; when my husband and I purchased our first home, we were two adults with three young children–and it was great to be able to offer everyone their bedroom.
One thing to consider: I’ve found that older homes tend to have larger rooms than new homes do, so keep an eye out for homes built before 1975. Also, if you’re short on space now but know you want to add on in a few years, plan: Try to purchase a lot or find a home that has unfinished basement space where you can later expand.
Or even go as far as remodeling after moving in! There are tons of resources online that can help show what different types of layouts might look like depending on your existing floorplan (not to mention remodeling costs).
Heating And Cooling Systems
You’re going to want to make sure your new home has proper heating and cooling systems. You should also ensure these systems are located in a well-ventilated area since an overheated or undercooled home is uncomfortable and harmful for your health.
Additionally, newer heating and cooling systems can be highly energy-efficient—which is good news if you’re planning on saving money in other areas of your life (i.e., by not renting). So make sure you look at how well-insulated each room is (you should have a good idea of how many windows there are), as well as where your HVAC system is situated.
High efficiency means low costs on utilities. Can you already tell which room would be best suited for sleeping? If so, your instincts are correct. The bedroom needs to remain calm during hot summer months and cozy warm during cold winter nights.
There’s nothing worse than waking up cold or burning up in a heatwave. Now that you know what it looks like, go ahead and see if it’s working correctly or could use updating (newer models tend to save homeowners energy).
Finding cheap heaters and ductless ac units may save bundle overtime for utility bills. It will also increase comfort within a residence – which always results in better sleep—looking forward to picking out that king-size bed? No problem – measure it first.
