Buying your Dream Home: How to Know What it Looks Like

If you've ever looked at home buying or building articles, books, or magazines you've probably noticed oodles of references to dream homes. The funny thing about these articles is that one person's dream home is by no means necessarily the same for someone else.

For some home buyers or builders a dream home might be a huge multimillion dollar affair with marble tiled floors and white shag carpeting throughout; for others, a modest floor plan with a spa bathroom and a professional style kitchen would be far more desirable. Different people have different dreams, and so their dream homes will vary accordingly.

To determine what your dream home looks like, take a moment to think about your daily life. What activities do you enjoy the most in your home and which do you enjoy the least.

If you love cooking, a larger kitchen with an eating area in it might be just what you need; people who love to cook sometimes get stuck in the kitchen by themselves while they're entertaining because of small kitchen spaces. If you hate cooking, then a more efficient kitchen might be what you need so that your time spent in that room is more enjoyable and less of a hassle. Many people dislike cooking because they try to cook in poorly designed kitchens.

If you love spending time relaxing in your bathtub, you might want to have a large spa-type bathroom in your dream home. Spa styled bathrooms might include a large soaking tub or jacuzzi tub, a bidet, adjustable ambient lighting, heated towel bars or floors, and a sky light. Those who are more utilitarian in their bathroom use might prefer a multi-jet shower, rain showerhead, or massaging shower. I know a few very tall people whose dream bathrooms would include ceiling mounted showerheads to increase the ease of their morning routine and cut down on bumped heads while washing hair.

The other rooms in your dream home will likely be a reflection of your family; anyone with children will need extra bedrooms and play spaces. Anyone with a home based business may want space set aside for a home office. Take into account the needs of all the members of your home when you prioritise the element of your family's dream home.

Another consideration to make is that of eco-friendliness. Is it important for your dream home to have solar panels for electricity or water heating, do you need room in the yard for a garden, do you want grey water reclamation, or maybe it's important that you have a passive-cooling designed home to cut down on your electricity bills in the summer.

Whatever elements are important to you, make sure you add those to your list. If you are planning on building your dream home it is easier to add in these elements than if you buy a pre-built home; many pre-built home may be able to have upgrades added in later however. Starting out your search with an understanding of what it is that you really want will help you be happy with your dream home.