How the Right House Takes You Closer to Your Dream Life

Table of contents:

• Introduction
• Fundamentals First
• The Right Signs
• From House to Dream Home
• The Right Home = The Right Life
• Conclusion
• FAQs

A house is much more than just four walls and a roof. It is where some of the most beautiful moments in a person’s life unfold; where their most cherished memories are made, and future dreams take shape. So, having a house of your own is as much a decision made by the head as it is by the heart, with both introspection and intuition playing an equally important role. When looking for a house, find a home that not only fits your life today, but also in the years to come. From location and layout to amenities, connectivity and future needs, every aspect matters. Read on to understand how the right house can make a positive difference to the way you live.

The right house: Checklist 

From security to design, here’s what you need to ensure while buying your dream home.

Location: Where you live plays an important role in deciding the overall quality of your life. Imagine living in an area which has poor road/rail connectivity. In such a scenario, you will become totally dependent on your own or rental vehicles. Consider another situation: Your new house is in an area where there are no good schools or hospitals nearby. Your children’s daily commute to their school or reaching a hospital in times of a medical emergency will pose a huge challenge in such a case. This is why you should buy a house in a location that’s convenient for you.

Check if the location enjoys excellent road, rail and/or Metro connectivity. Are the roads good, and are there convenience/medical stores nearby? Make sure that your workplace isn’t too far from your new house. Also ensure that there are good educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and even retail and entertainment avenues like a mall within an easily reachable distance. Another major criterion to check is the scope for development. For example, if a new airport or Metro station is likely to come up in the area, it will witness a development spree in the near future and also increase the value of your property as a future investment.

Don’t overlook the basics: Here, we are talking about certain basic parameters that are extremely crucial. Space is the first consideration. Along with meeting your current needs, it’s also important to consider if there’s adequate space for future requirements—for example, a growing family or elderly parents moving in. In the current times, when work from home is widely prevalent, make sure that you can have a quiet corner that can be converted into a home office. Exercising long-term thinking will ensure that you don’t experience a severe space crunch in the future, which could even lead to a distressed sale.   

Natural light is yet another non-negotiable factor. There’s no effective replacement for sunlight. So, make sure that your dream home receives unobstructed sunlight and that there are huge windows in every room, allowing natural light to enter. Sunlight is essential for your physical and mental well-being, and it also keeps your house mould-free and fresh. Check the quality of construction and also the availability of water, which is increasingly becoming a major concern in our cities, especially Metros.

Amenities: Gone are the days when home meant just a shelter. Today, it is seen as a place that enhances a person’s mental and physical well-being, along with giving them a healthy social life and a strong sense of community. This has become even more so with the development of top-notch townships that offer multiple in-house facilities. While facilities like gyms (both outdoor and indoor), yoga decks, jogging tracks, swimming pools, nature trails, and various sports infrastructure will boost your physical fitness, meditation corners, reading rooms, butterfly parks, and stargazing decks will allow you space for quiet introspection, benefiting your mental well-being.

Community spaces like mini halls, senior-citizen parks, children’s play areas, pet parks, barbecue corners, and amphitheatres will ensure you have a thriving social life as well. Remember that a holistic, balanced life is necessary for a healthy, happy one. So, if you are keen to choose the right house for yourself and your family, make sure that it has at least some of these amenities or easy access to them.

The ‘S’ factor: Home safety and security are essential in ensuring not only your mental and physical well-being, but also in protecting your loved ones and valuables. Ensure there are high-quality locks on all doors and windows, and place cameras at multiple points inside the house. Most modern townships have security personnel along with digital surveillance systems, including video cameras for visitor approval.

Check that the construction of your house is sturdy enough to withstand break-in attempts. It’s always better to be informed about how safe the locality is overall. Make sure that the roads nearby and your township are well-lit. Also, how far is your house from the nearest police station and fire station? Is the alley wide enough for a fire truck to enter during an emergency? These are factors that could become extremely important in case of any untoward incident. Also, it’s an additional advantage if you have responsible and responsive neighbours, as they are often the first sources of help.

The right house: How to know it’s the one

Home is where the heart is. Yes, a home is as much about feeling and emotions as it is about rational, practical matters. Here are some telltale signs that you have found a house that’s a perfect match for you.

You can imagine growing old there: Did you just walk into a house and suddenly envision the rest of your life unfolding there—children growing up, retirement life, and growing old with loved ones? If you are foreseeing a future in a house, it’s one of the strongest signs that it’s the right house for you.

It checks off all your must-haves: Every prospective homebuyer prepares a checklist for their dream property. For example, a huge balcony or a home facing a park. If you visit a property and realise that it meets most of your preferences, that’s it! You’ve just found the right house for you.

You feel like your search has ended: After seeing dozens of prospective homes, you finally walk into one and feel like your search has ended—well, that’s a strong sign that you have entered your forever home. If you find yourself worrying about someone else offering a better price for the same property, and become eager to close the deal as soon as possible, that also signals a strong connection.

That gut feeling: Sometimes, you just know. If you ever enter a house and feel that this is ‘home’, well, it is, indeed. Trust your intuition. And in case you still want a reaffirmation, take the ‘sleep test ’. What does it mean? Well, sleep over the decision, and if you are still feeling positive and excited about the house the next morning, go for it.   

Turn your house into a dream home

Let your house reflect your personality: Make your home design as personal as you can by displaying artworks created by you, souvenirs and photographs from your travels and important occasions, favourite quotes, antique furniture belonging to your grandparents, etc. The decor can also reflect your love for certain colours and fabrics, a collection of your favourite books, etc. These little nuances help add a personal touch.

Go green: There’s something soothing and instantly calming about a home featuring indoor plants. Along with reducing stress and anxiety, they also improve the air quality inside the house. Keeping plants inside the house is also excellent from a design perspective, as they add to the visual appeal.

A corner for each family member: A house belongs to each person residing in it, and hence, it’s important to give all of them a space they can call their own. The easiest way to do this is by creating a personal corner based on their likes, hobbies, etc. For example, set up a mini gym on the balcony for the fitness enthusiast in your family, or a cosy reading nook by the window for the bibliophile amongst you.

Keep it clean and organised: A clean and uncluttered house becomes inviting without any effort. Cluttered spaces can make your mind cluttered as well, leading to stress. Clean your house daily and declutter every two to three months; this will enable you to enjoy your space better and also use it more  efficiently.

Keep love, laughter, and conversations flowing: No matter how luxurious or beautifully designed your house is, what makes it a dream home is love, happiness, and harmony between the people living there. So, let there be no negativity or lingering anger in your house. Resolve conflicts, respect each other, and always ensure there’s open communication. The focus should be on creating a loving atmosphere.

How the right home changes your life

Living in the right house can change your life in more ways than you can imagine. Here’s how:

Boosts financial security: If you have bought the right house, it means that the property fits your budget and causes you no financial burden. As mentioned earlier, the right house also includes aspects such as the right location, amenities, and social infrastructure, which enhance its resale value. Such a property is not only a dream home, but also an excellent financial investment.

Enhances daily comfort: Located close to job hubs, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities, the right house will save you a lot of daily travel time. Spending less time commuting will allow you to give more time to your family, hobbies, and fitness.

Boosts mental health, energy: With no travel stress and financial burden, the right house will keep you mentally more relaxed. Being able to spend more time with loved ones will strengthen family bonds, adding to your happiness. Top-notch fitness facilities, which are available in most modern townships, will also keep you physically fit and energetic.

Enhances social life: A healthy social life is essential for a person’s mental and emotional well-being. The right home will also offer good community living, with common spaces for meeting up with like-minded people and celebrating festive occasions together.

Helps career prospects: Staying near a job hub helps you search for better opportunities, without having to travel further. Being mentally relaxed and physically fit also helps you to focus better, enabling you to become an asset to your organisation.

Conclusion

For most people, buying a house is a lifelong dream. And for that dream to become a beautiful reality, it’s important to choose the right home. When talking about buying the perfect house, it should also be future-ready. To know more about it, read this blog.

FAQs 

1. How can you assess whether a property is overpriced? 

Follow these simple steps to understand if you are being quoted a higher price for any property:

• Compare the prices of similar properties in the same locality
• Check the circle rate or ready reckoner
• Evaluate the condition and age of the property
• Assess the general market trend
• If you are still unsure, consult a property valuer

2. What are the most common mistakes first-time homebuyers make?

Homebuying is not a simple task and requires careful planning at multiple levels. So, first-time buyers are prone to commit certain mistakes. The most common ones are:

• No proper budget planning; stretching your resources too thin by emptying savings and taking the maximum loan.
• Not paying attention to crucial aspects like crime rate in the neighbourhood, connectivity, and social infrastructure.
• Skipping legal due diligence; it’s important to make sure all documents are in order.
• Not checking the developer’s track record and reputation in the market.
• Overlooking hidden costs like maintenance charges and property tax.
• Not evaluating the development potential of the area. This will impact resale value.

3. While buying the right house, what are the important points to keep in mind about the parking space? 

Ask the developer these questions:

• Is the parking space open, covered, or stilt (basement)?
• Is the price for the parking space included in the apartment’s price, or does it have to be paid separately?
• Is there a fixed parking slot, or is it first come, first served?
• Do your society rules allow parking for extra or visitor vehicles?
• Will the parking slot eligibility be documented in your formal sale deed?

Sources

Homefirst India | Wakefit | The Jim Allen Group | LinkedIn | 99 Acres |