{"id":3312,"date":"2017-06-15T23:18:05","date_gmt":"2017-06-16T03:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.organizedinteriors.com\/blog\/?p=3312"},"modified":"2019-08-30T15:03:48","modified_gmt":"2019-08-30T19:03:48","slug":"house-hunting-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.organizedinteriors.com\/blog\/house-hunting-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"House Hunting Tips: What to Look for With Closet and Storage Space"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are a multitude of considerations to make when house hunting. Inevitably, some compromises will be made when you finally\u00a0buy the\u00a0home that best fulfills the essentials you value most in a residence.<\/p>\n

One of the time-tested house hunting tips\u00a0is not to undervalue the importance of closet and storage space.<\/p>\n

HSH.com\u00a0is the America\u2019s largest publisher of mortgage and consumer loan information and one of their surveys found that 80% of respondents had regrets about their home purchase.<\/p>\n

9% of that was made up of buyers who found their home lacked adequate closet or storage space.<\/p>\n

Use these house hunting tips to help you evaluate potential storage space<\/h3>\n

These house hunting tips in relation to closet and storage space will assist you in knowing what to look for when viewing different homes and the storage potential they offer.<\/p>\n

Take stock of what you own<\/h3>\n

Before you begin to visit potential future homes, take careful stock of everything you own and how much closet and storage space you have. A move is a great opportunity to declutter, so factor that in to your assessment.<\/p>\n

Having even a loose concept of how your family\u2019s belongings will fit within another home will be an asset. It can also dictate whether additional\u00a0closet space becomes one of your priorities for a new home.<\/p>\n

It can also help you avoid the common mistake of being mislead by the cluttered contents of someone else\u2019s home, which may be attributable to a few\u00a0different things.<\/p>\n

Evaluate how a potential seller is using their storage space<\/h3>\n

Sure, a\u00a0home might be cluttered and disorganized due to a lack of storage space. But a home\u00a0that appears to not have adequate storage space might just be lacking effective storage systems and homeowners that don\u2019t declutter enough.<\/p>\n

Is the\u00a0homeowner making use of closet organizers<\/a>\u00a0or effective bedroom storage solutions? These can make a big difference in how a home\u2019s storage space is used and the overall presentation of the house.<\/p>\n

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Inspect thoroughly and document your findings<\/h3>\n

One of the house hunting tips that not enough potential buyers follow is to inspect all areas of a home you\u2019re looking at. Open every door, drawer, and cupboard in every room because you never know what you might be missing.<\/p>\n

There could be extra storage space that isn\u2019t immediately obvious or, conversely, potential problems that will come as an unwelcome surprise once you\u2019ve moved in.<\/p>\n

Particularly focus on inspecting the closet areas. As a prospective buyer, you\u2019re entitled\u00a0to thoroughly examine all areas of the home, so don\u2019t worry about seeming like you\u2019re too nosy (as long as you\u2019re not snooping through the owner\u2019s belongings).<\/p>\n

Take measurements and also ask the realtor for permission to take photos or video footage of the home. Having as much documentation as possible while house hunting helps, especially if you\u2019re looking at numerous properties and need to keep details straight.<\/p>\n

Expect less closet and storage space in older homes<\/h3>\n

If the home you\u2019re browsing is older, expect there to be less closet space than you\u2019ll find in newer homes. Some rooms may not even have a closet, or the closet space that does exist may be much smaller than you\u2019re used to.<\/p>\n

Decide whether you can adapt to a more confined amount of storage space\u00a0and whether this may be\u00a0a deal-breaker for you and your family.<\/p>\n

Remember that you can always add storage space in the bedroom<\/h3>\n

Remember that a small closet can still be quite functional with a good closet organizer and some helpful closet accessories.<\/p>\n

You can also add storage space to a bedroom in the form of a bed surround\u00a0or\u00a0wardrobe\u00a0(which could also be added to a front hallway). Our convenient create-a-closet\u00ae\u00a0solution\u00a0is another option. It creates closet space anywhere you need it.<\/p>\n

If the home you\u2019re touring has a spare bedroom, consider turning it into a dressing room<\/a>\/large walk-in closet. Even an oversized master bedroom can have a partition wall added to give you a nice private dressing area.<\/p>\n

Storage space in the kitchen and bathroom<\/h3>\n

How important is adequate storage space and the proper d\u00e9cor for your bathroom to you? If the bathroom in a home you\u2019re considering buying is lacking in these areas, consider updating its look\u00a0and storage capabilities with custom bathroom cabinetry.<\/p>\n

A kitchen pantry is a nice to have for storing your food, which frees up space for storing items like small appliances, dishes, cooking supplies, and other kitchen items in your cupboards. Ask us about our high quality custom kitchen cabinetry.<\/p>\n

Are the laundry room or mudroom making the best use of their space?<\/h3>\n

When inspecting the laundry room<\/a>\u00a0in a home you\u2019re viewing, assess whether the space fits your needs. How much storage space is there for detergents and fabric softeners?<\/p>\n

A drab laundry room with poor lighting and a lack of functionality can always be improved. We\u00a0can update your laundry room\u2019s look and also enhance its usefulness by adding custom cabinetry and accessories like valet rods, hidden laundry hampers, and pullout ironing boards.<\/p>\n

A mudroom should be more than a disorganized area that becomes a storage spot for things\u00a0that don\u2019t quite have a home elsewhere in the house. Look for adequate overhead storage, enough hooks for hanging coats and hats, and other storage spaces, such as a bench with storage space inside of it.<\/p>\n

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Assessing storage space in the rest of the home<\/h3>\n

When assessing the available closet and storage space in the rest of the home, decide whether or not the basement and hallways have enough storage room for you and your family. Is there a linen closet or space to store your wine collection?<\/p>\n

Does the area underneath the stairs offer any storage possibilities? And don\u2019t forget the garage! For help with maximizing any garage\u2019s storage space, consult the professionals at Garage Living<\/a>.<\/p>\n

House hunting tips that prevent regrets<\/h3>\n

Following these house hunting tips that help you understand what to look for when assessing the closet and storage space in a potential future home will ensure you don\u2019t have regrets in this department later on.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve already\u00a0moved into a new home recently and are looking for ways to increase your storage space and make it more functional, we can help. Schedule a complimentary in-home design consultation<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n

See also:<\/h4>\n