What’s Your Why in a Home?

Are you in the market for a new home? Are you considering selling your home for a bigger and better one? Or, perhaps you are thinking of downsizing or moving to a retirement community close by or even to a new state. Maybe you’re just starting out and wondering what to buy or whether you should buy at all.

Before you make any buying or selling decision, consider your “why.” Why is your current home no longer meeting your needs? Why do you need something bigger? Better? If you’re dissatisfied with your current home, why is that? Do you really need more space? Is your neighbor’s bigger and “better” home causing you to dislike your own? Just because everyone is buying, is buying the right move for you?

Why Do You Want What You Want?

Before you make a major buying decision and a big move, it’s wise to do some introspection and really consider why you want what you want. Seriously. What’s your why when it comes to your home?

In our profession, we meet people who are perfectly happy and content in a 600 square foot studio. We also meet people who own large, lovely homes who are, well, seemingly unhappy. Sometimes, people see something that entices them, and they make a rash decision to trade up without giving it a lot of thought. And sometimes, people think buying a new home will fill a void in their lives. Not.

We’re in the business of representing buyers and sellers, but we want to represent you for all the right reasons. We want to help you get to your why and to help you make the best decision for you.

Consider Features and Benefits

Your home (or potential new home) comes with features and it comes with benefits. There’s a difference between the features you have or want in a home and the benefits you derive from your home.

Features are the things a property has, like 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and an outdoor entertaining area. Benefits, on the other hand, are those things in a property that will change your life in some way. Does the benefit of entertaining, for example, bring your heart joy? Maybe it’s about security for you. Does the benefit of your home being in a gated community give you peace of mind?

How Will Something Enhance Your Life?

Before you decide to buy a bigger and better home (or a home at all), be sure to ask yourself what the benefits are and how those same benefits will enhance your life for the better. You may find value in the benefit of privacy because your, well, a very private person. For some people, security is a huge benefit. They need to feel safe.  Protected. Maybe for you it’s about prestige or status. You’ve worked hard to climb the ladder and your home reflects your position and status. Or, perhaps you want the benefit of gathering your friends and family together under your own roof because that is what makes your heart sing. Being together with those you love matters to you. A lot. Maybe the benefit of a space that affords you the ability to work from home will give you the convenience you are looking for. Convenience is a huge benefit for many people. Or, does hosting and housing out-of-town visitors resonate with you? You may derive emotional health benefits from connecting with people from all walks of life.

Discover Your Why

There are a lot of reasons for you to sell and buy, but there are only a few right reasons for you. Discover your why before you make any major decisions and make sure you work with a Realtor who is just as apt to talk you out of a buying or selling decision than into one. Just because someone else is selling doesn’t mean you should too. And, just because a house comes with all the bells and whistles, doesn’t mean it’s ringing or whistling the right tune for you.

Be wise when it comes to your buying and selling decisions. Consider what you already have in your home.  Contemplating the benefits you currently have will help you define the benefits you want moving forward. And then, look deep inside to discover your why behind your motivation to buy, trade-up, downsize or sell. Once you’ve gotten clear on your motives and the benefits that will enhance your life and the lives of those you love, make a well-informed decision. A wise and thoughtful decision. One based on benefits and not on features. One based on your why.