Finding Your Place

Where you live can have a profound effect on you... if it doesn't fit, your life can feel out of synch. You may not even realize it, but somehow being at home doesn't refresh and nurture you as it should. We sometimes forget that place exists on so many levels...from the universe to our own back yard.

If you are thinking about a move, here are some things to help you identify 'your place'.

Most people have a special place (real or imagined) that keeps calling you back, a place that just thinking about puts a smile on your face. It could be where you are living right now... or someplace you love visiting or only dream about.

What it is that makes it special is different for everyone, but usually involves different senses... it could be the smell of fresh baking bread or salty ocean air... the feel of the wind in your face or the sun warming your body... the sounds of birds singing or the buzz of the city. Whatever it is, it is what speaks to you.

Most of us have lived in different places in our lives, and most likely some have felt more like home than others. Flip through mental pictures of favorite places where you have lived...think about what you loved about them...and also think about what you didn't like about them and your least favorite places. Do your places have anything in common?

I had an 'a-ha' moment a few years ago, after we moved to our current home. We were leaving a place that had served us well for that period of our lives but never really felt like home... I like to call it our 'place holder'.

We left it to find 'our place'. When we walked into our current home we knew immediately it was the right place, before we even saw the whole interior. The location and setting were wonderful, the interior was dreadful... it was perfect! We gutted the interior and made it ours, but the setting is something you can't change... so it is vitally important that it fits.

That 'a-ha' moment I talked about has to do with location and setting. I realized that our current home is a compilation of places and things that were meaningful to us in the various places we had lived... a creek running through our back yard, nature setting with city nearby, walkability with a grocery store within walking distance... here is 'our place'...

...what does 'your place' look like? Let us know and we would love to help you find it!

You have probably heard it said that the three most important things in real estate are location, location and location. While people most often refer to location as it relates to property and resale value, location also has great personal value. Location is so important because it is something you can't change.

Interior space is also important, and should reflect you...who you are and how you live. As our personal needs change at different times in our lives, so do our space needs. Sometimes it makes sense to make some changes in your current home, either in the form of renovations/additions or how you use your existing space. If your location and setting are unique and ideal for you this could be a good option...if not, it may be time to consider looking for a new place.

If you decide to move, think about what you will miss in your current home and what you will be happy to say goodbye to. What are you looking forward to in your new home? What are your objectives in your move? Whether you plan to stay 5 years or 10-20 can also play a role in your selection. The longer you expect to stay, the more you may be willing to stretch in price, the more adaptable the space should be to accommodate future changes in your life...and the more you may be willing to invest in updates and renovations to make it fit you and your lifestyle.

Buying is an emotional experience and it's often easy to be affected by good staging...after all, that's the objective of staging...to make it look wonderful and move-in ready. Don't forget, however, that you will be living in the space...not just looking at it and admiring it.

Does it fit how you live or want/expect to live in the future...or can it be changed/adapted to fit? Think about what you do when you're at home, how you relax and unwind...is there space for that? Do you have friends/family over? If so, is there space for how you like to entertain? Does it fit how a typical morning unfolds in your household? If it has good 'bones' and you like the overall feel of the property you may be able to adapt it to make it fit even if it's not quite right now.

Sometimes it's easy (and fun!) to think of all the changes you could make in a property, especially ones in need of updating. Don't get so caught up in the potential things you could do to fix it up that you forget that you are going to live in it. Ask yourself...if you were to fix it up and it were in great shape, would you like it then? Sometimes the answer is yes...sometimes, no!

Most people get a feeling when they walk into the right home for them. It's hard to explain, but it just 'feels' right. Listen to those feelings...they have more accuracy than we often acknowledge. Every home has a buyer, it's a matter a finding the right one for you. Most people just know when they have found 'their place'.

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results

The team at HomesMSP - Sharlene, John, Angela - Minneapolis-St. Paul Buyer's Agents