Whether you move into your first home or your fifth apartment, finding the best place to live is often a difficult task. However, you can make the experience more enjoyable and less stressful by doing research and asking the right questions.
Here are some key questions that tenants or buyers should ask themselves:
- How long will I live here? You may be moving as a result of a promotion or because your family will soon grow. Make a list of the features you will need immediately, and those you will need for as long as you live in this new place.
- What kind of neighbourhood do I want to live in? Some factors to consider are transportation time, which language is spoken and the age of children and neighbourhood residents. You can find this type of information about your future neighbourhood, and many others, on various government sites.
- Are there any constraints related to renovations? If you live in a condo, you may be limited in the types of renovations you can do, such as your floor or balcony. Even in a house, conservation or other municipal by-laws can affect your renovation plans.
- Is the location affordable? It is, of course, important to ensure that your monthly rent or mortgage payments are within your budget but go beyond these figures to get a better picture of your future financial situation. Will you be able to afford to raise a family? How much will your children's college or university education cost?
- Which direction is the property facing? This may seem insignificant at the moment, but the direction of the sun can have a great influence on your daily life. If you like gardening, you may prefer a courtyard facing south. On the other hand, if you like to enjoy the sun early in the morning or early evening, an east- or west-facing house would be a better choice for you.
Answering these questions may seem like a tedious exercise, but the time you take to do so will represent a definite investment for the future.