Is your heart in your home?
Home is
massively important to me. I can't begin to describe how much I love pulling
into my driveway and seeing my little yellow house. It is a humble home, but
full of colour and the presence of my dogs and objects of art and photos that I
love. Very commonly I am told by guests how deeply they relax there and how it
reminds them of a home they loved from growing up.
On the bleakest of
days when I nestle in at home and light my wood stove -- it's a little coffee
coloured wood stove with glass front -- all is as it should be in my world. Home
is sanctuary, creative space, play space, work space. It is where I go to rest,
rejuvenate,
create, entertain, laugh and commune.
I have lived in houses that were
not a good fit for me. Rather like having a pebble in your shoe, you can be
thankful for having shoes....but the fit is uncomfortable and distracting. The
quest for home is a driving force and one that should be
respected.
Perhaps this is why home buying is often an emotional
decision. Logically someone is looking for a town home that's brand new yet fall
in love with an old character home they drive by one the way. (There is a slang
expression, "buyers are liars" in the real estate profession. This is not meant
to be rude but to indicate that often a buyer thinks with their logic that they
want one thing and end up buying something else entirely based on the draw of
their heart.)
Many people I take house hunting know within seconds of
walking into a home whether it is for them or not. Part of my job is to make
sure it's not something easily altered that is the barrier if they don't like
it. Is it the smell? Is it because the walls are yellow or the carpet pink?
Cosmetic changes can be made easily. So, take your time to see if the home
speaks to you in any meaningful way.
A great Realtor will try to get to
know you, what makes you tick, what makes you comfortable. We're not being
nosey...just investigating clues to help you find the home that wows your heart.
There are few things more satisfying to a great Realtor that watching your
expression when you find the home for you!
When you buy a home to live
in, live in it! That might sound funny, but so often people will use all neutral
colours or the most generic taste in furnishings instead of tricking it out just
for their joy. But that's a blog for another day....are you buying to live there
or buying to flip?
I wish for everyone the deep and satisfying joy of
having your heart in your home. If you're living somewhere that doesn't fit
you...call me. We need to talk. Don't let a few weeks of inconvenience stop you
from being at home in your home.