Journal Entry for 4/20/2026 - I am currently going through serious training in a different capacity than residential home sales but still relatable. Here are some things I learned in Sales and where my head is today. You may want to consider some of the points I made for home ownership.
Owning a home requires four pillars of balance. Whether you are looking to buy, sell, or live in your home comfortably for the rest of your life (or as long as you can) the best way I know how after experiencing personal home ownership for 44 years (in Illinois and Texas), the most effective way to experience home ownership breaks down to four major categories.
SAFETY:
While location is important, safety is of high importance. A home is more than just locks and Ring Doorbells. It’s about the structural and environmental integrity of space. This includes:
Structural Health: Focus on the bones – a solid foundation, a seismic-retrofitted frame, or storm-resistant windows.
Security Systems: Smart home integration, such as integrated cameras, motion-sensor lighting, and secure entry points.
Pool Safety: If you’re moving to a new community or decide to install a swimming pool or outdoor separate spa? What are the requirements to keep children safe indoors so they don’t let themselves out in the middle of the night or day when nobody will notice? Certain communities and HOA’s require specific doors, locks, and most have strict rules for fences.
Environmental Safety: The absence of hazards, such as lead, asbestos, radon, and presence of updated/working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Per my request, I asked Gemini ai to generate this image of a homeowner's swimming pool that features comprehensive safety measures. It includes a secure 4-foot fence with self-closing gates and alarms on the house doors leading to the area. Additionally, I have requested to incorporate multiple layers of child protection, such as a sturdy pool cover, a designated storage area for safety equipment, and a prominent safety rules sign.
HOME MAINTENANCE
Just like the human body, a home also requires frequent maintenance and it’s so demanding that if you don’t maintain your home, you will experience system failure due to aging. It can also have a negative or positive effect on appreciation or depreciation when it comes to property taxes.
System Ages: Everything has a timeline. Make it a habit to check and evaluate at least once or twice a year the most important systems that keep the home functioning well. There are five specific systems you really need to check: 1) Roof, 2) HVAC, 3) Plumbing, 4) Electrical, and 5) Water Heater. Keep records and create system timelines for services and life expectancy.
Material Choice: Pay attention to durability, low maintenance materials like quartz countertops, composite decking, or depending on climate home landscaping. For example, in Texas, xeriscaping for drought-tolerant landscaping). Landscaping has no impact on property value when it comes to taxes but may have significant impact when you sell.
Turn-Key Factor: One never really knows when you buy or move in what your future holds. You may need to move and relocate because of schools, children (born and leaving), health, or other personal reasons. Strive to keep your home impeccably maintained or be consistent when it comes to pride of ownership.
COMFORT/SENSORY EXPERIENCE
You may want to think about climate control, ergonomics, and personal needs. Life changes - Homes do too! For example, you or multiple people may need to work inside of your home. Or your children might be home schooling. An aging parent(s) may need to move in or need caregiving. Think about the positives and negatives of one to two stories, or a guest house on the property.
Then there are the natural elements to consider. What direction does your house, doors, and windows face? Where will the sun rise and where will it set? Is there an abundance of natural light or too much light that will cause window treatments or floors to fade? Do you need acoustic privacy (soundproofing)? How is ventilation? Will the layout work? Where is the kitchen as it relates to the living space in a way that feels natural to your living style or preference? Is your environment too crowded or so big, you lose your children in a big house? I really did have clients who moved out of a 5,000+ square foot home to a 2,500 square foot home because the mother could never find her twins who loved to hide and play "Hide-and-Go-Seek" indoors.
AFFORDABILITY - VALUE vs. PRICE
A mortgage is much more than just monthly mortgage payments. Even if you can afford to pay cash, it’s a good idea to visit a Lender to hear what the Lender has to say about the Total Cost of Ownership and not just the monthly mortgage. There are property taxes, home and auto insurance, and monthly fees for personal services, i.e., Pest Control and/or Lawn Services that add up quickly to the total cost of home ownership plus maintenance.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Childcare. Day Care. Extra Curriculums. LED lighting. Energy Star appliances. High-efficiency windows. HOA fees. Appreciation and Depreciation factors. Neighborhood changes. Transportation. Hospitals, Medical Facilities.
Note: I will be sure to comment on your comments, blog posts, and write more when possible.
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