To say our heroes Jack and Jill were excited about finding their own home on the hill was an understatement.  They had the home buying bug…BIG TIME.  “Jill, I see that you have our next check point printed and ready to read.”  Smiled Jack, as he headed to the kitchen table.  “Yes, Jack, I have it printed and the dinner is in the over staying warm.  Let’s go ahead and read it, before we eat”  sang Jill eagerly.  Jack replied, “Sure Jill” and so Jack began reading aloud………….

#6 Will THIS Home Suit Our Needs in the Future?

When you are searching for a home you need to look into your crystal ball and see what you will need for a home in the future.  Now since the crystal ball store went out of business a couple of hundred years again it might be a good idea to review your goals for the next five, ten, and fifteen years.  The goals you need to review are personal, work and relationship.  In other words, your goals for you, your goals for your job, and your goals as a couple.  All three should meld together at some point.  If one of your work goals is to be CEO of your company in five years and that company just happens to have their headquarters in another state.  Well, that is why you need you go through this exercise.  Respect for the spouses personal dreams and needs for fulfillment are just as important as yours.  That’s what makes two people into one.  Now if you are single; but have a main squeeze it might be time to have serious talks about where the two of you see things going.  No pressure, no worries, just reality.  Buying a home is a commitment for the next five to fifteen years.  That’s why we need to review those long term goals.  Things happen and situations change.  You may want to move closer to family if a loved on falls ill.  Or you may get an unexpected promotion with the division your company just bought that moves you to another state.  Life happens, so be as prepared as you can.

What will you need IN your home to satisfy your needs in the future?  That definitely varies from buyer to buyer, but the basics remain the same…you need a home that has strong bones, has room to grow, and your proud to come home to.  The home structure we will talk about in a later check point.  You will want room to grow in your home, but be careful not to over do it.  A couple with no pets and no children might not want to buy a five bedroom home….yet.  Or maybe they do if they know that they have family that will be visiting for long periods of time for they don’t have a study or game room.  In this case the extra bedrooms become the study and the game room, which leaves you three rooms for beds.  Human nature is to fill available space with stuff.  Be aware of this trap and work hard to keep it in check,  A four bedroom home is a perfect size for a couple that doesn’t have kids or a dog. yet.  One bedroom is the master, tow bedrooms are for guests and one is a study/hobby room.  That doesn’t mean that each guest room needs a full bedroom suit.  Sometimes a blow up mattress works just fine.  After all if your guests don’t leave you won’t have a chance to miss them.

So as Jack finished the last sentence he walked to the kitchen.  on the way he slammed his knee on the counter.  “Yowweee, that hurt.”  Jack yelled in pain.  “I know one thing is for sure, we need a bigger kitchen, especially since your cooking is getting tastier and tastier, Jill.  Before long I won’t be able to fit in this kitchen.”  Jack said with a grin.  Jill met his smile and they set the table together, working hard not to bump Jack’s sore knee again.  That night they started on their short and long term goals eagerly awaiting the next check point entitled:

“Jack and Jill…Where Do YOU Want to Live?  The Home Buyer Checklist You’ve Been Looking For (8 of 15)”

We hope that you’re enjoying our series and that it helps you on your way to……………………..

Live Life to the Fullest,

S.C.

We return to our characters Jack and Jill, with Jack returning from his monthly visit to the doctor.  “Jill, I’m back., Jill.”  shouted Jack as he entered their tiny condominium. “Yes, Jack I know your home, I could hear you when you walked up, through these paper thin walls.”  said Jill crossly “SooOOO, get on with it, how was your appointment with Doctor Foster?”  enquired Jill  “He told me that yes, indeed, I have a brain and it appears to be mended.  ANNNNNND, no more monthly visits.”  Jack smiled.  “Perfect, Jack it’s time for us to dive into our next check point.”  said Jane eagerly.  And this is what they read:

#5 Keep an Open Mind

When you are searching for your next home you MUST keep an OPEN MIND.  Unfortunately, your next home will not come alive and tell you “I’m the perfect home for you”, while trumpets play and confetti falls from the sky.  You will pick your next home by taking the time to research and visit the homes.  It is kind of like an interview process…you will interview many before you find the best fit for your needs.  Home buying has also been called home buying through elimination.  What do you NOT like about this home?  Do you absolutely HATE the front elevation (how the front of the home looks)?  Will a couple of cans of paint or some different landscaping change your opinion of the front elevation?  If NO is your answer don’t take another step, this is not the home for you…strike it from your list and move on.  Homes come on the market daily so be open minded to all possibilities.

Home searching overload has hit more than one home buyer and it could hit you, but here are some tips to help you keep an open mind.  Don’t visit too many homes in one day.  Everyone processes information differently, so take notes.  The worst thing you could do is create a SUPER HOME in your mind based on bits and pieces of homes you have seen that day.  Five homes a day is the magic number.  Also keep in mind that the home market is NOT standing still while you search for a home.  If you view a home today, it could have had five showings yesterday and two written offers already.  Because the home market is always moving; when you give your REALTOR your list of homes to view give him more than five.  One of the homes could already be under contract, while one home is sick with the flu, and another could be hosting a birthday party.  Here’s another tip:  the photos you see on the multiple listing service and videos the listing agent has made: are to peak your interest to set an appointment, but they also can be used to eliminate a home.  No photos or limited photos, something is up…don’t waste your time.  It’s hard to let go of that mystery home that says that it has the right number of bedrooms, square footage, location and price, BUT let it eliminate itself because it doesn’t have any or enough photos to deserve your attention.  Here’s another way to think of it….up to this point you have done everything to prepare yourself to make an offer.  You have a pre-qualification letter, you have a REALTOR, you have the desire to be a home buyer….now the homes have to have the equal desire to be sold, so if you see anything that may be deceptive in the marketing of a home, strike it from the list.

Everything happens for a reason, again BE OPEN MINDED, you are looking to eliminate homes.  If it is to be it is up to you.  The one home you cannot find enough to strike it from your list, that is the one that YOU will call HOME.

Jack and Jill now had a clearer picture of how to search for their home on the hill.  “Jill, I don’t know about you, but I’ve had an open mind once or twice.”  Jack said with a wink.  “Yes, Jill interpreted, I remember bandaging that mind more than once with vinegar and brown paper.”  “Well, I like this new type of open mind much better.”  Jack said as he leaned in to give Jill a kiss.  Jill returned his kiss with a blush as they eagerly awaited the next check point entitled:

“Jack and Jill…Will This Home Suit Our Needs?  The Home Buying Checklist You’ve Been Looking For (7 of 15)”

We hope that you’re enjoying our series and that it helps you on your way to…………………….

Live Life to the Fullest,

S.C.