Buying Your First Home: How Can You Make Sure It Meets Your Housing Needs?

Buying your first home is a big step. The prospect of finally having a place of your own is exciting, but buying a house can also feel overwhelming. You will probably live there for five to ten years, so what should you consider when buying your first home? What matters most to you when it comes to the layout of the rooms? Read our handy checklist for first-time homebuyers below!

1. Important factors in the surrounding area

You have probably already decided which city or town you would like to live in. However, there are several other things to consider:

Neighbourhood: Is it a pleasant area? What kind of people live on the street? Are there schools, shops and other amenities nearby?

Privacy: Do you have enough privacy inside the house and in the garden, or can neighbours and passers-by easily look in?

Parking: Is it easy to park nearby, or will you need to apply for a parking permit?

2. Natural light inside and outside the house

The amount of natural light in a home has a major influence on the atmosphere and how spacious the rooms feel. Pay attention to the following:

• Natural light indoors: Are there enough windows and/or skylights?
• Sunlight outdoors: A south-facing garden is often considered an advantage, as it receives plenty of afternoon sun.

A useful app for checking the position of the sun in your future garden is Sun Seeker. It shows the path of the sun and the number of sunlight hours at your desired location.

3. Does the layout suit your needs?

Before you start viewing houses, decide what your dream home should include. Write down your requirements so you do not forget anything during the search.

• Would you like an open-plan kitchen, or is there space to create one?
• Is there an additional toilet upstairs, or could one be added?
• Are there enough bedrooms? If not, is it possible to create extra bedrooms?

Tip: Is the house one bedroom short, but does it have a small room or attic that most people would use for storage?

Consider using external storage instead. Renting a storage unit nearby can be more affordable than buying a house with an additional bedroom. In the Utrecht region, for example, an extra bedroom can quickly add €45,000 to the purchase price, excluding interest.

Keep that money in your pocket. At ALLSAFE, you can rent a storage unit the size of a room from just €6.80 per week, which equals €353.60 per year. Around 80% of the items in your cupboards are not used for an entire year, which means you do not need them every day. An extra bedroom, however, can be used daily. Store the belongings you rarely use and you may no longer need a storage attic.

4. Outdoor space

When looking for a home with a garden, there are also several things to consider:

Garden size: When buying your first home, deciding whether you want a garden is important. Think about the future as well. Would the garden be suitable for children? Having enough space to play can make a big difference.

Motorcycle storage: Do you own a motorcycle that does not fit in the garden? You probably do not want to leave it parked on the street in front of your home. Around 1,800 motorcycles are stolen in the Netherlands every year.

Tip: When you do not have enough space for your motorcycle at home, you can store it at ALLSAFE Mini Storage. This gives you more space at home while keeping your motorcycle more secure in an ALLSAFE motorcycle storage unit.

With this checklist, you will be well prepared to buy your first home. Take a look at our other home and living blogs for more inspiration on moving and furnishing your new home.