Reality vs. A Dreamy Nightmare

When purchasing a home, we tend to envision our dream interior decor style. In the age of digital consumerism where we are shown new products, items and stuff constantly that we “must have” – it is easy to get caught up in things we might not necessarily need and break our budget. Below are some tips on how to avoid overspending and what you will actually need right away.

Once you have your master top 10 list, it is helpful to consider each item in two different categories:

What can’t be changed without a large investment? These are items like square footage, number of rooms, floor layout, etc. These items are what make the house which is essential in the home-buying decision that cannot be changed as easily without breaking the bank.

Home renovation features: Think Fixer Upper. Paint color, tile, backsplash, built-ins, etc. can easily be these things can easily be DIY-ed or changed upon moving into your home. This list should not make or break your buying process since they can be easily changed, removed and planned for.

When looking at houses, it is helpful to keep your list handy to remind yourself what you are looking for. It is easy to become distracted when touring. Use your list as a checklist to check the majority of your boxes.

Ask yourself questions like:

Can it be easily changed or removed without breaking the budget?

Would I be willing to compromise _____ for ______ ?

What are the pro’s and con’s?

Would I be willing to sacrifice or expand the budget for ___?

Happy house hunting!