Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce Business Journal Q3 2015 | Page 53

By: Steve Prescott, RE/MAX Capitol Properties Owner/Broker
One of the first things I do when sitting down with new clients
is help them think about what it is they need in a home vs. what
they want in a home. While many buyers already have a few
things in mind, over the years I’ve found that once we start
touring homes, that list can change a lot!
That’s not because buyers haven’t put enough thought into their
new home; in fact, sometimes it’s because they’ve spent too
much time thinking! Those want and need lists can get long fast,
which can both stretch a budget and take a lot of great houses
off your radar.

So how do you make sure
you’re looking at homes that
meet true needs and wants?

So how do you make sure you’re looking at homes that meet true
needs and wants? Start by writing down what you already have
in mind for those wants and needs—it looks a lot like a list of
“pros” and “cons.”
Now look at that list and think about what it is that you need from
each of your “needs.” A common request is for a large kitchen,
but a kitchen can be very large with a small amount of counter
space or cabinets. If you want a large kitchen because you
entertain a lot, but don’t necessarily cook a lot of large meals, the
lack of counter space may not be a problem for you. If what you

really need is a lot of prep space, perhaps what you really need
is a kitchen that has a lot of counter space, even if that kitchen
isn’t exactly huge.
Your need list might also include a set number of bedrooms,
whether that number includes bedrooms for kids or frequent
guests, or for rooms to be used as an office, craft room, etc.
If you’re including a guest room in your bedroom needs, a
home with a finished basement but one less bedroom could be
perfect—you could set up the guest room in the basement, or
set-up a family room with a nice sleeper sofa. The basement
might even have a private bath that would give your guests some
extra privacy.
Take the same approach with your list of wants. If you want
a large family room because you need a place to put the 83”
television you already own, and are unwilling to part with,
especially right before football season, a home with very small
rooms is unlikely to provide enough space to house your TV and
anything else. So even though it might seem silly to pass on a
house because of your home theater setup, if you know from
the beginning it’s not something you’re willing to give up, call it a
“must” from the start.
To help you get started thinking about the
perfect home for you, I’ve created free
worksheets. You can find them on the
RE/MAX Capitol Properties Facebook page, or
stop by the office to pick up a free printed copy.

Happy house hunting!

ISSUE SPONSOR
Q3 2015 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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