House - A Love Story

July 25, 2012

Buying a house is just like falling in love, actually it isn't just like falling in love it is falling in love.  Despite what everyone is going to tell you, yourself included, it is not a business transaction, it is a relationship and you will be better served by treating it that way.

Don't buy a house because you think it will grow on you or you could learn to love it. You won't, anymore than Mr. Right on Paper or Ms. She Looked Good at Closing Time will turn into Mr. or Mrs. Right.  Conversely, if you fall in love with a house, move heaven and earth to buy it.  If you don't do everything possible to buy this house no other house is going to measure up and it will haunt you.  Every house you look at will not measure up in some way or another to "The One".  If you do try everything and still don't get the house it will be much easier to find another house because you will know that it "was not meant to be." Trust me.

Usually, somewhere about the 5-7 year mark your love story will come to an end.  Your life changes, suddenly you're trying to cram 4 into a house built for 2, or that endearing crooked shutter starts to drive you batsh--t crazy.  You start to resent every dollar you put into the house.  At this point there is only one thing to do.  You need to make a clean break and sell the house.  Just sell it.  Do not turn this into a financial equation at this point of the game, IT IS OVER.  Cut your losses and move on, just like in a relationship, you will not be able to remain friends.

Hire a Realtor who will tell you the truth about what your home is worth in the current market, in it's current condition and price it to sell in 45 days.  It does not matter what you think the house is worth, how much you paid for it or any of the other good things you have tangled up with it.  Those days are gone.  If you don't sell your house you will end up killing each other.  You will stop maintaining it because it let you down, it will start requiring expensive repairs that you will not want to make because it's not worth it to you and you go down a truly terrible downward spiral. Just let go.  Then you can get out there and fall in love all over again.

Tamara