You’re On Your Own Kid (Taylor Swift)

I wish I could tell you we wouldn’t eventually be hitting every Taylor Swift song, but alas….

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Taylor notes that she “didn’t choose this town.”  She also sings of “sprinkler splashes” and “fireplace ashes.” She searches the party for “better bodies.”

As is often the case with Taylor, she paints quite a picture and gives you lots to dissect and ponder.

First, the song title.  She’s talking about the sacrifices she’s made to find her perfect lover/savior, and how she’s come to the realization that he isn’t coming.  Taylor’s singing from a depressive place can also happen when your house search hits bottom.  You can’t find the perfect house.  You’re willing to sacrifice location, size, and price…but….nothing.  Let’s remember, Taylor is now in a happy relationship.  Don’t lose hope.

Second, Taylor is visualizing running through sprinklers and sitting by the fire.  Visualization is a key part of the house hunt process.  When you walk a house and property, you really want to think about what you’re going to USE the property for.  In a vacuum, bigger seems better.  More square footage, bigger lot size.  However, if you’re not going to use the property, you may be paying for something you don’t need.  Do you plan to be running through sprinklers with your kids? Building a pool? Setting up a firepit? Camping in a wooded area? If not, why pay for it?

Third, Taylor realizes that she is looking for “better bodies,” but that she isn’t rare.  She means everyone is looking for the same things.  This is also true when you’re house hunting.  If you plan a day of open houses with your broker, expect to see the same three families over and over.  You all want roughly the same thing (a big nice house in this town….for $1,000).  The key to a successful search is to differentiate YOUR needs from the market’s needs.  Do you not mind a Main street? Are you claustrophobic and scared of a basement? Do you telecommute, so you can be far from the highway? Tell your broker (me?), so we can focus your search on what you actually need.

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