Home Style and Living Needs

 
In many ways, finding a home is easier than choosing a neighborhood because you are considering tangible details. Yet our experience suggests that many people “decide” with emotion and “justify” with facts. This section will help you find a better balance.

If you can clearly describe the features you require, we can make a preliminary screening for you from the thousands of homes for sale. After you select the best houses, you can concentrate on inspecting your top choices.

  • Will it just be you and your pet living in the house or do you have a family of six? Do you prefer a new or resale home? What is your preferred housing style? Townhouse, colonial, contemporary, split level, split foyer, Cape Cod, rambler, or something else?

  • How many total rooms do you need? Bedrooms, bathrooms? How strongly do you require features such as: separate living room, dining room, laundry room, basement or attic, family room, fireplace, workshop area, garage? How much property do you require? Do you have preferences for any particular natural features?

  • Outside. Address of property? House style? Lot size? Landscaping details? Degree of grounds maintenance required? Age of house? Structural condition? Are any major repairs or improvements necessary? Maintenance of building?

  • Inside. Make a sketch of floor plans. Total number of rooms and baths on each floor? Any extras such as intercom, fireplaces, phone jacks? Built-in appliances: dishwasher, garbage disposal, trash compactor? Enough closets? Adequate storage space?

  • Construction. Inspect quality of materials, present condition, craftsmanship both inside and outside. Insulation? Weather stripping or storm windows?

  • Major systems. Plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling. What type of fuel does the heating system use? Approximate annual cost? A professional inspection of the major systems is recommended for a house that you are interested in purchasing.

 

 Aea House Styles

  • Cape Cod. A symmetrical peaked roof often with dormer windows which creates a one-and-a-half story design with living space upstairs in an “expansion attic.”
  • Colonial. A two-story design with center hall or side entry, often with basement. Variations often feature double or single wings with garage. Numerous styles include New England, Federal, Plantation, Dutch Colonial, Georgian, French Colonial.
  • Contemporary. Modern and non-traditional creation of living spaces using a spectrum of shapes, materials, and designs. An “open” use of space is characteristic. May be single or multiple stories.
  • Hi-Rise Condominium. Multi-story building with elevator access to owned apartments; monthly fee usually pays for use of recreation facilities, maintenance, and utilities.
  • Low-Rise Condominium. A cluster of attached units, four stories or less ranging from converted garden apartments to ramblers and two-story townhouses. Resident owns title to living space while jointly owning public areas. Condominium fee often covers maintenance, amenities, sometimes water; other utilities may be individually billed.
  • Rambler. A single-story house with all living areas on same level. Variations include L-shape or U-shape plan, perhaps with basement. Sometime called ranch; if it is small, a bungalow or cottage.
  • Split Foyer. Entry is between floors. Makes use of slope by placing basement partially above ground level on uphill side, thus basement becomes livable space. Also called a split entry.
  • Split Level. Side wing has two levels off main ground floor; designed for maximum living space while occupying the least land. Garage and sub-basement are frequent options.
  • Townhouse. A row of two-or-three-story dwellings sharing common walls, also called row houses. Wide range of styles from contemporary to colonial. The term “semi-detached” describes a pair of townhouse end units, similar in function to a duplex.