Tips to Identify your lifestyle preferences and avoid regretting your buying decision
About 40 years ago when I was in my mid twenties a friend of ours gave us a tour of his brother and sister-in-law’s newly rehabbed home. This home was located in a very prestigious area of the St. Louis Metro area and our friend actually lived in the carraige house. He showed us through on an evening when the family was doing their thing: the kids were doing their homework in the breakfast room, the dad was working in his den and the mother was sitting on the rung of a ladder in the kitchen reading a book. The ladder was an attached/built in ladder to accommodate the tall cabinets in this high ceilinged kitchen (like one of those rolling ladders in bookstores of yore). I was astounded at her choice of a hangout in this huge house and asked the reason which in a nutshell was: it is the only place in the house that I am comfortable and can be near my children. I can picture this scene as if it were yesterday because I immediately figured out that the house was for “show” and not for living.
Then about ten years ago I discovered my new bible entitled A Pattern Language written by Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa and Murray Silverstein. This book identified in words the concepts that I had been touching on with buyers. It enhanced the dialogue I was having with my buyers to better help them comprehend what they needed and wanted in a home. Even though it is touted as a book to help design a house, it can also be used to define what kind of spaces owners want/need in a home.
Knowing what your needs, wants and preferences are in a home before you start trekking around looking at homes will make the search less frustrating. By knowing their preferences, recent clients of mine were able to accomplish buying a home: in a walkable neighbor; in their budget; the lowest price point in the area; energy efficient; and move right in. This home was only 1184 square feet and met everything on their wish list.
Here are 5 tips to help identify your lifestyle preferences:
Evaluate the space you are living in now. What is your favorite space. Do you know why it is your favorite. What parts of your home are not being used. Can you eliminate these kind of spaces in your next home.
How much time and money do you want to spend on your home? I’m not talking about just the purchase. What about after you move into it. Buying space is not necessarily the answer to fulfilling your family needs. Quality trumps quantity for exuding comfort. The next time you walk into a home that has well utilized space with quality upgrades, make note of how comfortable you feel. Do you want to be a slave to your house or would you rather go salsa dancing at least one a week.
Natural light in rooms hugely effects quality and character. Make note of the natural light in rooms that you currently live in and those of your friends. People gravitate to rooms that have natural light coming from 2 sides. Is this an important characteristic you want in the public rooms in your next house.
Do you want an open floor plan or a more traditional floor plan? The current trend is towards open floor plans but they aren’t for every family. Do you have people in your family who practice music or other hobbies. Many people have pasttimes that require privacy. Just because the open floor plan is trendy doesn’t mean it’s for you and your family.
What about “green”? Many home owners are placing emphasis on energy efficiency. Identify some of the most cost effective ways to have a more sustainable house and incorporate them into your want list in your next home.
I have these books in my own library and I reach for them often. They have helped me identify the type of space, neighborhood and comforts that contribute to an ideal lifestyle for my clients. The books are fun to explore and I think they may help you recognize what it is you are looking for in a home.
Patterns of Home: The Ten Essentials of Enduring Design by Max Jacobson, Muray Silverstein, Barbara Winslow
The Adaptable Home by Avi Friedman
Books by Sir Terence Conran
Emphasis on Quality vs Quantity by Sarah Susanka
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