Two days ago, my brother called and asked me: “What are you doing at 4:00 AM on Friday?”
Me: “Um… sleeping? Yep. Definitely sleeping.”
Bro: “No you’re not.”
Which, is how you wind up seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens at 4:00 AM on opening day. And as I reflect on the experience, I realize there are a lot of lessons to be learned, and connections to buying houses in Grand Rapids. And don’t worry… no spoilers ahead!
1. The experience is only as good as the people you’re with.
I saw Star Wars with two of my brothers. Because we live in different cities, we picked a central location for the movie. This led me to set an alarm for 2:30 AM… enough time for a quick shower, a gallon of coffee, and arrival at the theater with 3 whole minutes to spare.
Now, this is a rough time of day. If the two of them had been grumpy, pushy, or cynical, it would have made for a VERY rocky start. But they were happy, excited, and ready to have a great time. We fed off of each other’s positive energy, and pushed through the problems that come with waking up so early.
Buying a house is similar. You want to work with great people! Since challenges arise so frequently with home purchases in Grand Rapids, pick positive folks who will help you work through problems. Choose people that are knowledgeable, experienced, and responsive.
Working with bad professionals while buying a house is a lot like being around a Negative Nancy at 3:30 AM with no coffee. Avoid it at all costs!
2. Being flexible is key.
4:00 AM is a weird time to see a movie. It’s not the first showing, it’s not convenient, and it kills your normal sleep schedule. But for us, it was the only option!
With holiday events, family needs, work commitments, and classes challenging us, it was this or nothing. We wouldn’t have gotten another chance to watch The Force Awakens in the theater, and we would have missed out on a great experience.
Buying houses is similar. Maybe you’re only able to get a showing booked at 7:00 AM on a Wednesday, because the Realtor is going out of town. Maybe you have to extend a contract, because the inspector didn’t give you their report on time. Or maybe you have to consider different mortgage options, because the house needs some repairs right away.
Whatever the case may be, don’t let a strange situation keep you out of your dream home. By looking at all of your options, staying flexible, and keeping your end goal firmly in mind, you can get the place you’ve always wanted.
3. Thinking outside the box can be great.
Other than the early alarm clock, we had a great movie watching experience. There was no traffic on the way to the theater, we got right in, and the place was not packed (surprise, surprise).
By looking in an unexpected place (the 4 AM showing), and putting in a little extra work (knocking off a few hours of sleep), we experienced something great. We watched biggest release of the year on opening day, and had the theater to ourselves!
If you tie this lesson in to real estate, you can get great results. Perhaps you find a little fixer-upper that everyone else has ignored, because it needs repairs. Maybe you notice a ‘For Sale By Owner’ house that wasn’t posted online, and snag a great deal. Or maybe you find a gem in an up-and-coming part of town, because you’ve taken the time to learn the area.
Whatever the case, thinking outside the box can have major benefits. So jump in, and don’t be afraid to dig for diamonds in the rough.
Who knew Star Wars could be so enlightening?