Before you fall in love with a house, ask yourself... is anything missing? And if so, does it actually matter to you?

Maybe it's an outdoor patio or deck. Maybe it's a garage, a fenced yard, or a main level primary bedroom. Once you notice what's not there, the real question is whether it'll affect how you actually live in the home.

If it's missing and it matters... say you envision spending lots of time entertaining outside, and this house has no patio or deck... that likely means the house is not a great fit for you.

If it's missing and it doesn't matter... because you don't picture using that kind of space anyway... then no problem, this house might be a great option for you. But... keep in mind that it might somewhat limit your resale options down the road. 

We are unlikely to find a perfect house that has everything that you want, and nothing that you don't, so when we view a home that is missing a key element, let's pause to reflect on whether that actually matters to you, and how that might influence your decision making.