Decide: Which Things are Non-Negotiable or are Flexible

I had a couple looking in a new-home neighborhood. They liked the lot better in one location but not the house on that lot. In contrast, they found a house they liked better but did not like the lot it was on. This was definitely the neighborhood that they wanted to live in, but they were having a hard time making a decision on what to go with.

The first property had more level ground which made it more appealing. Lots of hills and valleys make it hard to even build the simplest of things – like a swing set. Unfortunately, this house was not attractive to them because the home had separate living and dining rooms and a family room that was not as open to the kitchen.

We discussed how they lived and what their family’s needs were; we talked about the lot and how much time they would actually spend in the yard versus being in the house. After going over their priorities, they decided to go with house that they liked best regardless of the lot.  It had the family room and open kitchen they wanted so they could be with their children and prepare dinner at the same time.

Before you start shopping, make a list of what you need in your next home. Prioritize that list and decide what is non-negotiable and what is flexible. Why are you moving and what amenities are you looking to gain in your next home? Those 2-3 features would likely be on the non-negotiable list. Features like hardwood floors and fencing for pets can be on the flexible list because they can always be added later.

Making this list before hand will cut down on wasted time as you narrow down your search to specifically what you need. You will feel more comfortable with a buying decision that meets the top 3 requirements on your list. While one home will not have everything on your list, if it has most of your requirements you are more likely to be happy with your choice.

-Sharon J. Coleman

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