Courtesy of The Frisky
As of about a week ago, Nick and I are officially homeowners. Yay! Buying our own place was cool and exciting and also possibly the most stressful thing I’ve ever done. Here are 10 things I learned along the way, that I wish someone had told me before we even started…
1. Be flexible about your dealbreakers. This sounds like an oxymoron right? Dealbreakers are, by definition, unflexible. But the thing I learned while househunting is that most people make a lofty list of “must haves” and “dealbreakers” for their future home, and then they actually start the househunting process, and suddenly those lists feel arbitrary, unrealistic, and more confusing than anything. Don’t feel like you have to settle for a run-down shack or something, but do be open to places that don’t match up with your preconceived notions of your “perfect house.” Looking at a bunch of different houses is going to clarify what’s actually important to you, which might render your dealbreaker lists irrelevant. You know how a lot of women spend years dating tall men, saying, “I would never be attracted to a short guy,” then end up meeting their soulmate, who just happens to be 5’2″? It’s like that.
2. Know that you won’t find the perfect house, but you will find the perfect house for you. This was something my best friend told me when I started getting really frustrated and nitpicky about the houses we were seeing. I was losing hope that the perfect house was out there, and called her in a panic. “There is no such thing as the perfect house,” she said, “but there is a house out there that’s perfect for you.” This is why letting go of some of your dealbreakers is essential: it helps you reassess the idea of perfection and focus more on the overall feel of the house and if you’ll be happy living there.