Complete House Requirements

Our original list was 7 pages long. After the first few house tours, we decided to prune it of items that we either couldn't satisfy quickly, things an inspection will check up on, or that are not crucial to our comparisons. We also decided to change search strategy: we would make an offer on the first house that has 85% of what we are looking for including all our must-haves. We tour only houses we both agree may work for us; if we disagree on a house, we keep it among our possibilities but will not ask to tour it. Any given week, we've been visiting 2-4 homes only (so far only about 11 houses).

BUDGET
List price	$180,000 - $230,000
Short-sale, foreclosure, or flip house?	Would rather not
Monthly PITI	< $1,200/mo
Property taxes	< $1,300/yr
Sale history	Stable or increasing
NEIGHBORHOOD
School districts	D11, D20, D49
Elem/high school ratings	7+
Homeowner association	None preferred
Community	Planned, parks/services
Character	Suburb, family-friendly, quiet, clean
Roads/streets	City/paved, maintained
Safety	Street lights, open view
Traffic/access	Lights, alt. routes
Crime	Low or none
Morning/evening walk/observe	Walkable, bustling
Night perspective	Quiet, safe
Other homes maintained	Well
Who is around neighborhood? Kids?
Neighborhood home comparisons	In same price range
City zoning	Not flood zone, residential
Talk to neighbors
Any future regulation/zoning/development changes?
PROXIMITY
Emergency services (hospitals, fire stations)	Within 5 mi.
Shopping center/restaurants	Close enough
How far from workplaces?	< 20 min.
HOUSE BASICS
Year built	2002+
Whether new construction?	Would love newer
Type	Single-family/detached
External wall material
Curb appeal	Must have it ...
Orientation	Faces west/south
Floor plan	2-story/ranch, open, not split-level
Finished livable space	2000+ sq.ft
Bedrooms	4+
Bathrooms	3+
Kitchen	Big, with pantry
Dining room	> 12x10 sq.ft, tile/carpet
Living room	> 13x15 sq.ft, wood/carpet
Garage	2-car, attached, auto/remote
Additional parking	3+ cars, street
Windows	Vinyl, thermo. Low sills
Roof	Comp. shingle, <10yrs
Basement	Yes, insulated
Office	Available office or possibility
Energy efficiency (heating)	85+
Outside wall	8" insulation
Other rooms in house?
Heating/furnace (age?)	Modern forced air/2008+
What we like most
What we hate most
What else is possible with the house?
Immediate repairs in next 9 months?	None!
UPGRADES/DISCOUNTS
Any upgrades/cost?
Any discounts/promotionals?
SERVICES
Electricity	Municipal/CSU
Water	Municipal/CSU, not well
Natural gas	Municipal/CSU
Sewage	Central, not cistern
Trash service	HOA or local
Cell phone coverage	3G/4G signal
Internet service	Comcast or better
Home security	ADT or equiv.
Average utility costs (elec+gas+sewer+water+trash)
PROPERTY/LOT
Landscaping	Complete, sprinkler
Fence	Installed as required
Drainage	Away from house
Backyard	For outside dog + dogshed
BEDROOMS
Flooring	Carpet
Utilities	2+ electrical, 1 cable
Location	All on same level (upper/main)
Master bedroom	Own bathroom, walk-in closet
Nursery	Immediately close to master bedroom
Access	Locable doors, openable windows, closets.
Size	> 13x15 sq.ft, master bigger
Rooms over garage	Prefer not = noise/fumes
Ceiling fans	Installed
BATHROOMS
Flooring	Tile/composite
Amenities	Mirror, lockable door
Storage	Cabinets, linen closet
Counter space	Generous
LAUNDRY
Flooring	Tile/composite
Washer/dryer	Installed/hookups
Location	Same level as bedrooms
KITCHEN
Flooring	Tile/composite
Plan	Country sit-in, island
Cabinet space	Ample top/bottom
Counter tops	Granite
Appliances	Stainless steel/quality/brand
Refrigerator	Dislike vertical split
Sinks	2+, garbage disposer
Microwave oven	Installed
Dishwasher	Installed
Stoves/oven	Not coils, gas better?
Pantry	Reasonable
GARAGE
Access	Clear, not steep/obscured entry
Completed walls	Siding/frame, insulation
Safety	Garage access door lockable
WOULD BE REALLY NICE
Vaulted ceilings
Fireplace
Porch/balcony
Hot tub/jacuzzi
Lots of storage (basement?)
Air conditioning
Humidifier installed
Floor-level ventilation
SELLER/DISCLOSURES
Review seller inspection report
Review seller disclosure document
Previous resident (owner, renter, vacant?)
Any federally-required disclosures?
Drug activity on property?	No
Smokers or pets previous residents?	No smoking
Homicides/suicides or natural deaths in last 5 years?	No
Property/legal disputes?	No
Our impressions of seller	Honest, truthful, cooperative
Realtor's opinion of seller
ZONING RULES
Allow home office/business?	Yes
Allow pets, sheds in backyard?	Yes
Allow external remodeling, landscaping	Yes
Allow visitors/RV/boat parking/streets	Yes
TOUR NOTES
Notes from touring the house