In my last post, I talked about a home’s foundation, and how it can affect everything that comes after. In this post, I’m focusing more on the home buying side, and how I try to guide clients beyond just what’s visible on a tour. There’s a lot buyers can miss in a house, and sometimes, it’s the quiet details that matter most.
When most buyers start touring homes, they usually focus on what’s right in front of them: the kitchen, the floors, how updated everything is. And of course, those things matter, but what I’ve learned over the years is that sometimes, what really makes a home right for someone isn’t so obvious at first.
It might be how the afternoon light hits the living room, the faint smell of moisture that hints at a plumbing issue, or the way noise carries from a nearby street. Or maybe it’s noticing that the HVAC is older than it looks, or that a neighboring lot has zoning for multi-family. These aren’t flashy things, but they matter, sometimes even more than granite countertops or shiny new fixtures.
I always ask about their must-haves and deal-breakers, but more than that, I listen. I pay attention to how they talk, what their lifestyle sounds like, and what might matter most to them even if they don’t say it directly.
For example, I once had a client who mentioned, almost in passing, that she needed a quiet space to unwind after work. She didn’t put it on her “must-have” list, but I could tell it was important. So I paid extra attention to homes that backed to greenbelts or weren’t close to busy streets. That meant fewer options and a longer search, but it was worth it. Eventually, we found a home that gave her exactly what she needed: peace, quiet, and a place where she could truly relax. She later told me that was one of the best parts of her new home, not the kitchen, not the finishes, but how calm it felt.
Sometimes buyers pass on a great home because of the paint color or outdated countertops. Other times, they get excited about staging or finishes, but miss how the space will really work for their day-to-day life. That’s where I try to step in, not to change their mind, but to gently refocus it based on what they’ve told me actually matters.
My job isn’t to tell someone what they should like. It’s to help them stay connected to what they already said they value, especially when the pressure, the stress, or the excitement starts to get in the way.
Because the best home isn’t always the one that looks perfect. It’s the one that fits your life, helps you feel like you’re truly home, and reminds you of what really matters. Just like in life, the things that bring the most peace aren’t always the flashiest, but they’re the ones that stay with us. Helps you feel like you’re truly home.
Thanks for reading, and as always, You Gotta Have Faith
