Shopping for a house tips, Buying a new property, Home buy advice

Shopping for a House Advice Guide

20 February 2025

When shopping for a house, you’ll need to consider a wide variety of factors, including your own budget, interest rates, general location, neighborhood, and more. But one of the most important categories of consideration you’ll need to bear in mind relates to the design and structure of your house.

Shopping for a House Design Considerations

You’ll have considerable flexibility to customize the house as you please once it’s yours. You’ll have total control over the paint colors, the flooring options, the furniture, and even the art on the walls. In effect, you can make the space entirely your own, engaging your own subjective interests so that you’re truly happy with the environment.

But you’re going to be much more limited in what you can do with the overall architectural structure of the home. That’s why it’s so important to choose something you’re mostly happy with from a design perspective.

The Value of Architectural Design

According to Eddie Garcia of Estate.co, “You need to consider the architectural design of a house, and for more reasons than just subjective aesthetic preferences. Your tastes are important, but so is the long-term growth trajectory of the property.”

These are some of the most valuable reasons why architectural design is important:

Aesthetics. Subjective aesthetics do matter. It’s important for you to find a house that you truly like and are comfortable with. There aren’t many objective benchmarks or metrics to study here; instead, you just have to find something that genuinely resonates with you. Look at a wide variety of architectural and structural styles to discover what pleases you most.
Functionality. You’ll also need to consider functionality and some practical effects of the design. For example, the size and layout of windows can have a massive impact on how much natural light enters the home.
Emotional connection. You won’t be able to forge an emotional connection to your home unless it fits your personality and your tastes. Is this a home you could see yourself being sentimental about?

Long-term value. Finally, you should consider the long-term value of the home. Some architectural styles are considered more utilitarian and more timeless than others. There’s nothing wrong with choosing a style that you personally enjoy, so long as you also understand that it may have an impact on the future appreciation of the property.

The Most Important Design Considerations When Shopping for a House

These are some of the most important design considerations to bear in mind when shopping for a new house:

Overall size. How big is the house, and how much space is there? How much space does it occupy on the lot? Some homes are enormous and sprawling, sometimes overwhelming you with space. Other homes feel cramped and tight, even if the square footage is objectively reasonable.
Overall layout. There are many ways to conceptualize the layout of a home, but your best bet may be to conduct a simple walkthrough. This way, you’ll get a sense of what it’s like to live and move through the house on a regular basis. Some layouts are very open and intuitive, while others are a bit more closed and segmented. There are objective advantages to almost every conceivable layout, so consider what you like best.
Mobility and access. Mobility and access should also enter the equation. As a simple example, if you have joint pain or other mobility limitations, you may want to prioritize a one-story house. In general, you should choose architectural design elements that can accommodate your level of mobility and flexibility.

Natural light. How much natural light enters this home, and where does it enter? This can have a big impact on your mood and the overall vibe of the home.
Size and shape of windows. Similarly, you should study the size and shape of the windows. Most people prefer houses with large, open windows, but this isn’t universal.
External structure. Pay attention to the external structure as well. Is it minimalistic and modern, or more rustic and nostalgic? Is it ornate and interesting, or more traditional and unassuming?

Shapes and textures. You could also look at various shapes and textures. Is this a home with pointed peaks and a rough brick exterior? Or is it designed to look as flat and smooth as possible? Which do you prefer?
Styles and aesthetic influences. There are many styles and aesthetic influences in the realms of architecture and home construction. You don’t have to have a logical, concrete reason for preferring one over the others.

image source : pexels.com

If you can find a house with the architectural design you want and need, you can feel more confident moving forward with your purchasing decision. This is one of the most important choices you’ll make in your life, so take your time and review your options carefully.

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