Dating is Like Buying a Home

Making a big decision like buying your dream home is much like dating today.  Stay with me on this analogy. There are so many choices, it makes it hard to chose one! Plus, it is a buyer’s market after all, right? So, why settle for the average house when you can hold off for the perfect house, with the perfect price? Well, because there is NO perfect house, unless you build it yourself.  This is where the analogy can get interesting. Because maybe, maybe in the future we can build the perfect person to date.  Then we will be happy. Maybe. Until then we have to look at what is available.

Shopping Around for The Right One

Once you decide to give up the casual, non-committal renting lifestyle, the next step is to shop around for a house.  Big commitment. Very adult like.  How does one even begin this process?  Well, one option is to look around the neighborhood. Very low commitment, more like browsing.  You can also search Craigslist and the classifieds. Another option, is to step up and hire a Realtor. This requires some pretty serious thought and follow through.

Too Many Choices

In the case of dating, there are many options for choosing the right one.  Today, the decisions are even more difficult because of all the choices.  The wonderful world of the Internet allows us to have many, many choices. You can go the old-fashioned way and meet through a friend or the Saturday night sock hop. Or, with the world at your fingertips, a log in name and a password gets you access to many more options.  That and a cute profile gives you dozens, if not hundreds of choices without ever leaving the house.

So, your search begins.  You browse hundreds of profiles and decide on a few. You put the bait out there to try and meet.

Finding the Flaws

Back to the home buying analogy. At first, looking at homes is fun.  You get to see all the different styles and learn about what you like and don’t like. As time goes on, you walk through these homes, and you realize none of them are quite what you are looking for.  Eventually, it becomes exhausting.  You wonder if it would easier to go back to renting, without the commitment.

After looking at 74 houses, you finally narrow it down to two. Even these two you are not so thrilled about.  But they are available. You know you have to be mature and make a decision. You could probably get used to some of the flaws. Maybe there really is no perfect house. And you are not getting any younger.

Making the Commitment

Then, you finally find a great house. You go for it! The seller is cooperating and giving you a great deal. Scary, but exciting.  Just as you are getting ready to sign the contract, the seller bails.

What the…!?

Some lame excuse of how he is just not quite ready to make this big move.  He is quite comfortable in the home and may need some more time to think about it.  You feel defeated after getting your hopes up. You really thought this was the ONE. Eventually, you decide to walk away. No use waiting around.  There will surely be more houses that pop up.

So you head back out and try the search again. And again.  Looking for the right fit. With great curb appeal. In the right neighborhood. With a deck and a hot tub.  The whole package.  Why settle for anything less?

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

If you enjoy this, check out Dating is Like Selling a Home.