Moving In: Keeping It Really Exciting But NOT Really Expensive

Whether you are a first-time buyer or a move-up buyer… nothing compares to the excitement of getting those keys and finally making the place your own! Maybe you have dreamed for years of owning a place, maybe you have tried for months and months to finally be that winning offer… maybe you got lucky and it was a quick acceptance but those 28 days of escrow seemed like the longest moments of your life! No matter what your situation, chances are you have a really BIG list of stuff you can’t wait to do when you move in, but a budget that’s not quite as big. So now what?!

Like everything else in life, it is all about priorities, wise spending…and learning from other’s mistakes! This week we wanted to share some Realtor.com reveals of buyer regrets, and share a few tidbits of our own on how to maximize your budget and your enjoyment of your new home.

The Worst Purchases

According to Realtor.com – these are the biggest buyer regrets of purchases they made right after moving in. You can read the article in full HERE.

| Buying a gorgeous patio set… on a porch where no one ever sits!

| Investing in a great designer chair… in a low traffic space (like your bedroom).

| Stocking up on storage baskets, hoping you’ll use them ‘somewhere’ for ‘something’.

| Purchasing trendy home décor today that looks outdated tomorrow.

| Spending too much, too soon.

The Best Advice

| Wait until you move in to see what you have & what rooms you use the most! Invest then in what you need and what will truly be enjoyed by all!

| Pick a path for purchases; we often recommend one of two routes. Option #1: Respect your home’s current style and select paint, flooring and décor that blends with the existing design. Option #2: Slowly upgrade in the direction your home is headed (cool colors, stainless steel appliances) but prepare for the impact that will make on the rest of the home.

| Check your cashflow and wait to make any major purchases until you have experienced two full months of expenses in your new home, including mortgage, utilities, gardeners, pool service, etc.

| Accept that your priorities may change once you move in – and that’s okay! The kitchen you thought you could live with may drive you crazy once you move in, the electrical panel update might take precedent over some cosmetic fixes. If you are leading with logic and staying within your budget, there is nothing wrong with changing up the path you are heading down.

When in doubt… talk it out! If you have ever worked with us, you know that our buyer and seller relationships do not end when the transaction closes. We actually LOVE seeing your dreams of home ownership become reality, and are happy to help you prioritize what matters most in the place you have so carefully invested in. You can always pick up the phone and say ”Mark…Jason…I thought I wanted to do X but now I’m thinking Y – help!”. We promise to be your sounding board, your reality check and your resource for anything you want, need and have to figure out!

All our best,

Mark & Jason