All I Want For Christmas

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A...

by Darrin DeRoches December 17 - 23, 2009

Forget “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth”: all you want for Christmas is a new front door. This is the time of year to look back on a tough, tough year and to look forward to a new year and a new home. Over the holidays people start to realize it may be time to start looking for a new place to live, but just like your Christmas list for Santa, you should start to make a wish list for a new property. Do you want a bungalow, ranch, or semi? Should it be brick, stucco, or siding? How about a yard, pool, or garage? Decide what type of home will work for your family and your lifestyle. While you are visiting family and friends, ask them what works and does not work in their homes. An exterior of a home can cause a lot of maintenance, have great street appeal or make it look larger than it is. Most homes exteriors are nicely decorated during the holidays and you can take notice of a particular style which fits your taste. For the interior, do you want one floor living? Do you desire open concept? Is moulding and wainscotting important? Is a second or third washroom important? Lots of drinks are flowing; are the bathrooms keeping up with your family? Is the dining room large enough for the big–sit down dinner or are you more casual and the family room is more utilized? Are the hardwood floors working or would carpet be more appropriate for your family? Is a dishwasher imperative or do you have dish pan hands? Look at and feel the interiors of other’s homes during the holidays and see what works for your family. Overall, what is really important for your family and lifestyle? Your home and your families’ homes get the most use during the holidays. What do you love about your house or your families’ houses, and what doesn’t work? Is your family getting larger or smaller? Everything should be taken into consideration when writing your wish list of features for your new home. If you are lucky, Santa may even grant a few wishes. Maybe that drunken uncle who keeps spilling his drinks all over your carpet makes it a good time for hardwood. You can watch all the design shows all year long, follow all the trends, but what works and what doesn’t is far more important than following the fads. So when the holidays are done and you are looking into the New Year, is your home working or is it time to start looking for the new place to live? V [DARRIN DEROCHES] Darrin DeRoches is a local real estate and mortgage broker. He can be reached to answer questions, comments or stories about real estate experiences through this weekly column at mail@uniquerealty.ca