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Home » Mortgage and Real Estate Education Center » Suitability Standards

Suitability Standards

Ask these important questions about the home's functionality. As much as possible, you want these standards to be true for the home you're considering purchasing.

Living Room:

• Adequate floor space for efficient placement of furniture.
• Traffic pattern doesn't require you to walk the entire length of the living room to reach other parts of the house.
• Fireplace not near flow of traffic.

Dining Room or area:

• Kitchen close by.
• Adequate size.
• Shape is nearly square.

Bedrooms:

Master bedroom size is at least 10 ft. x 12 ft.
• Secondary bedroom sizes are at least 9 ft. x 10 ft.
• Adequate ventilation.
• Don't have to walk through one bedroom to reach another.
• Closet space is at least 2 feet deep by 3 feet wide.

Kitchen:

• Ample and efficient workspace.
• Centrally located equipment to eliminate excessive foot travel.
• Floor, ceiling and wall surfaces are easy to clean and maintain.
• Adequate lighting and ventilation.
• Kitchen conveniently located in relation to dining and/or family room.
• Kitchen has an exterior entrance.
• Laundry facilities are adjacent to the kitchen.

Bathrooms:

• Properly located with respect to other rooms.
• If the home has only one bathroom, it is located off the central hall.
• Bathroom doesn't open into kitchen or living room.
• Bathrooms have exhaust fan or exterior window.
• Floor, ceiling and wall surfaces are easy to clean and maintain.

Exterior Grounds:

• Soil is protected from erosion.
• Proper grading provides protection from water damage.
• Walks, walls and other yard improvements are made of adequate materials.

Site Location:

• Property doesn't abut commercial or multi-residential uses.
• If a key lot, it doesn't look upon other back yards.
• If a corner lot, no busses stop at the corner.