It’s Time to Change the Way We Think About Buying Houses
We need an attitude adjustment when it comes to the way we buy homes.
The homebuying process hasn’t quite stayed the same over the decades, with the outlook constantly shifting based on federal policy, bank practices, and economics in general. But some consistent aspects of it have come into focus in the last year, and they’re not pretty. It’s time to consider the possibility that the way we think about buying homes is flawed.
We’re cramming a deeply personal decision into a one-size-fits-all model
Our homes are more than just the places we keep our belongings and rest each night. They become extensions of who we are, shaping and shaped by our lifestyle choices and our personalities. And just as no two people are the same, no two homes should be either.
But they are. Especially in many of the new developments cropping up throughout the U.S, it seems that everyone’s family is expected to fit into one of three or four floor plans.
When we buy shoes, or sunglasses, or cars, we can almost always find a customizable option. We get to prioritize our style and showcase our individuality, and end up with a product that’s uniquely ours. So why are we settling for cookie-cutter options in the most personal thing we could ever buy?
We’re wasting space
Because of the over-prescribed floorplan options and the fact that most of us are not actively choosing the details of our homes, many people end up in homes that aren’t quite what they need.
Smaller homes are hard to find, and even when they do pop up, they’re often no less expensive than their larger counterparts. In part, this space discrepancy is due to shifting social norms and changes in everyday life that mean we just don’t call for some of the spaces that were necessary a couple of decades ago: formal living rooms and closed-off dining rooms, for example, have become much less relevant, but they’re found in many older homes.
Countless couples and families are living in homes with untouched rooms that still suck up energy to heat and cool, time to clean, and money to furnish. This excess is wasteful, and the space could be better used for more meaningful setups.
We’re over-compromising
At the end of the day, a home is the largest purchase many of us will ever make. It’s also where we spend most of our time, and where we can choose to foster connections with others. The home is an extension of the self.
So why are we okay with the current homebuying norm of beginning our search with one set of criteria, then almost always ending up with something different? Big or small, compromises in choosing a home have been necessary for the vast majority of home buyers in the last couple of years.
In such a competitive seller’s market, it’s all too easy to fall into the mindset that if we don’t just take this compromise, or stretch our budget, we’ll never get to buy a home. We’re over-bidding and all-out competing for homes that are vastly different from what we truly want.
Many hopeful home buyers feel stuck and out of options, but there’s a better route. Custom home building has grown increasingly accessible and streamlined over the last few years. With Atmos, you can make choices about your new home that are tailored to your needs, right from your computer. Then, a project manager will help walk you through each step of the building process so you’re never stuck coordinating the details all alone.
Ready to rethink the home buying experience? Get in touch with Atmos to begin the journey to your custom home!
