ONCE UPON A TIME …

By Theresa Swanson

Once upon a time there was a lovely young family living in Central Florida. They had a very nice home, but it was their first home — and as the family expanded, the structure did not. After careful consideration, they decided it was time to buy a new home. 

As with most starter homes, theirs went under contract quite quickly, so they kicked their search for a new home into high gear. They had given their Realtor a list of “must-haves” and “really, really wants.”

The husband, being a practical guy, wanted energy efficiency and the latest technology built into the home. He wanted low maintenance and up-to-date safety features. 

The wife, on the other hand, wanted a gourmet kitchen, an upstairs bonus room, a pool and plenty of community amenities where she could take the children to play and get to know the neighbors. 

But both agreed they wanted to stay in pretty much the same general area. 

That’s quite a list, but their savvy Realtor managed to find a few homes that came close. 

“Perfect,” said the wife, “I don’t think so,” said the husband. So, the Realtor tried again. Finally, husband and wife settled on a home and the purchase process began. 

A licensed home inspector was called to give his seal of approval, but it didn’t go well. From the roof to the foundation, this home was going to be a money-pit. 

So off they went again. This time, their Realtor took them to a new-home community. The husband saw that everything on his list had been checked off. The wife was ready to make design selections.

Thirty days later, they moved into the home of their dreams. And you know how the story ends: They lived happily ever after.