How to Define Your Non-Negotiables When Purchasing a Luxury Home

If you're searching for a new place to call home, Lynnfield, Massachusetts, might be the perfect spot for you. This North Shore town offers a charming mix of city living and serene suburban landscapes. The Peabody Square area is a hub of activity with plenty of shops and restaurants to explore, and the annual International Festival held every September is a celebration of the town's diverse cultural heritage. Just across the street from Peabody Square, you'll find the famous Brooksby Farm, where you can pick your own fresh fruits and vegetables. Historical Salem is only a few short miles away, making it easy to immerse yourself in the area's rich history.

If you've decided to start hunting for homes for sale in Lynnfield MA, you'll want to start by defining your list of non-negotiables before hiring a buyer's agent. What are non-negotiables? They are the features you are unwilling to compromise on when looking at properties. This list will help your agent provide a more curated array of homes to tour than if you walk in with just a vague idea like "bigger, luxurious, quiet."

To finalize your list of non-negotiables for houses for sale in Lynnfield MA, start by having each member of the household make a list of what they need, what they want, and what they really don't want. Once the lists are complete, the household should discuss each list and come to an agreement on which items to include on the final list.

For the number of bedrooms, start with the number of current household members, then add plus one if your family routinely hosts overnight guests, like extended family. If you plan to expand your family down the road, add another plus one for all additional family member(s) you expect to join the household.

Regarding the number of bathrooms, think of how often there's been a line for other members to use the shower or brush their teeth. At a minimum, you should consider the main bathroom and a half bath for guests. On a more maximalist take, you may want to consider an ensuite bathroom for every bedroom and a guest bathroom for every floor.

As for extra spaces, consider how often you've used the living room or dining room as a multi-purpose space for homework studies, working from home, family game nights, and more. Are multi-purpose rooms working well for you, or do you find them cramped, noisy, and frequently frustrating? Do you need a separate formal dining room, or is an informal eat-in kitchen okay? Do you want a playroom for the kids or grandkids? Making a list of the extra spaces you and your family would find useful is beneficial for narrowing down the list of "we need this" versus "this would be helpful and nice, but isn't entirely necessary."

When considering outdoor space for recreational use, keep in mind new owners of single family homes for sale Lynnfield MA can expect an average of 41 inches of annual total snowfall, occurring from November through April. With cold weather for half the year, it is important to keep in mind that outdoor spaces will need to accommodate both summer and winter recreational activities. Do you need a large, flat backyard to host outdoor grilling parties or do you only want a small area for potted plants? Do you want the outdoor patio to be usable year-round with heated pavers? Have you considered a fire pit? Does the family enjoy snow sports like skiing or snowshoeing; if so, do they require a space adjacent to their home for storing equipment? By thinking about how you are likely to use the outdoor space, you can craft a detailed description of the type of yard and outdoor entertainment areas you desire.

As one of the most important rooms in a home, real estate agents in Lynnfield MA will be interested to hear the kind of kitchen you are seeking. Think about how often family members cook together, how often you have big dinners that require lots of preparation, and how often you host parties with wide spreads of food. If you tend to eat out or order in more often than not, a large kitchen may not be as critical of a need for your household. However, a larger kitchen with duplicate appliances may be more appealing if your family enjoys cooking together or hosting large dinners or parties. Think of how useful a second oven would be for side dishes when cooking a large meal and how helpful a second dishwasher would be when it comes time for cleaning up.

Finally, think about your storage needs. Are your belongings spilling over to bins and containers outside of closets? Do any of your household members have a large collection of mementos they will want to display? Do you have a wealth of holiday decorations that will need a storage location until Halloween or Christmas rolls around? Think of storage for your vehicles, sports gear, and outdoor equipment.

When it comes to purchasing a luxury home, many details need to be considered, and non-negotiables should be defined. Make an informed decision when choosing your dream house by considering all these important factors: formal dining rooms, playrooms for the kids, outdoor areas for year-round activities, kitchen size for hosting dinner parties or cooking with family, and storage for vehicles and holiday decorations. Once you have a final list in hand, reach out to a local realtor like Louise Touchette for help finding homes that match your requirements.

_{*Header photo courtesy of Louise Touchette}