You're out looking at homes and you stop at a glorious-looking house with a 'For Sale' sign. Stepping out of the car, the beauty of the home's façade and the richness of the landscaping take your breath away. "This must be the one," your mind says.

Trouble is, you won't be living in the front yard, exquisite though it may be. Take a deep breath and step inside, remembering to keep this mantra running in your mind: "Will this home serve the needs and dreams of each member of our household extremely well?"

If, dazzled by the front yard and façade, you find yourself saying things like, "Well, we can take out that dining room wall, and we can add another bedroom, and it's okay that there isn't a bathroom downstairs," stop, take another deep breath and repeat the mantra. You are looking for a home to LIVE in, not a home to be photographed in. Granted, it's important, even nourishing, to live in beauty−but not at the expense of having your many needs met.

Because finding a home is inevitably a rather emotional process−as it should be, because we're dealing with the emotional aspects of our lives as well as the practical aspects−it is extremely helpful to have the support and assistance of a real estate professional who has listened carefully to what it is you do in a house, how you live, and what you want. If you have questions, call Beth at (425) 450-5208 and visit her website at www.bethbillington.com.

Beth Billington is a Realtor® with Coldwell Banker Bain in Bellevue, WA.