How To Find The Perfect Home

How To Find The Perfect Home

It’s time to find that perfect home!

You’re pumped, you’re excited, and you want to know how to make this house a reality.

But what is a “perfect” home? How do you find it? How do you know it when you see it?

Let’s be honest.

When I say “dream home”, you might be thinking about a 8,000 sq ft mega-mansion with 2 pools, but you live alone.

You might be dreaming of a 300 sq ft minimalist tiny home, but you always have 15+ friends and family over for the holidays.

So, first, let’s redefine what the “perfect home” is:

Your “perfect” home is a home that is perfect for you.

But how do I know what is perfect for me (beyond just having a front door and 1 bedroom) and when I know what’s perfect for me,

How do I find my perfect home?

 Here’s how!

 1. Know what you’re wanting

The best way to get started in finding your home is to dream, and dream big!

If you’ve spent years of dreaming about your dream home and hours on Pinterest looking at inspiration, sit down and take the time to compile all your dreams. Put them to paper in a list form. Be as specific as possible!

“master bedroom with private master bathroom, double vanities, and walk-in shower”
“1400+ square feet with fenced back yard for outdoor fire pit”
”In ______ school district with safe sidewalks”

Then prioritize by how important each feature is to you. It’s rare you’ll find a home that includes every single one of these, so a prioritized Dream List will help you narrow your search.

 2. Know what you need

In the dreaming process, “Nice to have” and “Must have” can sometimes get confused.

That’s why it’s important to make a second list: a Non-Negotiable List.

To prepare your Non-Negotiable List: Consider your current lifestyle and make a list of home features that will work best for you.

 
-Do you have pets? (Must have: Fenced back yard)

-Do you work from home? (Must have: Quiet room for home office, solid WiFi)

-Do you commute to work? (Must have: Under 40 miles from downtown, easy freeway access)

-Do you need an accessible home? (Must have: Single-story home, with accessible interior features)

   3. Planning for the future

Life can be unpredictable. But if there is something in your near future you are wanting, don’t forget to factor that into your dream home!

If you are single or newlywed, you might love a smaller home to start with. But if you are planning on having a family soon or if you work from home, you need to factor in extra living space.

If you want a pet, or if you want to have many friends and family over for holidays, these are also things to consider in your search!

 3. Know your finances

Dreams sometimes come with a budget. Look at your current monthly budget, know what you can really afford, and look for a house within that range.

If you already know what you are willing to spend, you will only be looking at things that are within that price range; painting a reality of what that budget can afford.

This is where having a Dream List and Non-Negotiable List comes in handy! The next home you visit might not have granite countertops, but it has a fenced yard. Or perhaps it has a pool, but it doesn’t have enough garage space.

By knowing your budget, you can allow lower-priority Wants go so that you can have your Non-Negotiables without feeling like you’re settling.

 4. Research homes and neighborhoods

This will give you a good head start before visiting prospective homes! Look at current homes like the ones your looking for, so you know what to expect as far as square footage or cost.

But don’t get sucked in or turned off by just the photos online. Never let the appeal distract from the real! Always visit your prospective dream homes. Some houses are roomier in person, some are more cramped. Maybe the house needs some work, but it feels like your home the moment you see it. 

When visiting, don’t forget to check out the neighborhood! Are there coffee shops nearby to walk to, are there local parks to take your puppy, or are there safe sidewalks for your morning jog? Take into account your daily lifestyle.

If you find a house style or a neighborhood you like, let your realtor know! They’ll use that information to assist you in finding the best home in the best location for you!

And finally:

  5. Look and look again

It might take some time to find the perfect home for you. All the research and direction will help you get there faster, but be prepared to search around for your dream home. There will be times you just want to give up and settle. But don’t quit yet!

Remember to stay flexible. This is why I recommend prioritizing your Dream List. Sometimes, there’s something you’ll have to let go, if the property has everything else you’ve ever wanted. Refer to Granite Eyes if you’re letting your Wants dictate your Non-negotiables!

You deserve to find a home that works for you. And you can. Start by focusing on the features your dream home needs to be a perfect fit.

Just remember:
Your “perfect” home is a home that is perfect for you.

The next step is to not just dream it, but start the process! Why wait? 

Are you looking for your dream home?

Send me an email or give me a call, let's make a plan, and go after it!

-Phillip Bachelder, Realtor #PBRealty

Office: (615) 773-6099
Cell: (615) 243-0228
phillipbachelder@gmail.com

What Makes a GREAT Realtor?

What Makes a GREAT Realtor?

Every day, all over the country, people are searching online for what to look for in a realtor.

Let’s start with the basics.

First of all, any realtor you hire should tick these boxes:

• Experience with the entire sales process

• Education and understanding of the current market

• A negotiator that is willing to be a buffer between all parties involved

But what takes a realtor from good to GREAT?

Great question.

Here are the Top 3 Qualities I value,
and what I look for from others in my industry!  

 1. Passion

Something more than just “being happy” or “liking what you do.” Passion is a calling, a dream or a goal, that is brought to life by action. It’s when you can’t help but put your whole self into everything you do.

Unlike most realtors, I have a passion that goes beyond just selling homes. My passion is for you and your dreams. It’s for customer service. It’s for making sure everyone gets the best treatment and guidance they can receive from a realtor.

My goal is to infuse my passion into the real estate market, bringing my energy, joy, and optimism to help people reach higher, dream bigger, and achieve their goals!

 2. Integrity

It’s too common to find realtors all about Image and not about Integrity. 

John Maxwell wrote: “Image promises much, but produces little. Integrity never disappoints.” Because, as he later says, “Integrity is not so much what we do as much as who we are.”

Integrity is taking everything you teach others to do, and living it out on the daily. It’s not just saying things; it’s doing them.

Integrity means not being flaky. It’s about sticking to your word and committing to what you say you’ll do by having an organized calendar and setting reminders.

It means following through and keeping yourself responsible to your word when no one else is there to make sure that you do.

  3. Diligence

Diligence is needed to have integrity.

Diligence is working to the best of your ability, investing in yourself, loving your family, sharing with your community and, in everything you do, being INTENTIONAL.

This also takes an amazing amount of patience. I have a next-level I’m working toward and I know it will take time, but you have to take action to get to where you want to go!

Make a plan and go after it, every single day!

 4. Community

This isn’t exactly a personal trait, but it’s a value that is very important to me.

There’s an old proverb: “If you wanna go quickly, go alone. If you wanna go far, go together.”

It’s true. You have gifts and skills and dreams, and they were meant for the world. When you serve others, you’ll find purpose and joy!

Find a realtor who values working together to get things done, sharing skills, being part of a team where everyone is involved and everyone wins.

Being in a community is also about being in a family. I don’t want to be just another used-house salesman trying to sell you a product. I want to be your family that will work with you to sell your home, and to be someone you can rely on for answers and guidance.

Just how family goes above and beyond to help you, that is what you will get from me, no matter if you’re selling a $200,000 home or a $2,000,000 home. 

The wonderful thing, is that all 4 of those qualities can be applied to everyday life, to take you from Good to Great!

So I want to ask you,

What are you going to do
to get to where YOU want to be?

Here’s a good place to start:

• Get out there! You have to start by stepping out of your comfort zone. Be part of new circles, meet new people, get involved! You can’t get where you’re wanting to go if you’re still on your couch!

• Educate yourself! Invest in yourself by doing research and continuing to learn and grow. The humility it takes to say “I don’t know” is the motivation to keep exploring, taking in information, and getting better at what you do.

• Have patience. They say it takes 10,000 hours to learn a new skill. Do something small today, and then do it tomorrow, and after time, you’ll do it without even thinking about it! That’s how you get to where you want to be.

• Be the best YOU you can be. No matter what you do, put your whole self into it. Be passionate and commit to your dreams!

Whatever your dreams are, a realtor can help, but you have to initiate. Set a plan and get after it!

Don’t just cross your fingers and hope to get a good realtor that is only passionate about what they do. Get a GREAT realtor that cares about YOU, your needs, your dreams, and your goals!

-Phillip Bachelder, Realtor #PBRealty

How to Move Into Your Home -- For the 1st time or the 10th time!

How to Move Into Your Home --
For the 1st time or the 10th time

Moving into a new home is exciting!

It’s a wonderful to have a fresh start, and the chance to change your habits to match your new space. (“I am DEFINITELY going to cook healthier in this new kitchen!”) And who doesn’t love going shopping for decor after spending hours on Pinterest?

However, for most people, it can be a stressful time between packing and planning the move.

Moving in takes a little work, but it doesn’t have to be stressful.

So, today, I have for you 5 Steps on How to Move into Your Home.

But, before we jump into it, how about those of us that aren’t moving?

Maybe you haven’t moved in a few years, or a few decades. Either way, this list is for YOU too!

 After a few months of moving in, the honeymoon-phase fades away and you start to itch for a new home and a change of scenery.

But, before you go buy a new house, it might be a good time to think about moving into your home— again!

This will refresh, reorganize, and redesign your space in a way that will have you loving it like it was brand new.

“How do I do that? Where do I start?”

I’m glad you asked.

Here are 5 Steps to Move into Your Home,
for the 1st time or the 10th time!

1. Deep Clean

It’s always a good idea to do an intense deep-clean of the new home before moving all of your stuff in. Hire a professional to give your home a good once-over!

Same with moving into a house for a second time! Keep it inexpensive by doing the easiest, but most valuable, tasks: Clean the ovening, wash the sofa, do a simple white-out pen over the shower grout lines, deep clean the carpet, take a magic eraser to the baseboards, etc. 

When your home is deep-cleaned, it will be MUCH easier to take on the rest of the house without stress.

2. Sort Everything

Moving is much more stressful when you have to unpack who-knows-what into who-knows-what-room.

To easily pack, start by putting a different color Post-It note on each item in the house, one room at a time. Have each Post-It color represent:

• Throw Away
  This is for anything that’s not worth it to you, or to anyone else in the world. Yes, you might wear those run-down sneakers again someday. But it might be best to let them go with a “thank you for supporting me for so long” and throw them away. Open up that space in your closet for newer, brighter, and better.
  

• Give Away
  Things that might be of use to someone, so you don’t want to throw it away, but you never use or that you don’t like owning. Anything that doesn’t give you joy, let it be a joy to someone else. Now, if it’s expensive…
  

• Sell
  It’s not a bad thing to want to sell your more expensive items. But only do so if it’s worth it to you, in the long run, to find a buyer, negotiate, and finish the transaction. I would generally not bother with anything worth less than $50. Note that some things you’ve owned for a long time might be worth something to you emotionally, but might not be worth as much to a stranger.
  

• Keep Anything memorable, a must-have, or a need. You want to want this item. Don't keep it because it’s always been there.

Start with the easiest step and do a Trash run/Goodwill run. This clears out a lot of space for you to start renovating your home.

Now that everything is sorted, it’s time to

3. Organize and Put Away

This involves creating unique storage space. Give priority to the things you access every day over things you only need occasionally.

Make sure everything has a purposeful place, so that certain areas of the house don’t turn into a clutter-zone.

4. Re-design

This doesn’t necessarily mean buying a bunch of new furniture. It can be done by repurposing things you already own. Whether that’s changing the room each piece belongs in, or how a shelf is used, or using it in a way that you are not used to.

Here are a few more things to try: Hang new art in the room. Paint a single wall with an accent color. Add some comfy or colorful pillows to the couch. Or simply switch out those old light bulbs for some new brighter lights.

Do the little things to maximize your daily comfort and style!

And my last tip for Moving into Your Home:

5. Ask for Help

When you move houses, you need the help of a realtor, a photographer, an interior-decorating stager, a moving crew, and more. Gather a support crew of people who want to see you win!

And yes, never feel bad for asking for help when you’re redesigning your home! Offer pizza those who help clean, move furniture, or haul trash to the curb.

Pro-tip: Get your friends together for a house-renovating day, and then suggest doing it for their homes as well! Share the joy of a clean home!

Moving in takes a little work, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Even if it’s a new house, or a house you’ve lived in for 10 years.

Do you have any tips and tricks for moving? Comment down below!

-Phillip Bachelder, Realtor #PBRealty