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Ask yourself these questions to assess your needs and wants.

Home size and budget
How many children do you have? How old are they? Are more planned?
How long will you live here?
Do you want finished basement space or finished area above the garage?
Do you want to plan for future additions, such as a screen porch?

Lifestyle
How formal are you?
How much and what type of entertaining do you do?
What do you do in your leisure time? How much TV? How much reading?
What sports interests and needs do you have?
Where do your kids play? Where do they study?
Where do you do your bills?
Are you computerized?
How many people do the cooking?
When do you do the laundry?

Tastes
What kind of style do you like? Traditional? Colonial/Early American? Modern? Combination?
Do you like wood floors?
Do you like lots of light?
Do you like an open feeling or two-story spaces?
Do you want fireplaces, and if so, where?
Will your home fit in well with the environment?

Integrating a Home with the Lot
Where are the views or open spaces?
Where is south?
Where are the other houses? Do you want a buffer?
Topography issues: Can you have a walk-out basement? Can the garage be on the left or right?