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The Perfect Home Is A Pipe Dream

By Dan and Amy Schuman

Real Estate Agent with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

December 12, 2012 10:05 PM

the perfect home doesn't exist

If you are buying a home, especially for the first time, it is important to have realistic expectations because the perfect home simply doesn't exist, at any price point.

I'm not saying that you won’t end up with a wonderful home that makes you excited every time you pull into the driveway. Just understand that setting the bar at perfection is a tough order to fill. We have seen people spend a lot of time looking for a home that has everything they want, right up to the way it is furnished and decorated, and they end up disappointed. They blame the market and sometimes even their agent for their frustration but the real problem may be themselves.

If you can’t find a home you like, you may simply have to re-adjust your game plan. You should prioritize the things that you absolutely need in a home versus the things that you would like. Also realize that inexpensive cosmetic changes can turn a nice home into the "perfect" home for you. Opening your mind to alternative locations may also be helpful.

START WITH A PLAN

Here is a brief action plan to get you started with your home search:

1. Get Pre-Approved

2. Make a list of "must haves" and "would like to haves" for your new home

3. Define the ideal timeframe that you would like to move into your home

4. Communicate all of these things with your agent

5. Keep an open mind - don't be afraid to look at homes that don't exactly meet your criteria

The most important thing is to be honest with yourself. Trying to fit a square peg into a round hole is a daunting task and will lead to a lot of unhappiness. Be realistic and understand that life is often about compromise, especially when buying a home.

If you liked this post, please subscribe to our blog. We always appreciate having new readers and more importantly, enjoy making new friends.

Here are some of our others posts that may interest you as well:

One Question That You Absolutely Must Ask Your Clients

5 Reasons Why Using A Local Agent Is Better

Cool Virtual Tool To Help Pick Out Paint Color

Is Social Media Killing Confidentiality?

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman are agents with Howard Hanna, the area's largest real estate company. They live in Solon Ohio and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

LET'S CONNECT:

The Perfect Home Is A Pipe Dream is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©November 2012

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Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA

Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Dear Team -

Great ideas and so clearly organized!
Thanks for sharing with us.

Have a happy day -
Lynn

Dec 13, 2012 01:10 PM

Gary Frimann, CRS, GRI, SRES

Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA

REALTOR and Broker

We do say, as agents, that there is not perfect home. Whether it be floorplan, price and desired location, or the condition of a house. Besides every judge knows that there is no "perfect" home, as all homes have a possible flaw, which sometimes can be fixed.

Dec 13, 2012 03:26 PM

Sharon Parisi

United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX

Dallas Homes

Someone once told me to think of your "must have" home features as glass balls that cannot be dropped. The other features become wants not "must haves."

Dec 13, 2012 03:54 PM

Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA

Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD

301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

I always say. .there is no perfect home until you live in it and make it so!

Dec 13, 2012 09:51 PM

Terry McCarley

Coastal Real Estate - Cape Coral FL - Cape Coral, FL

REALTOR, SRES, CDPE - Cape Coral, FL

Oh so very true! I have been working with a couple looking for the "perfect" home and their criteria is so strict it is unbelievable. I finally had to set them down and explain that the "perfect" home they seek just doesn't exist and they are going to have to give up some things on their "must have" list.

Dec 13, 2012 10:55 PM

Rafi Footerman

Mid Jersey Inspections - Edison, NJ

Home Inspector, Mold Inspector, Radon and More!

Luckily, it just has to be perfect for them, or at least perfect enough.

Dec 13, 2012 11:07 PM

Jeff Dowler, CRS

eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA

The Southern California Relocation Dude

Dan and Amy

Such wise words! I think we all see this fairly regularly - unrealistic expectations that are not in line with the reality of the market. Most of the time you can help these folks reach a point where they realize perfection, or even close, is not realistic (and is doesn't seem to matter what budget someone has - I've had million $+ buyers who are way out of whack).

It becomes clear pretty quickly whether those realtiy checks are going to help or whether the hope for the perfect home will simply lead to inaction and tremendous frustration.

I often think that those who are that unrealistic simply are not all that serious and we say goodby.

Jeff

Dec 13, 2012 11:20 PM

M.C. Dwyer

Melody Russell Team at eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Felton, CA

MC Dwyer-Santa Cruz Mountains Property Specialist

As long as it's in a good location for them, buyers can usually improve a home over time to suit their "like to have" list - great advice, Dan and Amy!

Dec 14, 2012 01:25 AM

T Carter Maudsley

Equity Real Estate - Solid, Salt Lake City, Utah - Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake Area Realtor

"Perfect" is often times a result of the attitude and expectations of the buyer. We all love working with clients who are willing to overlook small flaws in a property and have the ideas and willingness to make those flaw part of their perfection.

Dec 14, 2012 01:35 AM

Marte Cliff

Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID

Your real estate writer

Back in the late 90's I had a client who had a checklist... He wanted a home for his new bride when he got married, but that didn't happen. Then they wanted a home before their first child was born, and that didn't happen. Every year they'd get the bug and we'd look at homes. He'd bemoan the fact that he didn't buy before prices went up.

I ran into her at the grocery store a while back - they're still renting.

Dec 14, 2012 01:49 AM

Cheryl Ritchie

RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD

Southern Maryland 301-980-7566

Reblogged this with this caption... The home you find is a series of compromises. I agree that no home is perfect. You just get most of the realistic items on your list and compromise on some, too. It is fun to compare the initial list to the home that is finally selected.

Dec 14, 2012 11:29 AM

EMILIA B COOPER, REALTOR® SFR.NCHSE.AHWD

LAROSA REALTY - Orlando, FL

Short Sales, Foreclosure & Bank Owned Real Estate

Dan & Amy, thanks for the advice and excellent information!

Dec 14, 2012 01:57 PM

Dale Taylor

Re/Max 10 New Lenox Illinois http://dtaylor.remax.com - Frankfort, IL

Realtor = Chicago Illinois Homes Townhomes Condos

A simple message can be the most powerful. This is something we need to keep reminding potential Buyers. We Realtors also need to not compromise when Buyers try to get us to show them homes before they do their financing homework. In doing so we would make all of our careers easier. Thanks

Dec 14, 2012 02:16 PM

Potranco Realty

Potranco Realty - San Antonio, TX

"Sold with Potranco Realty"

Dan & Amy, if only we could convince that buyer who keeps trying to fit the square peg in the round hole. I had one of these buyer clients not long ago and after spending two months showing property she ended up renting another year. If she wasn't a dear friend I wouldn't have wasted time. Good Stuff

Dec 14, 2012 07:57 PM

Bob Miller

Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL

The Ocala Dream Team

Hi Dan & Amy, great post to set expectations for the buyers and get them moving in the right direction.

Dec 15, 2012 12:25 AM

Dan and Amy Schuman

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services - Solon, OH

Luxury Home Specialists

Jerry - Custom is a good solution for those that can't find what they want. Thanks as always for reading and your comments.

Olga - I also wish every buyer would follow the checklist as it would make everyone's life much easier.

Charita - Agreed.

Ruthmarie - I would imagine that it is difficult moving to an area like yours where housing is more expensive. I guess buyers can fight it for a while but will end up becoming realistic over time.

Pete - Nice to hear your feel so good about your home. Everyone should feel the same way.

Carla - At some point they accept reality, sometimes it's with their second or third agent though.

Christine - Thanks, Christine.

Angela - What a great attitude! Wish more people would think that way.

Kat - Agreed, good advice.

Hella - Thank you. I suppose move up buyers should also pay attention to these things as well.

Jill - I wish every buyer would read this as it would make their lives easier.

David - Feel free to share this with them.

Debbie - Agreed!

Christina - Great, let me know how it goes with them.

Lynn - You are very welcome.

Gary - So true, and unfortunately, many buyers cannot overlook some flaws that can be easily fixed.

Sharon - That's a great way of thinking about it.

Fernando - Very well said.

Terry - This is a hard conversation to have as some buyers aren't ready to hear it. I commend you for sitting down with them.

Jeff - Thank you for your excellent comments. At some point we as agents need to make a decision whether or not buyers are so unrealistic that it is better off not working with them.

M.C. - Agree, but many lack the vision.

T. Carter - These are great buyers to have. Don't you wish they were all like this?

Marte - Perhaps there is something else holding them back? Hope you didn't spend too much time with them.

Cheryl - Thank you so much for the re-blog.

Emilia - Our pleasure!

Dale - Great advice as so many agents rush to show homes without sitting down and going over the basics like financing and expectations.

Bob - It happens to all of us. Perhaps they'll find a great home in the future with you.

Bob - Thank you for commenting, we appreciate it.

Dec 16, 2012 09:51 PM

Rob Renk

Center Street Lending - McKinney, TX

AE | Fast Fix/Flip Loans for Residential Investors

It would be wonderful if we could find that perfect dream home, but i have even heard friends that I thought had the perfect custom hom esay that they still wished that they had changed something.

Dec 18, 2012 01:23 AM

Gabrielle Kamahele Rhind

KGC Properties LLC, Tucson Property Management & Real Estate - Tucson, AZ

Broker/Owner

GOOD MORNING DAN! Nice feature! Just wanted to stop by and write that I am a day behind with wishing you the best of the rest of the year and hoping yesterday was just great for you!

Dec 25, 2012 09:28 PM

Gene Riemenschneider

Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA

Turning Houses into Homes

I think this is really important for people to understand. We cannot get everything we want. But it can be a joy to prioritize. I think we actually enjoy more of what we have when we are forced to make choices.

Dec 27, 2012 03:21 AM

Pat & Steve Pribisko

Keller Williams Greater Cleveland West - Westlake, OH

Dan and Amy, this is exactly what we cover in our first meeting with a buyer. So, congrats on a great blog.

Mar 27, 2013 10:57 PM