Issue Date: August 10, 2007

Home Search Compromises

By Jody Zink
Licensed Realtor in Ohio & Michigan

Many home buyers say they're choosy and over-critical. And they should be. They're buying more than a roof over their head. They are buying a home. It will satisfy physical and emotional needs that aren't easily measured. There's real psychology involved here. The home is a reflection of self, which makes the quest to buy the right one, really complicated sometimes.

Buyers searching for homes in and around Toledo have lots to choose from. When the inventory grows, buyers feel they can hold out for what they really want without really worrying about rising prices. So, the search can go on for months, even years. Consider how lucky a home-buyer would be to find a great property right out of the box! It happened for me. But for some buyers, finding a house that suits their needs early on can pose a problem.

Common thinking is.... Have I looked at all my options? Have I looked long enough to understand the local market? Are there better listings I haven't seen, perhaps at a better price? Should I wait and see what else I might find, or should I just go for it?

Don't pass over something ideal just because you found it quickly. Instead, quickly satisfy any concerns so you're prepared to make an informed decision. Your Realtor can help you find out how much the utilities run, the age of the roof, furnace and water heater, all common buyer questions. If the property quickly finds it's way into your heart and you don't jump on it, you may not get another chance. If it's sat for a year, it's not unrealistic to think it'll be there tomorrow and the day after. Consider, however, that it might go away. As crazy as it sounds, homes can sit for more than 12 months, only to get two offers within an hour of each other.

Let's say your search has gone on for years. Only a few homes have fit the bill and you've only made offers on two since the start of the search. The one you fell in love with was too expensive, and the other time you lost out in a bidding war. You've come close to making offers several times, but wound up backing away. You might be getting out and seeing homes that could work for you, but become paralyzed when trying to make a decision and following through.

Buyers who've been looking for more than 6 months should take a break to consider whether their expectations are realistic.

If you're serious about buying a home, compromises will always be involved. This is important in general, and especially when house hunting. Even the perfect house will have something that you'd like to change. It's common to love the kitchen in one house; the basement and bathrooms in another; and closet space in a third. For me, I fell in love with the 3-season porch in my current home. And it was the French doors that really blinded me to the fact the kitchen was really small.

I was fortunate enough to find my house on the first day of the search and knew right away that I could make it my own. My house is somehow intermeshed with my own sense of self. Finally! I've found myself. It certainly would not have happened, however, without making compromises.

Jody Zink is a licensed REALTOR in Ohio and Michigan with the Loss Realty Group. Her column appears every other week in the Toledo Free Press. She can be reached at jody@jodyzinkrealtor.com or 419-725-1881.