Defining Value

By: Maria Mena

Value is a word we hear frequently today. In today’s economy it is being used by marketers to draw us to their product.

 Value is a word that we learn early in our lives. As toddlers we are fascinated by the clinking sound of coins as they hit the belly of our new piggy banks and quickly learn to distinguish the differences in coins. At a young age we learn to distinguish the value of numbers; we quickly learn to value our food, our parents, our pacifiers, our toys.

Then, as the circle of our lives expands we learn to value more.

 Yet, this word continues to perplex and challenge us throughout our lives. As people we value our health, our family, our religious beliefs, our marriage, our friends, our country, our freedom, our cities and communities, our neighbors, our home teams, our homes, our safety, our abilities, our jobs, our time off, our vacations, our investments, our pride, our privacy, in short…our lives!

 At some point most of us come to realize that sometimes we must choose among the things we value most and making choices can be difficult.

 The reality of having to make choices, when looking for a home hit me like a ton of bricks when I moved back to Atlanta in 1991. I wanted to live in a certain neighborhood but I wanted a home that was in another.

When I reconciled the neighborhood issue then other value questions arose. I wanted the kitchen of one house, the garage of another, the backyard of a third, for the price of the fourth!

 When looking for a home it is important that you clearly understand what you value the most. Make a list of your priorities and communicate this to your agent.

You should distinguish “wants” from “needs” when looking at houses and rank them in importance and then look for a home with the most important features that are “needed”.

 It’s fine to want it all, but be clear with yourself regarding what you value most and what as a buyer you actual need.

There are a variety of homes on the market and you should not feel the need to settle.

Take advantage of the great value of buying a home today.