Home Shopping Tips!

85% Rule

As you look at homes, use the 85% Rule.

Here's how it works: make a list of desired "wish list" items and those "real need" criteria before you even start your search. As you look at various houses, when you find a property that has at least 85% of what you are looking for, consider that one a strong candidate. Remember: don't let emotion sway you to homes that don't have what you are looking for!

While you may not find a home with 100% of the list, you'll discover you won't have to compromise too much with a home that meets 85% of your needs. If you wait for the "perfect" home that has 100% of what you want, you may never find it!

Top 3 Rule

How to Shop: While it's a little more complex than shopping in a mall, some of the same principles exist. When searching for a new home, keep track of your favorites by zeroing in on your top three choices. Keeping these three as markers will help you to easily narrow down your selection by actively comparing all other viewed properties to your Top 3.

Using the Top 3 Rule will also help you determine where you are at in your decision process by how frequently (or infrequently) properties are being added/removed from your Top 3 list.