Mindful Homebuying
By: Kelsey Zeidner
Tags: Homebuying, Minfulness, Advice, Finance, Real Estate

The word “mindfulness” inherently invokes images of outdoor running, yogis taking deep breaths, chopping vegetables to the sounds of Chopin, what have you. It doesn’t necessarily seem to match with the requirements of searching for and purchasing a new home. Finding a real estate agent, getting your finances in order, and reading through long contracts usually tick all the boxes of “Things You Need to Decompress From”, but this doesn’t need to be the case.

After surviving 2020 and all that came with it, we need to shift our focus from de-stressing AFTER an important life event to being mindful of curbing stress DURING the process. If you’re thinking about starting your home buying journey and want to stay mindful of your finances and wellbeing, let me guide the way!

1. Decide what is ACTUALLY important to you.

The reason I emphasize ‘actually’ is because influence is real, people. Take a look at any social media, magazines, or reality TV, and you’ll see what influencers and designers consider “perfect” homes. They usually come with a hefty price tag (before you even start filling the house) and hard to maintain features. If that’s what you are looking for, great! If not, it’s time to get real.

The core of any good financial plan is needs vs. wants. The core of any good home buying plan is wants vs. non-negotiables. Ultimately, you need a roof over your head, so that will be covered no matter what home you choose, but your wants vs. non-negotiables will be what actually helps you make decisions. Take a piece of paper, draw a line down the center, and get to writing!

Would you like a two-story home but require a bedroom on the ground floor? Put it on the list. Would you like an open floor plan but require a dedicated home office space (hello, possible future quarantines!)? Put it on the list. And I mean it: don’t just think of them, write them down. Having these on paper will be the Jiminy Cricket you need when making expensive decisions. Impulse buys, like going for the house with the pool even though you have no desire to maintain a pool and now two of your kids will have to share a bedroom, might seem like a good idea at the time, but when all is said and done, you’ll regret it. Stick to what works best for your ideal living situation, and you can’t go wrong.

2. Find a REALTOR® you vibe with.

Have you heard the phrase “everybody is not for everybody”? It’s as true for the person you decide to work with as it is for your dating life. Someone might be a perfectly nice person but just not for you, and that’s okay!

Most REALTORS® can get the job done, but what will the process look like? Social media gives you the convenience of getting a sneak peak at the person you’re thinking about working with. Is this someone you’d want to spend a lot of time with?

Once you get a feel for a person and decide to reach out, don’t hesitate to ask questions. Here are two major ones:

What is your typical response time?

What is your mode of communication?

It’s important that the frequency and mode of communication your REALTOR® uses matches your expectations. Your REALTOR® should not only provide the expertise to make your home buying journey a success but also provide the service that you are comfortable with.

3. Take a breath and talk it out.

Listen, buying a home is one of the biggest purchases you’ll make in your life, and there is some amount of stress that goes with that type of purchase. It’s normal. Do not let it shake you.

If there is any time during the journey where you start to feel overwhelmed, stop, take a breath, and talk to your REALTOR®. Many times, receiving an explanation of information you’re unsure of will calm your thoughts. Knowledge is power, right?

And hey, sometimes you just need to dump everything you’re thinking onto a caring party. That’s okay, too! We are your partners through this journey, and we’re here to support you.

Now I have a question: what can I do for you?

If you have questions about the homebuying or home selling process, need recommendations, or just want to talk business, let’s connect. Email me at Kelsey.Zeidner@gmail.com. I’m here to help you.

If this information was helpful and added value to you, I’d be grateful if you gave it a “clap” and recommended it so others can read it and find some value in it. Thank you!