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

Why Good is not Good Enough

 Why Good is not Good Enough

March 19, 2017

   How many of you enjoy a good meal? Just think of your favorite meal… Think of it exactly! What are the specific details? How do you like it cooked? Is it at a particular restaurant or is it home cooked? Does the atmosphere contribute?

     The first thing that comes to my mind is a Rib-Eye Steak that is cooked medium on the grill. I like my steak to have mushrooms and onions on top. I like it to be cooked at home because I know can have my wife’s most incredible mashed potatoes with it. Plus, I know the atmosphere is going to be great because it is my house, and I created it.

     Although, you and I could go on and on about the details that I like to enjoy with our food; why then is it hard for us to be specific about what it takes for us to really enjoy other experience in our lives? For this blog's sake, I will relate this ideology to your Real Estate experience.

     Can you close your eyes and really put yourself in a home in your mind that is going to fit all your needs? If you can, can you articulate those needs to another person, such as your Realtor? If you can’t really think through and articulate those details before you start looking, then help from a “good” Realtor is simply not “good enough”. This experience is far too important for those details to not to be clear to you.

     A “GREAT” Realtor (let me qualify great) is: One that listens, helps you think creatively, is a problem solver, has character and integrity, smiles, makes you feel good about your decisions, walks you through the process from beginning to end). These are a few simple things that you can start to think about when you begin your realtor selection process.

     Just like you knew vividly what it would take to enjoy your very favorite meal and the experience involved with it, You need to know what it will take to make sure your home buying experience is truly second to none because that is what you deserve. You deserve “Great”!

     So many people from my short but active experience in the Real Estate Industry don’t know what great is because there are so many mediocre “meals” or “Realtors” out there that they just settled with. Whatever you do… DO NOT SETTLE! This experience, and process, is far too important. This is not one that you can send back to the kitchen to get a redo if it is not right. This is not an experience that the manager can just comp on your check. This is big-time and it needs to be treated as such.

     I hope this is coming across strong, and that it rattles your thinking a little. I get very impassioned about people receiving uncommonly great service.

     The pastor at my church, (Pastor Jim Freese) has posed the question before, and it rings in my ear from time to time. The question is this, “If every job paid ten dollars an hour what would you do”?  Well, what would you do?

     For me, it would be serving people! I love seeing people being treated right, happy, smiling, and enjoying the journey. If you don’t like to serve people or people in general, you are going to have a really rough go at this thing called Life. I say this because the world exists (with one small exception) of people other than you.

     I hope this blog entry helped you see that you deserve “GREAT” and not “good”, gave you a little insight into how I think and treat costumers, and helped you realize this home buying experience has no take-backs once you sign on that line. At the very least, I hope I helped you discover what your absolute favorite meal is.

-Phillip Bachelder, Realtor #PBRealty