Step 24 of 48 Phase 3: House Hunt in Earnest
3.7 Decide on a House
You have toured homes and narrowed your choices. Now it is time to make a decision. Balance logic with your instincts, and remember that no home is perfect - focus on what matters most.
Decision Framework Questions
- Does this home meet your non-negotiable requirements?
- Can you see yourself living here for your intended timeframe?
- Are the negatives things you can live with or change?
- How does it compare to others in price, condition, and location?
- What does your gut tell you when you picture living here?
- Would this home have good resale value if plans change?
Pro Tips
- Sleep on it for at least one night before making a final decision
- Revisit your top choice at a different time of day
- Compare your top 2-3 choices using your scoring matrix
- Discuss concerns openly with your partner or co-buyer
- Consider future life changes and how the home would adapt
- Ask your agent for comparable sales data to validate the price
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Letting emotions override practical concerns about the property
- Waiting too long and losing the home to another buyer
- Choosing based on cosmetics that can easily be changed
- Ignoring red flags because you are tired of searching
- Not considering total cost of ownership beyond the purchase price
Real-World Example
David and Kim's Story: David and Kim narrowed their search to two homes and could not decide. They used a structured comparison to make their choice.
- Home A: 4-bed ranch, 10-min commute, dated kitchen, large flat yard, $340,000
- Home B: 3-bed colonial, 25-min commute, updated kitchen, small sloped yard, $355,000
- They scored both on their top 5 priorities (1-5 scale): commute, yard space, bedrooms, condition, price
- Home A scored: Commute 5, Yard 5, Bedrooms 5, Condition 3, Price 5 = 23 total
- Home B scored: Commute 3, Yard 2, Bedrooms 3, Condition 5, Price 3 = 16 total
- Kim preferred Home B for the kitchen, but David pointed out they planned to have kids and needed the yard and extra bedroom
Outcome: The scoring system helped David and Kim see that Home A matched 4 of their 5 priorities better. They chose Home A and planned a kitchen renovation in year 2, which cost less than the $15,000 price difference.