Are you in the market for a new home? If so, congratulations! Buying a new home is a major milestone and takes lots of well-thought out planning, financing, and preparation from moving out of your current residence to moving in to a new one.
After research online, working with a realtor, and viewing homes in person, you may start to wonder how you'll know if a home is the right one for you. Waiting for that "ah ha!" moment may not come as obviously as you may have pictured, so you'll need to rely on some other factors to be confident the home in question is "the one."
If the four items below fall in line, you can feel assured that the home you're thinking about is the one for you. While nothing will be 100% perfect, if you get most of the way there with each piece, home sweet home is right around the corner.
You Picture Yourself Living There
When you first saw the exterior and then walked inside the home, could you see yourself and your family calling the place home? Could you envision family dinners in the kitchen and tucking your kids into bed at night? What about BBQs in the backyard and hanging family photos on the walls? If you get that gut feeling, it means something.
Realtorrecommends asking yourself, "Is the house the right size for your needs, and does it have the right combination of bedrooms, bathrooms and other living areas? If the house has two stories, are you comfortable with the idea of walking up and down stairs every day? Is the design and architecture of the house too modern or too traditional to match your preferences in furniture and home furnishings?" Be sure all aspects make the grade so you'll be happy with the home as a whole.
As per Sound Money Matters, "Would you feel proud having people over to this home? Can you imagine yourself coming home to the house and feeling happy? Can you see how you'd arrange your furniture? Then it's your house."
If you've looked at a number of homes and this one keeps coming back as your favorite or you find yourself using this home as the standard the others must match, then this home is a standout. Snap it up before someone else has the chance to ring the bell.
It's In Your Price Range
Of course, no matter how much you may fall in love with a particular home, if you cannot afford it, then there's no sense in pining over it. Plus, there's more to cost than the price of the home itself. As Realtor notes, "Are you comfortable with the monthly payments? Is the down payment within your means? Will you have enough cash to pay transaction costs and moving expenses? If the house needs major repairs, remodeling or redecorating, can you save the necessary funds within a reasonable time period?"
If you can answer "yes" to all of these questions, then you're on your way. Pre-plan as to not get your hopes up after finding a home you adore when it's clearly out of your price range. Work with your realtor to only look at homes you can actually afford.
Additionally, consider your status in life. HomeFinder advises, "There's nothing wrong with settling for a more modest dwelling that satisfies your immediate needs, before taking the plunge and spending more for your permanent dream home. The average home buyer stays in his or her home for a little more than six years, so allow yourself a chance for transition when the time is right."
A perfect home may be the one that's perfect for now. Another home may be in the cards a little further down the road.
It's In Good Condition
Unless you paid a lot less for a home than you'd planned to and set aside funds for renovations, your best bet is to choose a house that's up to par as is. Sure, you may want to make some changes to suit your personal taste, but if the place is falling apart and needs major work, you may have a real headache on your hands that can take months, if not years to cure.
As per HomeFinder, "First time homebuyers tend to underestimate the time and money needed for large remodeling projects. Adding a new bathroom, den or even sleek lighting fixtures not only costs a lot of money but can take you a while to complete. If you don't have time to update an older home, look for new construction springing up around the city and suburbs."
And Realtor suggests considering, "Does the house need a new roof? Extensive upgrading of the electrical wiring? New plumbing? Is the home disaster-ready? Will you be able to meet the financial challenges and live with the mess and inconvenience while the home is being brought up to your expectations?"
If you find a home that seems to be a great value, but then you need to put in tons of work, the deal may not be worth the future money you'll need to spend and the time the updates will take. Be sure to consider these factors before making a move.
Location/Neighborhood is Right
You want to be happy with your home, but you won't be totally pleased if it's located someplace that's not appealing to you. Bob Vila asks, "Is the house close to the places that are most important to you? Scout out the nearest grocery store, gas station, school, and place of worship — not to mention learning how far the house is from your workplace."
HomeFinder reminds you to choose a home that reflects your needs and personality. "Your lifestyle and how your prospective home fits into it, should be the main consideration in your decision to buy a home. Many couples with young children now choose their home according to which school district it's located in to ensure a good education for their kids."
Additionally, your neighbors will make a difference in how you feel in your new town. "A surprising study by Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam found that the more you have in common with your neighbors, the more likely everyone is to feel a connection to the community," as per Bob Vila.
As much as you love your new home, you will be stepping outside every now and then after all!
Are you ready to make your move? Now you'll know whether or not the home you're thinking of buying is right for you. It's time to open the door to your future!
Every time payday rolls around, I’m on top of the world. Jeff Bezos-level rich - even though I’m anything but. And then somehow the very next day, rent is due.
The cycle continues. The next payday, bills for my apartment. I find myself without a surplus of savings since I just moved and newly-furnished my apartment completely.
Even more terrifying is the looming presence of the holiday season. Halloween’s officially over and before we know it, hello Thanksgiving…and then there’s Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s. It’s insane.
I’ve been feeling very British lately. Not in a Union-Jack-obsessed, “Keep Calm and Carry-On” way. I went through that phase in 2012 with everyone else… no thank you. And it’s not even a surge of patriotism catalyzed by the Queen dying — I’m firmly team Diana and team Meghan.
Now that fall is officially here, the holidays will sweep in and I’ll have to contend with the fact that I won’t be spending them with my family in the UK. I went home to London earlier this year, so there’s not much left in my travel budget for another trip across the pond. A few domestic jaunts might be in my future, but the closest I’ll get to England this winter is watching Love Island and Love, Actually.
So in that spirit, I’ve been filling my days with content from my favorite Brits. I’m listening to all the old British rock bands I grew up listening to, patiently awaiting the new Arctic Monkeys album, and rewatching anything with Michaela Coel in it. I even shipped myself an order of British Baked Beans, so you know it’s dire.
I’ve also been watching British YouTubers like Grace Beverley — my favorite. Generally, I only go on YouTube to watch Vogue Beauty Secrets and AD Open Door videos. But I’m so glad I stumbled on Grace. Her content is a mix of London lifestyle (what lured me in), relatable entrepreneurship, and mindful productivity. I’m not a hustle-and-grind-girlboss, but as a creative person in a 9-to-5, I need all the help I can get to stay plugged in. So, the video “how to be really really really productive without getting overwhelmed” changed my approach to WFH.
Grace outlines her own productivity method: the to-do table. Instead of making a simple to-do list, she divides her tasks into a table that anyone can follow. As someone who’s survived with to-do lists for years, I recently implemented Grace’s method, and it’s revolutionized my workdays.
how to be really really really productive without getting overwhelmedwww.youtube.com
I follow her routine to a tee. Here’s how it works:
Essentially, she divides her daily responsibilities into four categories: quick ticks, tasks, projects, and non-negotiables.
- Quick Ticks: Actions that take less than 5-minutes
- Tasks: To-do’s that take up to 30-minutes. Probably don’t take too much brain energy.
- Projects: Long-term list items. These help guide your priorities, even if you’re not crossing them off in one day.
- Non-negotiables: Pick 3 things each day that you must get done. This is how you’ll truly measure success.
With everything written down and sorted, next address your schedule. Meetings, deadlines, and time blocks — whatever works best for you. Write it down. Then make a pact with yourself to stick to them.
This way of categorization provides a roadmap for prioritizing your day — making you far more productive. Have you ever spent the entire day on small tasks and then suddenly realized you hadn’t moved the needle on any task? Or do you spend way too much time on tasks that aren’t a priority? No more. With your non-negotiables laid out, you know what to laser-focus on and what to dedicate energy towards.
Also, it pays to know your working style. I’m not a morning person. Yet, I have to be up and at ‘em super early. So, first thing in the morning, I march through my Quick Ticks to warm me up. I set a time limit, so I can knock out some easy wins which is totally inspiring. Then I move on to bigger things without lingering on emails or admin. For others, it might be more helpful to tackle the big things with all that early-in-the-day brain power earlier.
Grace has great tips on avoiding overwhelm and burnout. My favorite is taking more intentional breaks rather than scrolling through social media. I call this scrolling “productive” because I’m “coming up with pitches.” Oh, the lies we tell ourselves. It’s more productive in the long run to giving my brain a break with non-screen related stimuli.
Grace’s solution? Set a timer to read a real, an actual book. I’ve never thought of this. It’s a genius way to check off some books on my TBR and kickstart my creativity. After reading a good book, I’m completely inspired to write. So having books near my desk helps me step away from the computer during my lunch break for an actual reset. (And yes, the current books I’m reading are by British authors: Assembly by Natasha Brown, and Love in Color: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold by Bolu Babalolu.)
In my pursuit of switching out my WFH set-up and getting my life together, I’ve engineered my workstation for success. With my new WFH essentials and Grace’s productivity technique, I’m revitalized for work — despite the fall blues and my melancholy about the pending holidays.
Here are the things getting me hyped for work and helping me crush my Grace Beverley-inspired to-do tables — no lists in sight:
Southwest Airlines Sale 2022
Pack your bags — Southwest Airlines is having a major sale! Fares are as low as $59 one-way if you book by October 3rd.
This end-of-summer super sale is a game-changer for your travel plans through the end of the year. Summertime travel gets all the glory. But why not take advantage of your long weekends, holidays, and PTO this fall. You’ll be surprised at how much travel you can fit in. Keep the fall/winter season exciting with domestic trips that give you all the excitement without breaking the bank. All thanks to Southwest.
Here’s the breakdown:
Where can you go?
You’ll find discounted tickets to and from most airports. Sale fares apply to cross country travel, and even Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean! Whether you’re visiting a new city or revisiting your last beach vacation, this sale has fares to make your travel dreams come true.
What do the fares cover?
Southwest Airlines has multiple fare tiers, each with various benefits. Wanna Get Away fares start at $59, while Wanna Get Away Plus fares start at $89. You can also find great deals on Anytime fares, which offer priority boarding and express lanes. Then there’s Business Select tickets for a luxe experience at an affordable price point.
Do you have to be a Southwest Rapid Rewards member?
You may think these sale fares are too good to be true. Is there a catch? Do you have to be a Southwest Rapid Rewards member to access them? You’re in luck — anyone can attain these fares for a limited time.
But, insider tip, you should consider signing up for Southwest Rapid Rewards. With a free sign up, you earn points and miles with each trip you take. And with this sale, each dollar you spend on these discounted tix can stretch super far until you eventually earn free travel. The only thing better than a sale is free stuff.
So pack your bags and brace yourself for those chaotic airport lines. Everyone’s hopping on this deal so get on it. Don’t miss out — grab your sale tickets by October 3rd!
I’ve been browsing the Southwest Airlines site, checking out flights and dreaming.