Monday, October 05, 2009

Coming Out the Woodwork, Through the Open Door

Here is a chair and some pumpkins.

I'm sure everyone else has come up with this analogy a hundred years before me, but I was joking around with my friends on Saturday night about how much house hunting is like dating.

You know? How you have to decide if you want something shiny and new or older and with a little more character? When you first start looking, you're worried that someone is going to be able to offer up more than you and you'll get rejected. It's okay, though. Like everything else, it's all about timing and maybe it wasn't meant to be, or else maybe things will fall through with the other buyer, and the house you want will become available to you a little later...When you're both ready.

If your offer does get accepted, it's not like you're free and clear. Hell no. There are dates scheduled for inspections. And in those series of meetings, you have to figure out if those are corner cracks that come from settling and can be lived with, or if there's something fundamentally wrong with the foundation and you need to run away screaming, before you waste anymore time and energy on something that will only cause you pain and heartbreak in the end.

Finally, after all is said and done, you want to find something that you can live with and feel an emotional attachment to. Of course, even then there are no guarantees. At some point, after you put years of money and time into it, you might outgrow your house and you'll both be on the market again.

11 comments:

rel said...

Churlita,
That's quite a good analogy. I'd never thought of it like that but it does fit.
rel

Tara said...

I actually have not heard that analogy before, I'm surprised! I like it, though.

AlienCG said...

I like your analogy. It is quite true that it's like dating, but it costs a lot more initially. I'm sure you'll find something soon and you will be happy.

Pamela said...

Even if someone used it before, you described it much better than they did.

Dagromm said...

Yep. It's definitely a relationship. You'll love everything about it at first, and then slowly you'll find all sorts of things that get on your nerves, but you've gotten comfortable and there are a lot of memories.

Or you'll upgrade and wonder how you ever put up with such hell.

Either way, enjoy!

Ananda girl said...

I like that analogy. I've never heard it if anyone else has come up with it. It sounds just about right. I think both are sort of happy but also stressful.

laura b. said...

Great analogy...remember to keep an open mind. Sometimes you will be surprised when you least expect it.

MrManuel said...

I never thought of it that way but damn if that doesn't make PERFECT sense!

Churlita said...

Rel,

Thanks.

Tara,

I know people always make the analogy between dating and job interviews, but house hunting works too.

AlienCG,

Yes, house hunting has a bigger financial price tag, for sure.

Pamela,

Thank you. That's so nice.

Dagromm,

Exactly. That's how it all feels in a relationship too.

Ananda,

That's perfect. They are both happy but stressful.

LauraB.,

That's the hard part for me with both men and houses. I know exactly what I want and not really willing to settle.

MrMAnuel,

Thanks. I'm not often told that I make sense. I'll take it.

Susan said...

I can't begin to explain how much I feel your pain right now. You forgot to include how you can hear your internal clock ticking with the house hunt and needing it done by a certain date.

Unknown said...

HAH never ever thought about house hunting in this way. And now.. I'll never be able to see it in any other way. Perfect- especially as the best realtor I ever had said,"We are walking into this house. I don't want you to look at the furniture or the fresh baked cookies on the counter, or the color of the paint on the walls- youe are to look at the bones of the house- the location, the light that comes in the windows and the think merely: floors, ceilings, walls."