By Mandi Gubler The super-simple (and fun) way to separate needs from nice-to-haves.
When you embark on the home-buying process, your heart is filled with all the dreams in the world. It’s really easy to get caught up in the “I have to have ___________, so I’ll cut back somewhere else” game, even when you don’t actually know where that somewhere else is or if you can realistically cut back there. This post will show you how to pare down the excess and make sure to get the things you really NEED. Make a List of WantsStart by making a list of everything you want in your house. If you love it, jot it down. Have your spouse or partner do the same thing in a separate document. Once you and your partner have everything down, start sorting your wants by order of importance. What’s your No. 1? Do you need large windows? How about a sunroom? Double sinks in the master? You get the idea. Come up with your top 10, then compare your list to your partner’s top 10. What things appear on both lists? Those items should carry more weight because you both want them in your home. Highlight the Important Stuff Next, look at your list and consider:
At this point, you should have a combined list of 10 or so items. My last tip is to figure out the priority of each one of the items. Ask yourself, would you be willing to give up item number 4, say, to have item number 5? Would you be willing to give up hardwood floors for a home theater room? This is the hardest question to answer, but it’ll put your must-haves in the right order. I always picture this activity like an eye appointment when the doctor asks, “1 or 2? OK, now 2 or 3?” Do that with your list! Pool or flooring? Flooring or yard size? Yard size or square footage? Make sense? Bring Your List When You Look at a Home As you’re out looking at houses, keep your list handy. Maybe you’re not willing to give up hardwood floors for a jetted tub, but would you be willing to compromise for a jetted tub and extra square footage? Refer back to your must-haves list often. It’s easy to get distracted. Here’s a quick checklist I use when searching for a home. If you answer “yes” to all of these, a “want” may be worth the splurge — that is, if you can be sure you’ll be able to afford the feature (in terms of your monthly mortgage payments and living expenses).
Happy house hunting!
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AuthorJason Gelios is a Husband and Father. After that, a Top Producing REALTOR®, Author of the books 'Think like a REALTOR®' and 'Beating The Force Of Average', Creator of The AskJasonGelios Real Estate Show and Expert Media Contributor to media outlets across the country. Archives
November 2024
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