Buying a house in Central Indiana? Go 3 levels deep before you tour one

(the question under the bedroom count)

Don’t start with square feet. Start with why you’re moving. Most people stop at their first answer. Go three levels deep, and your must-have list gets easier, your options get wider, and you know exactly what matters.

1. The ring test. When I bought an engagement ring this year, I knew nothing about rings. The salespeople I liked said: “Most people who come in for the first time look at X, Y, or Z. Let’s start there, and you tell me what inspires you.” I love that so much more than “Hey man, what are you looking for?” Most of the time, you have no dang idea what you want. So here is your starting point.

2. Three levels. Ask yourself:

1. What do you want?
2. Why do you want that?
3. How does it affect you?

3. Three kids, one bathroom.

Level 1: “Our home is small. We need more space.” Stop here, and every bigger house is an option.

Level 2: “Our three girls are 10, 12, and 17. The house is 80 years old in Broad Ripple. One bathroom.” Now you know you want more bathrooms.

Level 3: “We are miserable. The girls fight every morning.”

Now you’re buying peace in your own home. Four bathrooms all next to each other, and the kids still fight every dang morning. Three bathrooms in three separate parts of the house? Now you’ve got separation.

4. The museum.

Level 1: “We want a smaller house.”

Level 2: “We have 5,000 square feet, but we only use three rooms. The grandkids visit twice a year.”

Level 3: “We feel like we are maintaining a museum for people who don’t live here anymore.”

Now you’re getting somewhere. Maybe a smaller house with a bunk room that fills up twice a year. Maybe a condo where you lock the door and travel.

Same three questions. Any house.

Want to talk about your house together? nlamkin@c21scheetz.com

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