If you’re looking for property in Ogden, you’ve already stepped onto the right path. Ogden, Utah is awesome. Not only is it about an hour away from Salt Lake City, it also hugs the feet of the Wasatch Mountains, making for an amazing backdrop to live against. Ogden is a hub of great dining, entertainment, art, and more. You can visit theaters, or catch a baseball game, grab a bite to eat, or just enjoy the natural beauty of Utah’s Everlasting Hills.
Buying real estate in Ogden is a great decision, but one that you want to make correctly. Because you should love where you live. So here are things to consider when looking at buying property in Ogden. Having an Ogden Realtor that knows the area is very important, because they know what they are talking about.
Your Ogden Real Estate Checklist
This is a special occasion. You’re in the process of looking for a new place to live and our ogden realtors want to help. There’s a lot of excitement, a lot of new opportunities. But if you don’t know what exactly you’re looking for, it’s going to be a lot more difficult to find a place that’s just right for you. To make things easier, it helps to ask yourself these questions:
How’s The Location?
You’ve probably heard the phrase before: “The three most important things in real estate are location, location, location.” There’s a reason so many people use that phrase.
You can absolutely love the people around you. You can remodel the parts of a home that aren’t currently to your liking. The one thing you can’t do? Pick up your house and carry it away. If you don’t like the location of your home, then you might find yourself looking elsewhere for a place to live before long.
For example:
- Do you prefer falling asleep to silence, you’ll want to find property set away from train tracks or busy roads
- When looking for more room, then a home tucked snugly between other homes and buildings might not be right
- If you are constantly running to stores or school or similar places, it’s best to find a place near enough that you’re not spending as much time or gas getting to and from. (In fact, the National Association of Realtors has said that neighborhoods within walking distance of stores, parks, and other places are in higher demand)
And remember, the alternate of these things works as well. If you like the background noise, you could very well enjoy bearing near train tracks or busy roads. Maybe you prefer snugness, there are plenty of places that fit between other buildings. If you don’t have to venture out that often, then proximity might not be an issue for you.
When looking for property, make sure to take some time to decide if you like the location as well.
What’s The Neighborhood Like?
Just like you should love the location of your home, it’s important that you love your neighborhood as well. Otherwise, you might never want to leave the house. You should choose a neighborhood where you feel safe, where you can enjoy your neighbors, where you don’t have to worry when you tell your kids to go out and play.
When checking out your neighborhood, here are some tips:
- Check it out at different times of day, both on weekends and weekdays. Does the neighborhood look as welcoming at one time of day as it does at another?
- Are the homes around your potential property well-kept? Is the neighborhood in good repair?
- Would you feel safe letting your children go out and play? Would you feel comfortable taking walks around the neighborhood without feeling like you’re in danger of things like traffic?
When looking for an Ogden property, a rule of thumb is to own the smallest home in the nicest neighborhood you can afford. Your peace of mind will thank you.
Do You Like The Site?
You deserve to be in a home you’ll love in a location you’ll love in a neighborhood you’ll love. And having a great site is a big part of that.
- Do you have enough yard space?
- Are your neighbors windows in just the right spot that it feels like they can always see right into your home?
- Does it have room for a garden or anything else you might want to install?
- Is there a nice view or do you feel boxed in?
- Do you like the driveway or are you worried you’ll never get in or out during the winter months?
Looking for a site you love might seem daunting, but knowing where to look will help you so much more. Having an experienced retailer will put someone in your corner who will be able to hear what you’re looking for and help you find it.
Is The House Move-In Ready?
Remodels are costly. You don’t want to have to pay for leaky roofs, recarpeting, window treatments, and more in addition to paying for the house itself as a whole.
- Has a home inspection been completed? Home inspections help you as a buyer to know what you’re getting and often gives you the freedom to walk away from a deal if you find something you don’t like
- The home needs to come with a functional heating and cooling system. If you’re planning on buying a house, you shouldn’t be expected to replace essential appliances as well
- There should be no noticeable repairs needing to be made that the seller isn’t already working on. Unless you’re looking for a real fixer-upper, a move-in ready house shouldn’t require expensive repairs
Don’t dry up your budget and your schedule on a home that’s not ready for you. Finding a good realtor will help you navigate to the houses that are move-in ready, saving you money, time, and the freedom to make the place your own.
Is The Size Right For You?
You don’t want to play Goldilocks with your potential home, “This house is too big and this house is too small.” The end goal should be to find the house that is just the right size for you.
- Find a house that’s too small and you won’t have space for your belongings or even for your family. This means you’ll have to be much more economic about what will be in your house and probably have to have the added expense of a storage unit to hold the rest
- Buy a house that’s too large and you’ll be paying higher bills and higher taxes for rooms that may go unused. You might have more space to add an office or something similar, but you’ll also have the extra costs that go with it
Finding a home that’s the perfect size for your wants and needs will save you money, whether that be through saving on the cost of storage or in bills themselves.
Do You Have Enough Windows?
When looking for a home, you should never underestimate the value of windows. Windows and proper lighting serve both practical and emotional purposes, all of which are meant to benefit you.
- Having windows brightens up a room and makes it feel larger. You won’t feel so cramped or confined when a home has enough windows
- Natural light has incredible health benefits, including reduced stress, better sleep, and more vitamin D
- Not only do windows provide better ventilation in case of a fire or some other emergency, but they also create a quick emergency exit, which means more safety for you and your loved ones
Browsing properties with lots of windows and access to natural light will improve both your physical and emotional health and increase the safety of you and your family. Keeping that in mind when browsing a home will help you narrow down your choices in order to find the best choice for your home.
Finding The Right Home Cuts Expenses (Financial and Emotional)
The last thing you need are more costs and more stress. But entering a new home and suddenly finding yourself dipping more money for repairs, replacements, or gas to get to and from where you need to go will only increase both.
Some homebuyers will enter a new home only to find that the roof (due to age) has begun leaking, which if not solved quickly can only get more expensive. Others will be in the home hardly any time at all before they find themselves needing to replace heaters or air conditioners.
Many homebuyers become so focused on the home itself, that it is easy to forget about what’s around it. Keeping in mind how close you are to things that are important to you, such as work, extended family, and more should be taken into consideration. In an article by Investopedia, they pinpointed that buying a home that doesn’t fit your lifestyle, whether that be through its location or size, costs you both monetarily and emotionally. Whether that be the gas bills from long commutes or the stress that causes with not being home.
A lack of natural light is emotionally taxing, increasing stress or seasonal depression, which in turn decreases your motivation and happiness that should be yours.
The point is that finding the right home is important to your well-being, financially, emotionally, and mentally. You will thank yourself for moving into the house that is best for you. When you’re ready, here’s how:
Find Your Utah Home With Fresh-And-New
If you are looking for the right Ogden home, then Fresh-And-New Real Estate is your key. Our realtors put in the work to find the home you want, so that you can feel like you’re getting the best deal, the best choice, and the best house for you.
We are your Ogden home experts, narrowing down the properties that check off every box on the essentials list. This is how you can have a better experience finding real estate: We are not interested in simply putting you in just any home. We want to get to know you so that you can find the home that fits your wants and needs.
To get started on finding the ideal Ogden home for you, schedule a time to meet with us today or you can contact us at contact.freshandnewrealestate@gmail.com or call (801) 645-6468.
We have home valuation services that can start your home buying or selling journey.
Don’t let your dream home be just a dream. With Fresh-And-New, you can make it a reality.
