Todd Johns Real Estate Investment Advisor · Press Realty Inc.

Todd Johns Real Estate Investment Advisor · Press Realty Inc.

Dream Home Checklist: Wants and Needs

Dream Home Checklist: Wants and Needs

Home Location:  _________________________________________
Address:  ________________________________________________
Asking Price:  ____________________________________________
Annual Property Taxes:  __________________________________
Mortgage Terms:  ________________________________________

Exterior

  • Large lot and yard
  • Single-family detached home
  • Duplex/Triplex
  • Semi-detached home
  • Town home
  • Condominium
  • One storey home
  • Two storey home
  • Three storey home
  • Fenced backyard
  • Deck or patio area
  • Mature trees, landscaping
  • Low-maintenance landscaping
  • Swimming pool
  • Attached garage
  • One-car garage
  • Two-car garage
  • Private driveway
  • Enclosed front porch
  • Eaves troughs and downspouts
  • Brick
  • Wood
  • Aluminum siding
  • Recently painted woodwork

Home Location

  • Address
  • Asking price
  • Annual property taxes
  • Mortgage terms

Interior

  • 1 bedroom
  • 2 bedroom
  • 3 bedroom
  • 4 bedroom
  • 1 bathroom
  • 2 bathroom
  • 3 bathroom
  • 4 bathroom
  • Closet in foyer
  • Separate dining room
  • Fireplace in living room
  • Separate family room
  • Fireplace in family or recreation room
  • Eat-in kitchen
  • Island kitchen
  • Kitchen appliances with purchase
  • Kitchen pantry/adequate cupboard space
  • Garage has indoor access
  • Utility room (for washer/dryer)
  • Ensuite bathroom off master bedroom
  • Main-floor bathroom
  • Room for den or home office
  • Wall-to-wall carpeting
  • Hardwood floors
  • Plenty of closets/storage
  • Large windows
  • Thermopane windows
  • Window screens
  • Draperies or blinds
  • Basement for storage/workshop
  • Finished basement for additional living area
  • Apartment in basement for rental income

Systems

  • Efficient heating system
  • Oil heating system
  • Gas heating system
  • Electric heating system
  • Heat pump heating system
  • Wood heating system
  • Window Air conditioning
  • Central Air conditioning
  • Modern plumbing (copper) and fixtures
  • City water
  • Well water
  • High-amp electrical system (at least 100 amps)
  • Circuit breakers
  • Gas hot water heater
  • Electric hot water heater
  • Cable TV or antenna
  • Sewer
  • Septic Tank

Location

  • Nearby facilities
  • Quiet street
  • Shopping within walking distance or short drive
  • Parks/playgrounds
  • Golf course
  • Skating rinks
  • Restaurants /theaters
  • Community centre
  • Public swimming pool/tennis courts
  • Public library
  • Places of worship
  • Police
  • Fire department
  • Hospital
  • Medical (doctors, dentists, etc.)
  • Day care
  • Snow removal
  • Public transportation
  • Close to work
  • Near major highway
  • Schools
  • School-operated transportation
  • NOTES

Back to Top | Back to Main Menu

Source:  OREA (Ontario Real Estate Association) www.howrealtorshelp.ca

Read More

Checklist 1: Know Your Budget and Lifestyle Needs

Before you start house hunting, get a clear vision on both your finances and your future lifestyle. This will help you prioritize your must-haves and make smarter decisions in a competitive market.

Finances:
  • Are you pre-approved for a mortgage?
  • What’s your price range?
  • How much do you have saved for a down payment?
  • Do the estimated monthly payments fit comfortably within your budget?
  • Have you budgeted for closing costs?
  • Do you have emergency savings in place?
Lifestyle Needs:
  • Do you need space for a future nursery or home office?
  • Do you need a garage, or is street parking enough?
  • Any special features for pets (e.g., fenced yard)?
  • How long do you plan to stay in this home?
  • Is wheelchair access or limited stairs important?

Ready to take the next step toward your dream home? Use our Mortgage Affordability Calculator to discover what’s comfortably within your reach—and move forward with clarity and confidence.

Calculate Your Home-Buying Power Now

 

Halifax real estate, handled.

I have been licensed in Halifax for 14 years. Before that I spent 20 years in sales and marketing, most recently as Sales Manager at Garrison Brewing. I hold a BSc in Biology and Microbiology from Dalhousie University.

I work with buyers and sellers across Halifax, Bedford, Clayton Park, Hammonds Plains and Tantallon, and elsewhere in Nova Scotia when a client needs me there. Most of my work is luxury homes in the South End and in Bedford.

What separates me from most agents is what I do when I am not selling. I have owned income property in Nova Scotia for 23 years — I started nine years before I got my licence — and I currently own and self-manage a six-unit and a five-unit building. I have screened the tenants, taken the 11pm calls, replaced the boilers and sat in Residential Tenancies. When I tell a client what a building costs to run, it is not a spreadsheet assumption.

That experience shows up in ordinary house sales too. I price from evidence, I tell clients what a property is actually worth rather than what they want to hear, and I do not talk anyone into a house.

My business is almost entirely repeat clients and referrals. That is deliberate. It means I only have to be good at one thing: doing the job properly so the next call comes on its own.

 



Designation: BSc - Biology

Education: BSc Biology/Microbiology Dalhousie University University Courses: Marketing, Sales Management, Strategic Planning, Advertising, Finance I, Finance II, Leaders Edge Real Estate Sales Professional, Master's Edge Certified, Ignite by Richard Robbins International

Speciality: Luxury Homes · Investment and Income Property · Multi-Family · Residential Sales · Waterfront · Condos · Relocation

Years of Experience: 14

Awards: Top Producer - Halifax Top Rated Agent Badge

Area Covered: Halifax, Bedford, Clayton Park, Hammonds Plains, Tantallon, Nova Scotia

Languages Spoken: English



Ready to Find a Home That Truly Fits Your Checklist?

Let our Dream Home Finder do the work for you. Discover homes that match your lifestyle, budget, and must-haves—all in one place.

Start Finding Your Dream Home

Checklist 2: Home Features (Needs vs. Wants)

Separate your must-have essentials from nice-to-have features to search smarter, stay focused, and avoid compromise regrets.

Exterior

Needs

  • Single-family detached home
  • Semi-detached home
  • Town home
  • Condominium
  • Storeys (1, 2, or 3)
  • Fenced backyard and driveway
  • Garage Spaces (1, 2, or 3)
  • Low-maintenance landscaping

Wants

  • Large Lot and Yards
  • Swimming Pool
  • Aluminum siding
  • Enclosed front porch
  • Deck or patio area
Interior

Needs

  • Number of Bedrooms & Bathrooms
  • Kitchen appliances with purchase
  • In-unit laundry
  • Central air conditioning/heating
  • Plenty of closets/storage
  • Garage has indoor access

Wants

  • Island kitchen
  • Room for den or home office
  • Kitchen pantry/adequate cupboard space
  • Hardwood floors
  • Wood-burning Fireplace
  • Smart home features (thermostats, lighting)

Not Sure How to Prioritize Your Needs and Wants? Let Todd Johns help you refine your checklist and find the right home—faster and with confidence.

Get Your Dream Home Guidance
 

Ready to See What Fits Your Budget? Explore Todd Johns’s featured listings to understand price ranges and plan your home-buying budget.

Checklist 3: Location Essentials

Location is key when it comes to finding your dream home. The right location supports your lifestyle and long-term value.

Tips

Thoroughly explore the neighbourhood by visiting at different times of day to get a true sense of its atmosphere and convenience. Research amenities, schools, transportation, and community events to ensure the location suits your lifestyle.

Stay ahead of the market—sign up for Neighbourhood Buzzer to receive the latest listings in your preferred neighbourhood.

Get neighbourhood Updates
Location
  • Nearby facilities
  • Parks, shopping & dining nearby
  • Commute & highway access
  • Close to work
  • Low Crime Rate
  • Schools & community centres
  • Places of worship
  • Fire department

Ready to Buy? Let's Discuss!

Have questions or just curious about the process? I'd love to chat and help you figure out your next step.

Have Questions?

By submitting this form, I agree to be contacted by Press Realty via email, phone, and text about real estate services. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Reply STOP to unsubscribe from calls and texts. To stop receiving emails, click Unsubscribe in any email. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for more information.
Disclaimer By entering my contact information I give my express consent to be contacted by 'Todd Johns, Press Realty' and or real estate salespeople on behalf of 'Press Realty' to discuss potential services.

Have Questions?

By submitting this form, I agree to be contacted by Press Realty via email, phone, and text about real estate services. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Reply STOP to unsubscribe from calls and texts. To stop receiving emails, click Unsubscribe in any email. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for more information.
Disclaimer By entering my contact information I give my express consent to be contacted by 'Todd Johns, Press Realty' and or real estate salespeople on behalf of 'Press Realty' to discuss potential services.
Press Realty*Independently Owned & Operated233 Bedford Highway, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3M 2J9
Halifax real estate leads by InCom Web & e-Marketing Solutions

Terms of Service | Privacy Policy