Q: My husband and I are making selections for our new home and we are narrowing down choices and are having a REALLY tough time with this because we want everything, but our budget says otherwise...any suggestions?
-Frustrated on Falls Road

A: Dear Frustrated,
You are not alone, everyone is faced with this dilemma, it is normal. Everyone defines what they "must have" differently, and usually "everything" falls into "must have". But let's face it, you have to forfeit something to get another thing. I can't tell you specifically which wood species, or granite color you should pick, but I can tell you this - focus on the selections and upgrades that you will not be able to do at a later time. Flooring, cabinets, and countertops, for example, are upgrades you may want to focus on right away, because your dollar will carry you a long way and with some money spent you can make your home look very nice, while leaving the selections that are expendable for a later date. I must warn you the selections like those do carry somewhat of a price tag, however, try and think of the whole picture and not just the price. Getting nice cabinets, floors, and countertops will have somewhat of a price, but placing your buck into selections that steal the show may go way farther than you think. Weigh all your options, stand firm against sticker shock, try and forfeit items that can be done later for items you must have, and the road to your dream home will come significantly easier.
-Anne

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