You might yourself wondering -- can we fix that?

In almost cases, yes. But it's worth thinking about what "fixing it" will mean - both in energy, effort and money.

Some things are easy. Paint colors, light fixtures, cabinet hardware, even flooring -- there will be a cost to them, but they are manageable for most people. If the only thing keeping you from loving this house is some bold paint colors and tired carpet, that's probably a good enough fit of a house for you to consider making an offer.  You'll just want to plan for the cost of making those updates.

Some things are doable but more expensive. Replacing countertops, renovating a bathroom, finishing a basement -- these projects can cost quite a bit more and can take quite a bit longer to accomplish.  They're often still worth doing, but you might need to save up some funds to make these changes.  We should be discussing whether you'll be financially ready to take that on after putting money towards your down payment and closing costs. 

And... some things you simply can't change. The location near a busy road -- the steep lot -- the very choppy floor plan with too many load bearing walls.  These are permanent features of the property, so if the "one thing" keeping you from loving the home falls into this category, we should make sure to think through and talk through the permanence of those aspects of the property.

When we encounter a house that is just about perfect, but has one thing awry, there are often two different outcomes after you buy said house...

1.  You talk yourself into the house because you love 95% of it and then find that the one thing you couldn't change becomes the thing you think about about every single day, and not in a positive way.

2.  You buy the house, commit the funds to a renovation or to change the "one thing" and within a year or two are in love with 100% of the house.

The difference in outcomes usually comes down to which category the "one thing" actually falls in.

So before you decide, let's talk about it. What is the one thing? What would it realistically cost to change? And can you live with it if you never do?