It’s common place to try on suits, dresses,
trousers or shoes before buying them. People instinctively know they need to
try on clothes to be sure they fit, feel comfortable and are attractive on them.
What about a home in Kenyan Real Estate industry? It’s probably the most expensive purchase
you’ll ever make. Isn’t it even more important to “try on” a home before you
purchase it?
What on earth do I mean? Well, it’s usual to look for a home in places
that are convenient to work and schools. Most folks take the daily commute into
consideration when shopping for a home. Why not take the daily, weekly, and
even monthly activities of family members consciously into account, too?
Case Study
I once helped a young, single woman named
Atieno to find and buy her first home.
She worked for a reputable company in Nairobi, was rising very nicely in
the company and wanted a home of her own and the tax break home ownership
affords. She asked our advice about choosing,
and we had a conversation in which I mentioned many of the sorts of things I’ve
said here. We made a list of what mattered to her in Kenya real estate sector.
Then we went shopping. We looked at a lot of houses. After we came out of each
one, we had a talk about how it measured up to Atieno’s list.
One of the houses we looked at belonged to
the young woman who later became my daughter-in-law. It was brick, all on one
level, had a fireplace in the living room, and had patio doors from the master
bedroom and dining rooms to an enormous deck with a hot tub. It was beautifully
decorated in a sort of “pared down Victorian” style. There was a brass bed,
some wicker, lots of healthy house plants, and a few Victorian pieces of
furniture that were actually old, family pieces. Silver framed family photos
were clustered on top of the piano.
After we emerged from the house, Atieno
started down the two steps to the car and then froze in place. She had the
oddest expression on her face. I asked what was wrong, and she began to look
sheepish and confessed, “That house is so pretty and so nicely decorated, I
just enjoyed looking at it and didn’t give any thought to how I’d live in
it. I just wanted it.”
We went back inside. Atieno still admired what had been done with
the house, but decided it wasn’t right for her.
Knowing what’s important to you can save
costly mistakes. The process of “trying
on” a house helps you evaluate what’s important. I think you’ll find it’s worth the effort.
No comments:
Post a Comment