Love at First Site: Is the First Home You Fall in Love with the Right Home for You?

Searching for the right home is a huge endeavor.  Your home is where your heart is…where you feel safe and comfortable and happy. It’s the place where you spend time with your family, where you raise your children, where you come together in times of joy and sorrow.  So, choosing the perfect house is something that should never be taken lightly.  While feeling emotionally drawn to a home might feel good, it’s important to also consider practical aspects as well.  When deciding to make what will probably be your largest financial investment, you cannot rely solely on what you feel.  Both your head and your heart should be part of the decision-making process.

When you start your home search, chances are you’ve been thinking about it for a while and you have an idea of what you want.  If you’ve provided your Realtor with a list of wants and needs, she will find homes to show you that have as many of your wants and needs as possible.  You may walk into the very first home and immediately fall in love with it.  And that’s ok.  But that doesn’t mean you should stop your search and make an offer.  Here are some reasons why you should keep looking:

- There may be other homes with similar features, but lower asking prices.  Maybe the first home you fall in love with is the best one for you, but you can’t possibly know that if you haven’t compared it to any others.  It’s wise to shop around and compare that first home to others.

- You should take time to consider resale value.  Whether you are planning to stay in your new home long-term or you know you might be moving in a few years, resale value matters.  Shopping around will help you get a feeling for the area where you are looking. Is your “first love” home the nicest in the neighborhood?  If so, it may not appreciate in value as much as the others. Educate yourself about features that provide high resale value before making a final decision on a home.

- Getting super excited about the aesthetics of a home can cause you to miss red flags.  You may walk into a home and immediately see beauty and perfection.  But that doesn’t mean it is in perfect condition.  Be careful to not get swept away by the look of the home.  Remember, you can’t judge a book by its cover and in the same respect, you can’t judge a home by its appearance.  There may be hidden problems that only a thorough,professional inspection will unearth.

- You will save yourself from experiencing “buyers’ remorse”.  Have you ever impulsively gotten a haircut, then looked in the mirror and wondered “what was I thinking?”  Choosing a home should never be an impulsive decision.  Don’t rush into it.  If, after looking at several more houses, you’re still in love with the first one you saw, go for it!  You can be confident in knowing that you are making an educated, thoughtful decision.

Falling in love with a home is just part of the equation when it comes to choosing the perfect place for you and your family to live.  Desi Sowers is committed to serving real estate clients in the New River Valley area. Contact her at 540-320-1328 and let her help you find your dream home today!