When we were shopping for our first home, one of the first things our realtor advised was to go to the bank to get pre-approved for a home loan. I remember her exact words: “Go talk to them to see what you can afford… or want to afford.” And so off to the bank we went and handed over paystubs, social security numbers, tax returns and bank account statements without thinking twice. We knew how much cash we had for a down payment and how much we could budget monthly. Once we got the stamp of approval from the bank, we handed over a letter with an amount on it to our realtor along with our home feature wish list, and off we went.
When you are buying a home, at least in most cases, you begin with an amount in mind and then figure out what you can get for it. There are dozens of ways to compromise. You can back off on square footage and maximize the upgrades. You can compromise on the location in order to get a larger lot. You can get more house in exchange for fixing it up yourself. The list goes on.
Budgeting for a website should be similar to budgeting for a home. There is a common misconception, however, that withholding your website budget somehow gets you a better price. Or (perhaps more accurately) that a web designer will change the price based on what you tell them you can spend. While technically true, it’s not for the reason you think.
When we quote a website, we are trying to create a perfect blend of what you want and what you can afford. Or, as my realtor said, what you want to afford. Neither of us wants to waste our time looking at mansions in an elite neighborhood if it’s totally out of your price range. (Or, maybe you do want to look, but it will help if we know when you are just “window shopping”). You also don’t want to end up in a crappy neighborhood if you can comfortably afford something better. Remember: you website should either directly or indirectly contribute to your bottom line. You don’t want to skimp, but you also don’t want to get too far out of your comfort zone.
As your “website” realtor, we will evaluate your wish list against your budget and tell you what fits. In some cases we may tell you that you don’t even need to spend that much to get everything you want. But, ultimately, it helps us guide you toward the right solutions.
When we ask for a budget, we are not setting a price tag. We just need to know what neighborhood to look in and what type of dwelling we are looking for: apartments in the city, houses in the suburbs or mansions on the hill? We excel at creating workable solutions regardless of the neighborhood or the type of building.
We really strive to work with clients long term and genuinely want to help you find the best fit. What’s good for you is good for us. Let us know how we can help you get started.