•Save time, because you won’t bother looking at houses that don’t “fit”

•Put your emotions aside to the best of your ability

•Get on the same page with a spouse or partner

•Make the best decisions when your budget meets reality

•Act quickly and confidently when the right home comes along

Maybe you want a single- family house, not a condo, period. Or vice versa. Maybe you’ve chosen a particular community, end of story. Maybe you need three bedrooms for the kids you plan to have in the next four years. These are essentials that would impossible, or very hard, to change.

Our checklist has “big want” and “small want” columns. These are things you want but can live without, or possibly add to your home later. Maybe you crave new appliances. But if an otherwise perfect home has junky ones, you’re still going to jump on it. On the other hand, a kitchen outfitted pro style could seal the deal if you’re on the fence.

This is the stuff that’s irrelevant to you. Work at home? Commute time is not part of your world. Carless? No need for parking.

If the layout of your current place is a huge pain, for example, think twice about settling for a home that has the same problem. Things like that really shape your daily life.

Needs are a moving target, and your first home probably won’t be your last. Maybe your plan is to buy a small starter home and, in five years or so, trade up to something with more room for kids. Think short- and long-term goals.

You probably won’t get everything you want in one house. Home buying is about compromises and tradeoffs — and being smart about how you make them. One way to work on this is to start visiting open houses well before you intend to buy.

Are you willing and able to add your must-have third bedroom or second bathroom? Get a realistic sense of the cost. Do you have the money? How long will it take to save up? One of the biggest surprises for new homeowners is how darn expensive things are