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The Dream Home is only 90 Percent Perfect- Why Buyers Need To Lower Their Standards

By Kristi DeFazio

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

October 05, 2010 12:20 PM

I know the title sounds crazy, but hear me out. As a real estate agent in Colorado Springs, I have shown countless number of homes to many buyers looking for their dream home. I am all in favor of finding the perfect home and do so for my clients.

The perfect home does not mean one hundred percent perfect. I tell my buyers to think of everything they must have in a home. These are the "Deal Breakers." For example, if they definitely want a large kitchen and 3 bedrooms, those are must items for them.

Buyers need to find a home that fits all of the "Must Haves" and be willing to concede on some of the minor things. The 100 percent perfect home really doesn't exist. Even if you think it is 100 percent perfect, you will find something small that annoys you once you move in.

Have you ever built a home from scratch to make it perfect? Was it perfect when you finished? I say, probably not. The fact is that you want to find a home that you love, that fits your needs and is "Almost Perfect." If you are looking for 100 percent perfection, chances are that you will never be happy.

I have lived in 4 houses in my life.My favorite house was 90 percent perfect. I only wished it had a little bigger kitchen. I absolutely loved everything else about it. The other 3 homes (including the one I am in now) are about 80% perfect.

So, if you are lucky to find a home that is at least 90 percent perfect, I say- "What are you waiting for?"

I would love to hear your thoughts on this concept of the 90% perfect home.

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Gay E. Rosen

Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty - Larchmont, NY

As Real as Real Estate Gets!

Hi Kristi: Ditto, ditto, ditto...... I keep telling my buyers that a home in theier price range, in any price range will not be perfect.. They seem to think that they will find it - at a ridiculously low price (that no-one lese will be interested at that low price), and at any little thing... they walk.... I like to think that I REALLY try to educate my buyers......but perhaps there is a glass wall in there somewhere... Best, Gay

Oct 05, 2010 12:24 PM

Kristi DeFazio

RE/MAX Advantage - Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs Rea lEstate 719-459-5468

Gay- Thanks for your comment-and for stopping by. I also try to do a lot to educate my buyers. It seems to help.

Oct 05, 2010 12:26 PM

Jeff Graves

Altos Research - Sunnyvale, CA

More than just beautiful market trend reports

Kristi...spot on. The perfect home doesn't just doesn't exist...unitl perhaps the buyer makes it their own. Aloha.

Oct 05, 2010 12:46 PM

Margaret Goss

@Properties - Winnetka, IL

Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

Actually, I'm going through this thought process with buying a new car. I can see that there are 2 things that are must haves and the rest I have to be flexible about. Home buyers start out wanting it all, but eventually come around to see that 80-90% is pretty darn good.

Oct 05, 2010 12:49 PM

Victor Zuniga

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services California Properties - San Diego, CA

I agree that there's no such thing as a perfect home. I give my buyers a property sheet that has must haves along with would likes. I then pull up homes that have all of the must haves and show them what that home will cost them and more often that not, if the buyers are reasonable, they start to concede on all sorts of things such as location and features.

Oct 05, 2010 12:54 PM

Wendy Hodges

Re/Max Southern Shores - Myrtle Beach, SC

Davis & Hodges

I love the percentages... How accurate for me personally. When building there are a few items overlooked or let go due to time and money, so 90% perfect is almost perfect. In today's market, where the buys are so great in Myrtle Beach at least, 90% perfect + great price of 50 cents on the dollar =perfection (or as close as it can get)!!!

Oct 05, 2010 02:42 PM

Jark Krysinski *PREC (Personal Real Estate Corporation)

REMAX CREST REALTY WESTSIDE - Vancouver, BC

TeamYVR Team Leader, BA,ABR,IRES,IMSD,LLB

Kristi, thanks for putting into words what a lot of us face all the time. Buyers often don't see that finding their next investment and home is not a process of selection but a process of elimination which means that they will sometimes find the qualities which are x,y,z which have nothing to do with the criteria a,b,c that they imagined they wanted. Cheers and thanks again for the post. Jark.

Oct 05, 2010 07:53 PM

Jeff- Aloha and thanks for stopping by to comment.

Margaret- Good luck with the car shopping. My husband actually is a GSM at a dealership, do I can relate to that as well.

Victor- I like that strategy. I may do that from now on as well.

Wendy- 50 cents on the dollar helps people to overlook a lot of things they thought they must have!

Jark- Yes, often times buyers will change the "must haves" once they go out looking. Thanks for the comment.

Oct 06, 2010 02:02 AM

Nathan Strauch

Hot Shots Digital (HotShotPros.com) - Denver, CO

Colorado Real Estate Photography & Video

Great Post, and I couldn't agree more. As a photographer, I have been in hundreds of homes, and have never seen one that is 100% perfect to my standards. This one really got me thinking... Thanks!

Oct 06, 2010 03:50 AM

Nathan- I bet your photos are 100% perfect though! :)

Oct 06, 2010 07:41 AM

Lynn Edgin

Keller Williams Clients' Choice - Colorado Springs, CO

GRI, SFR, REO

Kristi, great thoughts. I think this should be in writing and placed in the Buyer's presentation.

Oct 10, 2010 05:31 AM

Thanks Lynn! I miss your sweet family by the way!

Oct 12, 2010 03:06 AM

The Dream Home is only 90 Percent Perfect- Why Buyers Need To Lower Their Standards

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