This document outlines 7 steps to help achieve one's dream home: 1) Define what a dream home means; 2) Create a clear vision; 3) Be flexible in details while staying true to the vision; 4) Communicate the vision clearly; 5) Focus on finances and numbers; 6) Be willing to get outside one's comfort zone; 7) Distinguish between a short-term vs. long-term home vision. It encourages the reader to think through both practical and aspirational aspects of finding their ideal home.

1. 7 To-Dos to Make Your Dream
Home Come True

2. Our homes are our launch pads for being and
doing our best in the world, and the places
where we live out our most precious, private
moments. So, if you follow our most important
dreams to their logical conclusions, they almost
all boil down to having a happy home,

3. 1. Know what a dream home is - and is not. Like
anything else in life, you can’t realize your dream
home if you don’t know what it is - and isn’t. For
purposes of this conversation, our definition of a
dream home is closely related to our aspirations.

4. 2. Get and stay clear on your personal vision.
There are various tools you can use to create a
clear vision of your dream home, to avoid the
above pitfalls. The most important of these is to
sit in a still and quiet place and literally start
writing down what you want your life to look
like after you’re in the home of your dreams.

5. 3. “Be stubborn on the vision and flexible on the
details.” Amazon founder Jeff Bezos delivered this
one-liner in explaining his philosophy of creative
problem-solving. And it applies just as powerfully to
the creativity that is essential when hunting for
your dream home. Compromise is unavoidable.
Whether you’re spending $250,000 or $2.5 million
on your next home, you will be required to
compromise in order to reconcile your dream with
your financials, the dreams of any co-buyers you
have and realities of the real estate market, the
inventory of available homes and geographic and
other realities.

6. 4. Communicate your dream vividly to those
who need to know. A frequently expressed
dilemma of wanna-be dream home buyers is
that their Realtor is not showing them homes
that fit the bill. In my experience, this issue
often arises when buyers’ champagne tastes and
beer budgets don’t align, and their Realtor is
trying hard to show them the best they can
afford, but it still disappoints.

7. 5. Mind your business. Dreams may seem
fluffy and soft, but the dream of a home is one
which requires you to click into hard-core
numbers mode in order to make things happen.
Don’t fall into the trap of fixating on images of
wainscoting and tree-lined streets until your
money matters have been fully handled.

8. 6. Get uncomfortable. Being a grown-up is full
of paradoxes, isn’t it? A few of my faves:
• Living an easy life takes a lot of hard work.
• With fashion and food, often less really is
more.

9. 7. Know the difference between your vision for
“this” dream home, and your long-term
vision. The home you buy now might not be your
forever home. It’s essential you feel comfortable
with the prospect of staying put for at least 5-7
years before you buy, in most areas. But don’t feel
like this home must have every feature you’ll ever
want to have in a home. Especially if you’re buying
your first home, the reality is you’ll likely move up
several times in your future, as your
career, earnings and savings grow over time.

10. So tell us, have you scored your dream home? If
you're still on the hunt, what's on your short list
of features that makes a home your family's
ideal? Tell us below…

11. Randy Bett
Investment Realtor/Author/Investor
Real Estate Professionals Inc.
Better Group Real Estate
202-5403 Crowchild Trail NW
Calgary, AB T3B 4Z1
Phone:403-774-7464 Ext:1
Fax:403-208-0082
Toll Free fax:888-711-6801

12. Randy Bett
www.BetterGroupRealEstate.ca