The value of a house is often influenced by plenty of things. Many of these factors mostly focus on the features of the house—the materials used, the amenities, the property size. While it is understandable to base the price on the features of the home, these are not the only things that dictate how much a house should sell for.
Several other external factors also influence the value of a house. One of them is the location of the home. This is probably one of the most important factors when choosing a new home because it affects the price and the overall living experience of the inhabitants. With that, aspiring homeowners should carefully assess their future home’s location and surroundings before striking a deal with a mortgage lender.
Home Location: Something Worth Pondering
A home’s location is a major factor that homeowners should take more seriously. This is because a home’s location ultimately affects the quality of life of aspiring homeowners. It affects the health and safety of inhabitants and often plays a part in the convenience of home living.
Health Hazards
One major thing that will be affected by the location of the house is the overall health of the inhabitants. For instance, living near a highway has been documented to be very harmful to pulmonary health. This is because of the air pollution in these locations.
Reports of a study released in 2019 also suggested that people who live near landfills often experience bad air quality. This is caused by the fumes and odors coming from the landfill. Participants who lived nearer to landfills also experience more health conditions compared to those who lived farther away.
Natural Hazards
Natural hazards can also be present in one’s home. Being close to areas where natural calamities may occur can pose a real safety risk for homeowners. For instance, living near places where wildfires often occur can be a serious safety risk. Also, living in areas such as the Tornado Alley in the Central United States can be life-threatening.
Convenience
Of course, convenience plays a major part in choosing a location. We all want to live in houses that are close to our needs. This includes hospitals, government offices, shopping centers, and grocery shops. Accessibility to basic amenities should always be a factor when choosing a location.
This is why properties in cities tend to be more expensive. Large urban centers have plenty of amenities that can create a convenient life for homeowners. This is also where plenty of job opportunities exist. This means demand for properties in these places is always high.
These only prove how vital locations can be for home living. Assessing home locations should be one of the top priorities when picking a home. This may take a considerable amount of effort. With that, let’s look at how new aspiring homeowners should assess the location of the house they want.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
One of the best ways to assess the location is to simply ask the seller or the agent handling the property. They have the necessary information that can help homeowners decide if the property is ideal or not. Buyers should always ask about the history of the house and the things that often occur in the neighborhood.
Apart from that, homebuyers should observe the surroundings of the property for themselves. They should look out for tangible hazards that might be in the area. Apart from that, they can consult city offices for hazard maps. It would also help if they would envision themselves living in that area for every season and under every type of weather. This helps them know if living in that area is ideal all year round.
Distance to Necessary Amenities
Of course, they should always check the distance from their houses to the various public amenities necessary for living. This includes schools, medical facilities, shopping facilities, and government offices. They should check how accessible these services are. Also, they need to consider how well their location is regarding the public transportation system of the area.
Leisure
Another thing that they can assess is the amenities for leisure. Is the location of the house near a park? Is it near a beach or a recreation center? We all need spaces for leisure because it helps us reduce our stress. When we have access to these places, we have a better chance of experiencing what they have to offer.
Homeowners need to assess their options carefully. Their quality of life is on the line when choosing a location for their homes. This may be hard to do. But at the end of the day, it is all about finding a safe and comfortable place they can call home.