Focus on the Big Rocks When Buying a Home

You may have heard that little story about the teacher showing the classroom a jar of rocks. If you put the big rocks in first then you can fill up all the little spaces with smaller rocks and sand. If you put the smaller rocks and the sand in first, then the bigger rocks won’t fit.
What we need to focus on as agents and explain to our buyers is that they need to focus on the big rocks first. The little things will fill in the space around the big rocks, but if you manage the priorities first, everything else will fall into place.

What is the most important thing when it comes to buying a home? Perhaps family, space, layout or location is the most important aspect of your home search. These are the big rocks–the priorities.

“The most common mistake people make is not putting their personal life first. We tend to start with work and squeeze the family part into whatever is left over.” 

Location. Location is everything. Are you looking to be in a specific school district? You may want to think into the future on this one.

If you have children, how long do you plan to stay in your new home? If you’re thinking about staying for awhile, finding a neighborhood with a quality school district should be at the top of the list.

Are you looking to plant roots in the community? Look for a neighborhood with a friendly Church or community center.

Are you looking to be by a busy street close to the freeway, or a quiet cul-de-sac neighborhood where kids can ride bikes in peace and safety? These are the big rocks of location. Sorting this out first can help make the decision process MUCH easier.

Space. How much space do you need? Again, think short-term and long-term. Are you planning on having more people live with you? More kids in the house? An ailing parent stay with you? Do you need office space, a library or craft room? Do you need room to grow and expand or are you satisfied with a smaller space? Do you want to clean that much space?

Layout. Do you want to haul groceries and laundry up the stairs? Do you want family and friends to gather in a large kitchen? Do you want room to entertain? Is the layout conducive to your lifestyle and your need?

These are all questions you must ask yourself so you can determine what your big rocks are and save yourself a lot of trouble later on. If you have any more questions, feel free to contact one of our knowledgeable agents.