Like Lindsay and YaShekia, I’m house-hunting. It’s for all the usual reasons — it’s a good investment, I’d like to have more space, and after a few years of renting, it’s time to take the next step and buy a home.
I’m not too picky. A safe neighborhood and good resale value are two of my top priorities, and of course I want a home that’s affordable and in good condition. But when it comes to the interior, there aren’t too many must-haves on my list. As long as the kitchen has enough room for a table and chairs, I don’t need a formal dining room. I don’t need a family room and a nicer living room, either — I don’t have that much furniture anyway. I’m not someone who simply has to have a fireplace. No dishwasher? No problem. (Although it certainly would be nice to have one.) But one of the main things I’m looking for has nothing to do with what’s inside the house: I want a fenced-in backyard for my dog.
I should clarify — I don’t actually have a dog. Well, not yet. That’s another reason I’m looking forward to buying a house — so I have the room for a four-legged friend. I’ve even picked out the kind I want: an English Springer Spaniel, which is what my family had when I was growing up.
Besides seeing dogs at work — there’s often another staffer’s pet paying a visit to the Blue House — there are a few dogs I try to claim as my own, like my roommate’s Golden Retriever (below left) or my parents’ Miniature Schnauzer (that’s him and me, at right). A part-time pet means the best of both worlds — I get to enjoy having a puppy around, without having to pay for food or visits to the vet.
Even though the financial obligations will kick in when I get my own dog, it will be nice to have a pet around all the time, not just when I’m visiting family in another city, or when my roommate (who goes out of town a lot and usually takes her dog with her) is at our apartment. And with Angie’s List, I have a great resource to help me find a vet, groomer, dog walker or pooper scooper.
And the money I spend on a puppy will mean some savings in the long run; after all, with a dog in the house, who needs that dishwasher?
Having a fenced-in backyard was one of my main criteria when looking for a home, too. It’s funny how having dogs changes your priorities.
Indeed, John! A fenced-in yard and proximity to a park were our two biggest requirements for a house each time we’ve house-hunted. Unfortunately, the fence in our current house is too short, and our dog Diva can easily jump over it, even at 8 years old. So now I have to figure out a quick, affordable fix…
Just beware of the foreclosure! I was talking to my neighbor last night who just purchased a foreclosed house. True, he got it for $80K when it was valued at $160K, but he said the guy who lived there before him removed all the bathroom vanities, all the countertops and all the kitchen cabinets before he left. Nice.