Everyone has a dream buried in their head
as to what they would like to have as their
ideal home.
For some it is seclusion, for others the
sights, sounds, and smells, of the ocean.
Southwest exposure, lots of light, acreage:
The visions are too numerous to list, but
ask yourself what is truly important to you
in a home and make a list.
Now comes the hard part, eliminating those
attributes that are beyond your reach financially.
For instance, waterfront may be a dream of
yours, but reality tells you that you cannot
obtain it without eliminating the house that
goes along with it - unless you can afford
to buy your dream property and wait to build
your dream home.
Otherwise, go to the next attribute on your
list. Perhaps privacy with a water view would
satisfy your vision. Wherever you buy on Salt
Spring Island you will be within easy access
of a lake or the oceanfront. All the lakes
offer public access and the island beaches
are numerous, and for the most part, easily
accessible. Anyway, you get the idea. Make
your list then let us help you find the right
property for you.
Why am I buying?
Is it:
- Vacation property
- Retirement
- Lifestyle Change
- Investment for the future
- New Career
What are the most important factors to me
and/or the others involved?
Write out the most important features in
a list then narrow the list down to 4 factors.
Assign a percentage value to each factor.
Make sure it only adds up to 100%. If view
is the most important factor to you then assign
it 50%. That means that the rest can only
be about 12 1/2% each. Adjust them accordingly.
These will change as you shop.
- Size of house (bedrooms, bathrooms, square
ft.)
- Style of the house
- Age or condition
- Waterfront, View, privacy, acreage, forest,
convenience
- Price
- potential revenue, return on investment
- color, siding, sun exposure..........?
While most people have a price limit (don’t
you wish you didn’t), price is really
not the most important factor. If the property
is completely unsatisfactory, and can’t
be improved, then it doesn't matter what the
price is. There is always a compromise between
price and the features that are important
to you. I want an antique, pristine Ferrari
for $5,000. I actually own an MG, I’m
still looking, but I bought the MG
Don’t get caught up in the more is better
syndrome. It takes a lot of lead to equal
the value of gold. Unless you are buying land
to farm or develop, more is not always better.
Issues like privacy can sometimes be achieved
on a very small lot.
Comparisons of properties can be very difficult
on the Gulf Islands.
There are no two properties alike. Even when
a large block of land was subdivided into
many smaller lots, none of them are the same
size, the same shape or the same topography.
Houses were not built in mass groups. There
are no two houses alike on the islands.
Even if a subdivision was created, the houses
were all built over a period of many years
(sometimes 30-40 years apart) and as I said
before, each lot is a different size and shape
so the houses were built according to the
best fit of the land. You may love one house
and hate the one next door so they are of
completely different values to you and the
marketplace.
After you have come up with a plan, that
is just the starting point. You must stand
on the property to see if you like it. You
will probably change you important factors
at this point. I have only sold one property
in my career where they buyer had never been
on the property.
WHAT
IS YOUR DREAM?