15 Aug Home Buying Checklist: What to Look for When House Hunting
Most home buyers make their biggest financial mistake within the first 10 minutes of walking through a house. They fall for gorgeous staging, updated finishes, or that perfect kitchen island and completely ignore the fundamentals that will actually determine their happiness and financial success for the next decade.
Here’s the reality: most buyers tour 5-10 homes before making an offer, and many fall head-over-heels for the first house they see. But whether you’re looking at your first property or your fifteenth, there’s a simple system that can save you from making a costly mistake based on emotions alone.
Why Emotions Can Derail Your Home Search
Once you start walking through homes, emotions can kick in hard. It’s incredibly easy to get distracted by gorgeous staging, or that perfect Instagram-worthy kitchen and completely lose sight of what actually matters for your long-term happiness and financial success.
This is where most buyers make costly mistakes. They fall for surface-level appeal without considering the fundamentals that will impact their daily life and investment returns for years to come.
That’s why I use what I call the LOVE Framework – a simple but powerful system that helps my buyers stay grounded and make smart decisions during the emotional rollercoaster of house hunting.
Here’s How it Works
L is for Location
Location isn’t just about the neighborhood – it’s about proximity to what matters most in your life.
Ask yourself:
- Is the home close to your work, reducing commute stress and costs?
- Are quality schools nearby if you have or plan to have children?
- Can you easily reach family and friends who are important to you?
- Are your favorite amenities accessible – coffee shops, gyms, hiking trails, restaurants?
- Does the location support your lifestyle and hobbies?
Here’s the crucial truth: you can change almost everything about a home, but you can never change where it sits. A beautiful house in the wrong location will never serve you as well as a good house in the perfect spot.
Location factors that impact long-term satisfaction:
- Daily commute times and traffic patterns
- Walkability and public transportation access
- Safety and neighborhood character
- Future development plans that could affect the area
- Natural features like parks, water, or mountain views
O is for Offerings
This covers the practical stuff – the nuts and bolts of whether the home can actually serve your needs.
Essential offerings to evaluate:
- Bedrooms: Do you have enough for your current family size plus future growth?
- Bathrooms: Are there sufficient bathrooms for your household’s daily routines?
- Square footage: Is there adequate living space without paying for unused rooms?
- Layout: Does the flow work for how you actually live and entertain?
- Garage space: Can you park your vehicles and store your belongings?
Yard: Does the outdoor space match your maintenance preferences and usage needs?
Think beyond today’s needs. Consider how your life might change over the next 5-10 years. Will you need a home office? Are you planning to expand your family? Will aging parents possibly need to move in someday?
Red flags in offerings:
- Bedrooms that are too small to function properly
- Only one bathroom in a multi-person household
- Layouts that waste space or create awkward traffic flow
- Insufficient storage throughout the home
- Outdoor spaces that don’t match your lifestyle
V is for Value Add
Value add potential is about your ability to improve the home and build equity over time.
Look for opportunities like:
- Kitchen updates: Outdated kitchens with good bones that can be modernized
- Bathroom renovations: Functional bathrooms that could benefit from cosmetic updates
- Unfinished spaces: Basements, attics, or bonus rooms you can complete later
- Landscaping potential: Yards with good structure that need design and planting
- Energy efficiency improvements: Older systems that can be upgraded for long-term savings
The key is distinguishing between value-add opportunities and money pits. Good value-add projects should:
- Have clear potential for return on investment
- Be within your skill level or budget for professional help
- Not require immediate attention for safety or habitability
- Add functionality or appeal that you’ll personally enjoy
Avoid homes where:
- Major systems need immediate expensive replacement
- Structural issues require significant investment
- The neighborhood doesn’t support the level of investment needed
- Zoning or HOA restrictions limit improvement options
E is for Exit Strategy
Even if you plan to stay forever, smart buyers always consider resale potential.
Think about future marketability:
- Will this home still appeal to buyers in 5-10 years?
- Is it in a location that will hold or increase in value?
- Are the home’s features timeless rather than overly trendy?
- Does it fit the neighborhood’s character and price range?
- Are there any unique features that might limit the buyer pool?
Strong exit strategy indicators:
- Homes in established, desirable neighborhoods
- Properties with broad appeal to multiple buyer types
- Features that are considered standard for the area and price point
- Locations with good schools, amenities, and transportation access
- Architectural styles that have lasting appeal
Exit strategy concerns:
- Homes that are significantly over-improved for the neighborhood
- Properties with highly personalized features that can’t be easily changed
- Locations with declining amenities or increasing problems
- Floor plans or features that are becoming obsolete
Applying the LOVE Framework During Home Tours
Before You Start Looking
Clarify your priorities for each element:
- Define your location must-haves and deal-breakers
- List your essential offerings and nice-to-have features
- Set a realistic budget for value-add improvements
- Research the local market to understand resale trends
During Property Tours
Use the framework systematically:
- Evaluate location factors first – they can’t be changed
- Assess whether offerings meet your current and future needs
- Identify realistic value-add opportunities and estimate costs
- Consider how the property would appeal to future buyers
After Each Showing
Take notes on each LOVE element:
- Rate how well the property scores in each category
- Note any red flags or concerns that came up
- Compare properties using consistent criteria
- Trust the framework over emotional reactions
Making Confident Decisions with the LOVE Framework
The LOVE Framework helps you look past surface-level appeal and focus on what’s really going to serve you both in your day-to-day life and as a long-term investment.
When you’re touring homes, take a deep breath, stay grounded, and use this strategic approach to guide your decision-making process.
A home that scores well across all four LOVE elements is likely to:
- Support your lifestyle and happiness long-term
- Provide good value for your investment
- Offer opportunities for equity building
- Maintain strong resale potential
Ready to Apply the LOVE Framework to Your Home Search?
If you’re ready to start your home search with a proven strategy for making confident decisions, I’m here to help guide you through the process.
Contact me today: Phone/Text: (602) 329-7782
Let’s find a home that you’ll truly love – both today and for years to come.
Helping home buyers and sellers throughout the northwest valley of Phoenix, Arizona.