We want to find the home that fits your 80/10/10. 80% is the home you love, and it hits most, if not all, of your needs. 10% is what we can change over time, like paint colors or an outdated kitchen. The last 10% is things we can’t change and have to be OK with, like location, the style of the home, or your neighbors. If we can get to that 80% or more, we’re on the right track. That doesn’t mean there aren’t unicorns out there where we hit 100%, too!
Play video: The 80/10/10 Rule for Finding Your Next Home
How I use 80/10/10 with buyers
Will you ever find the perfect house? Maybe. I use a simple guide so we don’t miss a good one waiting on perfect.
Here’s the split:
- 80% is the home you love. It hits most, if not all, of your needs.
- 10% is what we can change over time, like paint colors or an outdated kitchen.
- 10% is what we live with: location, the style of the home, or the house next door.
Hit 80% or more and you’re on the right track. And yes, unicorns that hit 100% are out there too.
This is just a guide. Homes come and go. Know want vs need, and you have a clearer home to bid on.
For the full Connecticut buyer walkthrough, see my buying a home in Connecticut guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does 80% mean in the 80/10/10 rule?
80% is the home you love. It hits most, if not all, of your needs: the layout, the beds and baths, the garage, the feel of the place. That’s the part you’re bidding on.
What counts as the 10% you can change?
Things you can change over time: paint colors, an outdated kitchen, a basement you might finish later. You don’t need those perfect on day one.
What is the 10% you live with?
Things you can’t change and have to be OK with: location, the style of the home, or the house next door. If that 10% outweighs the rest, keep looking.
Do I need a home that hits 100%?
No. Get to 80% or more and you’re on the right track. Unicorns that hit 100% are out there too, but this is a guide, not a guarantee you’ll find one.
How does this help when I’m ready to bid?
Know want vs need before you fall for a house. When a home clears your 80%, you have a clearer yes. That makes the offer conversation simpler. More on buying in Connecticut is on my buyer guide.
Looking in Connecticut?
We can talk through what matters most in your next home, then search with that 80/10/10 in mind.
See the buyer guide Contact FredGeneral information only, not legal or financial advice. The 80/10/10 rule is a buying guide, not a guarantee about any home or neighborhood. Equal Housing Opportunity.