So bit of background-I’m a Civil Engineer,did my Masters in Management too.And honestly?The best use I’ve found for all that management theory isn’t at work…it’s when making big life decisions. Like buying a house.
I know this sounds random but hear me out-I think we need to talk about this more because buying a home isn’t just about emotions and “good vibes”,it’s literally the biggest financial decision most of us will ever make.
This is just what’s worked for me.Sharing in case anyone finds it useful.Tweak it however you want.
Recently I used this exact approach to help a friend who was confused between a few flats and was almost ready to finalize based on “feel”.That’s when I realized how useful this framework is in real life.
Using my MBA + Engineering brain for house hunting
When people go see flats,they usually check:
- Is the view nice?
- Vastu ok?
- Decent carpet area?
- Pool/gym/clubhouse?
- Does it feel right?
All valid.But here’s the thing-a home isn’t about how Instagram-worthy it looks on Day 1.It’s about whether it’ll work for your actual life,every single day,for years.
That’s where I started applying some basic management frameworks.
Before you think I’m being extra
Look,you don’t need my degrees to do this. Zero engineering or MBA knowledge required.
You just need one simple tool:SWOT analysis.
SWOT-the idiot-proof version
It’s literally just 4 questions:
1.Strengths-What’s good about this right now?
2.Weaknesses-What’s bad about this right now?
3.Opportunities-What could get better later?
4.Threats-What could screw me over?
Done. No fancy jargon needed.
Basically:SWOT stops you from buying on pure emotion.
How I use SWOT when flat hunting
Strengths(stuff that’ll make your daily life better)
1.Proper ventilation,good sunlight
2.Layout makes sense,not much dead space
3.Parking is easy,entry/exit isn’t a nightmare
4.Location is solid
5.Paperwork is clean(RERA registered,OC in place,etc.)
Translation:you’ll be comfortable daily + easier to sell if needed
Weaknesses(stuff that’ll drive you nuts)
1.Rooms are dark,no cross ventilation
2.Parking is a tight squeeze
3.You’ll wait 10 mins for the lift during peak hours
4.There’s a busy road or temple/mosque nearby(constant noise)
5.Layout is weird with random unusable corners
These won’t bother you during the site visit.They’ll bother you every.single.day.
Opportunities(what might improve)
1.Metro station coming up within 2km
2. New flyover/road being built
3.Area is developing,rental demand going up
4. Tech park or commercial hub planned nearby
Basically:will this place be worth more in 3 years?
Threats(red flags that could bite you later)
1.There’s a transformer/substation right outside
2.Area floods during monsoon
3.Builder has delayed other projects by 2+ years
4.OC is “coming soon”(yeah right)
5.Too many similar flats being built-oversupply kills resale value
Stuff you CAN’T fix once you’ve signed.
What I actually do on site visits
Dead simple-I open Notes on my phone and make these 4 headings while walking through:
1.Strengths
2.Weaknesses
3.Opportunities
4.Threats
I force myself to write minimum 3 points under each.
Real talk:if you can’t find threats,you’re not looking properly.Every place has risks.
We spend months choosing a phone.A house deserves way more thought.
Use your gut feeling,sure.But also use something structured like SWOT to catch what your emotions might miss.
That’s it.Hope this helps someone out there not make an expensive mistake.