Nomads and work-from-home individuals have the luxury of being able to choose where they want to live, which in our beautiful country with its vast options, can be rather daunting for a first time homebuyer. To make it simpler, we have put together a checklist, which can act as your personal blueprint, and will help you narrow down your choices.
Firstly you must be able to differentiate between what you NEED vs what you WANT. The first is an absolute; the second may require a compromise. It is recommended, therefore, that this checklist has two columns: one with the heading NEED, and the second heading, WANT.
Your answers should be placed in either one of the two columns.
Basic requirements
This section helps you to identify your important needs from a property: What is the minimum size property you need, such as number of bedrooms?
Do you need a separate office space?
What sort of smart technology must be available: eg: fibre network? Do you want a house or apartment?
Do you prefer to live in a sectional title environment, or a free-standing property?
Do you need a pet-friendly home?
Which for you, is the most important room on the property?
Do you need parking, and what type (undercover carport or garage)?
Do you need a garden or outdoor entertainment area?
Do you prefer a brand new property, or an older building?
What property styles do you like, eg: character, contemporary, traditional, industrial, organic?
What is the maximum price you are prepared to pay?
Any other must-have’s?
Type of neighbourhood
This section helps you to narrow down the choice of neighbourhood:
- Do you want to live in a suburb, city, or rural area?
- Do you need to stay in a particular province?
- How important is public transport?
- Do you need to be close to amenities like gyms, cycling paths?
- Similarly, is it important to be close to medical facilities, airports, shopping centres, schools?
- How important is neighbourhood security, such as patrols, CCTV, neighbourhood watch etc?
- Do you want to be around people of similar age to you?
- Do you want lots of green spaces, such as parks and access to fresh air, eg: walkability?
- Do you enjoy community activities?
- Do you need quick access to eateries/take-away restaurants?
- Do you want a view?
- How much surrounding noise can you tolerate, eg: barking dogs, construction etc?
- Anything else?
How to use your blueprint
The important part of any search is to first look for properties that satisfy your NEEDS. The WANTS come in when you read or hear of the extra’s that are usually advertised on specific property advertisements. They are often revealed as a bonus.
Online: Many property agencies, and Private Property, allow you to tick boxes making it far easier for you to do a search. When you start, do key in a province preference (you may have do go through each province separately but it is worthwhile).
An example from Private Property:
a. Choice is North West, Hartbeespoort Dam
b. Property Type (House, Townhouse, Apartment etc, or All Types).
c. Minimum price.
d. Maximum price.
e. Any beds (number of bedrooms).
f. Filters: Here you can choose from a wide range of options such as number of bathrooms, garages, and parking. Also amenities like pet-friendly, pool, sea view, flatlet, staff quarters, and security, which includes alarm, access gate, electric fencing, intercom, security post.
g. Update your choices and properties that meet your criteria will become visible.
h. Each for sale property is posted by an agent and/or agency. You will find more detailed descriptions including photographs/videos of the property.
i. Private Property offers a bond calculator on every advert so you can easily work out the affordability factor.
j. If you like what you see, an easy email form is available on the posting, or simply reveal the agent/agencie’s contact numbers and make a plan for a viewing.
Physical
Undertake a search for estate agencies that have a national footprint, or those that have a strong presence in a province. Don’t forget the independent agents, being those who may not work for an agency. Also consider asking friends, colleagues and family about good experiences they have had with a particular agent, and reach out to those. You can request an agent to contact you and meet with you to discuss the items on your blueprint. It is their job to find properties that comply with at least your needs and, hopefully, your wants too.
Open mind
Your blueprint is a living document, meaning that first time homebuyers may find they need to change their priorities as their search progresses, add or delete new items, and even define suburbs that peak an interest.
Bear in mind that It is rare that a buyer is able to find the perfect house, in other words, one that ticks all your boxes, and requires no renovation or compromise. However, keeping an open mind is crucial because regardless of what is on your blueprint, you may find a property that, with a little creativity, could be your perfect starter home.
