My job as your Southwest Florida real estate expert is to help you identify your dream home.
Identifying often requires envisioning what could be when looking at a home that doesn’t quite match what you had in mind.
Even before Hurricane Ian changed the landscape of the real estate market on Sanibel & Captiva, the reality was that many homes were built in the 60’s and 70’s, and while some had undergone extensive updates, others had not. Post-hurricane, that still rings true. Some houses have since been fully renovated while others remain a blank slate.
Working With The Market
We’ve been selling real estate on the island for over a decade now and have helped many clients envision their dream home while viewing an older home that needed a little TLC as I like to call it. I frequently remind folks that you can remodel a home to fit your lifestyle needs, but you can’t change the location of another home that already has your dream features.
Sidenote, one of the best parts of this process is looking back after a renovation in amazement at the transformation. I love seeing new life breathed into an older home and the joy it brings its new family.
I tell you this so that you’re not discouraged when you begin your home search for the perfect property but don’t find The One that checks all of your boxes upfront.
Sometimes the perfect home is the one you perfect after buying it.
If mortgage rates and home prices are impacting what you can afford, or if you simply can’t find your dream home in the desired location, we encourage you to keep an open mind about your options.
Keeping An Open Mind
If you’re only willing to tour homes that have all of your dream features, you may be limiting your options and making it harder on yourself (and your budget) than necessary.
While you’d love to have granite countertops or a pool in the backyard, those are both things you could potentially add after you move. Instead, it may be best to focus on finding the things that you can’t change (like location or a certain number of rooms). Then, you can upgrade or add some of the other features or finishes you want later on.
Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com, explains:
“The key to making a good decision in a challenging housing market is to be laser-focused on what you need now and in the years ahead, . . . Another key point is to avoid stretching your budget, as tempting as it may be . . .”
Budgeting Upgrades
How can you know what to budget for upgrades when purchasing your soon-to-be dream home? Ask the experts! No, not us – our local building experts. Don’t worry, we have a list of them you can call.
While we can provide ballpark estimates based on our years of experience, we always suggest getting quotes directly from local contractors for any potential work you’d like done to the property. Your due diligence period is a great time to do this. It’s also important to know the timeframe for how long it’ll take before a contractor can start the work, and how long the work is expected to take.
We know from experience that finding the perfect home in shining armor isn’t always as easy as HGTV makes it appear. But we’re here to help you achieve your dreams with some creativity, local knowledge, and experience. Thinking of making a move? Let’s chat!
