The first thing to do before having details on your list is to weigh them by two crucial questions. First of all, ask yourself whether you can or cannot live without that detail on your list. After that, consider whether it is something you can easily create, purchase, or change at your own pace later.
So, for instance, the location of a house is something you cannot change. If your realtor is proposing a home that is an hour away from your office, you might be unable to manage the timing so, it is non-negotiable.
On the other hand, you might want to live in a house surrounded by flowers and healthy plants. You can add this detail after getting a house provided the environment supports it.
While going through the amenities that you'll love for your home, ask yourself whether they are things you cannot do without or things you just love to own.
Put them on the wants/needs column based on your answers.
It doesn't help anyone if you mix up your wants and needs and then treat the unnecessary things like you can't live without them. The key to avoiding the misplacement of priorities is to be completely honest.
If you need a tiled floor in your house, you don't need a Pietra Firma Luxtouch tile, which costs thousands of dollars. It is the same with all the amenities in your house. You need a working plumbing system, but a voice-activated water spray is a 'want'.
An honest assessment helps you to avoid mixing up your wants and needs on your list.
In a competitive market, your realtor will advise you to stretch your needs and become more flexible. Sometimes, you need a little more flexibility to pick a home that is a close fit for your needs. You won't always find that perfect house, especially when there aren't many homes on the market.
In such a situation, be prepared to select a house that fits your compulsory needs and a few of your wants. After getting the house, you can slowly personalize it into the version you want.
Make realistic expectations at the beginning of your house-hunting to avoid disappointment at the end. Understand and accept the fact that you will need to cut out a lot of things that aren't expedient.
When your expectations face reality, reality always wins. In this case, reality might mean letting go of many parts of your 'want' list for your needs.
You need to reach a compromise within yourself if you want to find the best house with the help of your realtor.
The process of getting a home is not all roses. Sometimes, you need to make difficult decisions, including sacrificing your kitchen size to get a house closest to your office. You might also forfeit a large garden to get a comfortable interior.
Whatever the case might be, place your location first and then work on renovations as you go on.
Your dream home is the home you make for yourself!
