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The choice of where you live is simply functional, usually based on affordability. Renting is a great option while you build your savings and make another move or two up the corporate ladder before settling down to a home of your own.

While the function of renting is mobility, owning a home offers more choices and the opportunity to build equity. You may want more space, privacy, and better access to schools, family or work. You can expand your interests, such as cooking in a larger kitchen, creating art in a studio, or having a large back yard for gardening and entertaining.

As your preferences become more focused, you may find that owning a home is more suitable for your lifestyle. In most areas, you can buy a home more affordably than renting.

Let’s say that you find a 2,400-square foot home for sale or lease. You may be able to rent it for $1.25 per square foot, or $3,000 per month, but you can buy the home for $1.65 per square foot or $400,000. When you finance at a fixed rate over 30 years, your payment is closer to $1,900. Add in typical property taxes and hazard insurance, and you’re at about $2,700 per month, and all the interest is tax deductible, making buying the home a better deal.

Choosing a home is about getting the most benefit for your money. It should be a decision based on how well the location, space and design serve your needs and pocketbook.

Homeowner’s insurance, or hazard insurance, provides protection from damage or loss of your home as well as limited liability coverage for anyone who has an accident on your property. But that may not be all the coverage you need.

Lenders require borrowers to escrow a year’s worth of policy payments for new loans and to maintain enough coverage to pay the mortgage off in case of a total loss. That keeps payments lower, but with building costs constantly rising, it’s wise to insure your home with a guaranteed replacement homeowner’s policy. Your home can be rebuilt to the same size and quality as before, no matter what the current cost for materials and labor.

A basic HO-1 policy will cover fire, lightening strikes, explosions, vandalism, theft, and limited liability, but it doesn’t cover personal possessions. The HO-3 provides comprehensive coverage, including loss or damage to personal property. Be sure to purchase insurance riders for valuables such as heirlooms, jewelry, antiques, fine art, and rare collections.

If you live in an area prone to hurricanes or earthquakes, coverage must be purchased through riders at additional cost. Consider flood insurance for natural disasters where water can breach the home from outside. Your insurance won’t cover any roof with more than two layers, so repair or replace your roof to meet current building codes.

You want to save money by choosing a higher deductible or combine your homeowner’s insurance with your car insurance. Many insurance carriers will lower premiums for multiple products.

Nearly two out of three households in the U.S. have one or more pets. While homebuyers may have pets, too, they don’t like to consider homes that have “gone to the dogs.”

Think of buyers as guests who deserve to be safe and relaxed while looking at your home. They can trip over your cat or become frightened by a dog that barks.

This is when crate-training really pays off. You can take your pets with you or board them with loved ones or at a reputable pet care. If you can’t take your pets with you, your pet sitter can come over and quickly crate your animals so you don’t have to reschedule the showing.

Don’t leave your dog in the backyard because the buyer needs access to all of the property. Also, don’t leave your dog next door as your dog may continue to bark. Buyers wont like a barking neighbor’s dog either.

Pet-loving homebuyers won’t overlook stained carpets and bad odors from litter boxes, aquariums, and pet beds. Change litter boxes and bird cages daily, and pick up dog waste from your yard every day.

Keep your dog and cat brushed and bathed so there’s less fur stuck to furniture and carpets. Sweep and vacuum daily, and deep clean or replace stained carpet.

Remember, it’s always better to correct problems yourself, rather than offer credits like carpet replacement to the buyer. The fewer negatives the buyer notices, the better the offer to purchase will be.

When buyers pull up to the curb in front of your home, you want them to feel intrigued and excited to come inside. What says “Welcome!” more than a fabulous front door?

The front door should be a beacon, with a clear uncluttered pathway that leads up to the steps or the porch. Trim away overhanging bushes or creeping grass that crowds the walkway. Plant fresh flowers and shrubs in an attractive curve pointing toward the entry.

For safety reasons, the front door should be easily identifiable from the street and accessible without navigating around furniture or potted plants. Replace porch light bulbs, and clean light fixtures of dirt and bugs.

Whether you repair, replace or repaint your front door, an upgrade should be at the top of your to-do list. Choose a paint or stain color that complements the exterior of your home. Red is the color of hospitality, like “rolling out the red carpet.” Bright colors are cheerful choices while deeper colors tend to be more elegant. Greenery, Pantone’s 2017 Color of the Year works well in all seasons.

Update the hardware on and around your door including a new peephole, door handle, doorbell, house numbers, and entry lights. Replace worn weather-stripping and seals on glass inserts. Fill in nail holes and scratches with wood filler before painting.

Stage the area around the front door with a new doormat and color-coordinated cushions on chairs or porch swings.

Make a great first impression (and possibly a sale!) with a clean, attractive entrance.