In the history of written language, has there ever been a symbol more satisfying than the checkmark? Picture the shape, the jaunty tick perched so proudly to the left of a list item, boasting the completion of a task. Equally enticing is the prompt for a “Y” or an “N,” and who hasn’t heard the siren’s song in the compelling austerity of the blank — and the deep satisfaction of filling it in?

Though you may not be as fanatically enchanted as we are with the idea of making and completing lists, if you’re in the market to buy a home, take heed: a house-hunting checklist can make the difference between information overload and an informed outcome.

This article will elevate the rank of the checklist from grocery-store companion to house-buying confidant. Wherever you are in the house-hunting process, we’ll provide a general checklist for each step and offer guidance for you to customize your own house-hunting checklist.