Searching for an apartment is like searching for love – post-Valentine’s thoughts from a real estate agent

Valentine’s Day is behind us, but some reflections stay with us longer. After years of working in real estate, we’ve come to realize that searching for the perfect apartment and searching for the perfect partner are surprisingly similar processes. Let us share these observations with you.

Love at first sight really exists

Do you know that feeling when you walk into an apartment and within the first 30 seconds you know – this is IT? The light coming through the windows, the layout of the rooms, the view of greenery or the city panorama – everything suddenly clicks. You can’t explain it logically, but you feel it with your whole being. This is exactly the same feeling people describe when talking about love at first sight.

And you know what? Sometimes it’s worth trusting that intuition. Of course, you always need to check the technical condition, the land register, and documentation – but that first impression really matters. An apartment where you feel “at home” from the very first moment is an apartment where you’ll be happy.

Photos can lie

You’re browsing listings on real estate portals. One apartment catches your attention – spacious, bright, freshly renovated, with a beautiful view. Your heart starts beating faster. You arrange a viewing and… reality turns out to be somewhat different. The rooms seem smaller, the view from the window is partly the wall of the neighboring building, and the “fresh renovation” is mainly new paint on the walls.

Sound familiar? The same thing happens in the world of online dating. That’s why our advice is the same in both cases: always arrange to meet in person. Photos are just the beginning – you’ll only discover the true value when you come face to face.

Requirements list versus reality

“Minimum 60 m², balcony, storage, parking space, up to 10 minutes from the center, in a quiet area, with a view of greenery, near a park, good transport links, up to 500 thousand PLN.” You create a list of requirements and set out on your search. After a dozen viewings, it turns out that such an apartment either doesn’t exist or costs twice as much.

And then comes the moment of reflection. Maybe those 55 m² with a really good layout is better than 65 m² with a walk-through room? Maybe the lack of a balcony is survivable since the park is 5 minutes away on foot? Maybe that quiet neighborhood on the outskirts is actually an advantage, not a disadvantage?

It’s similar in love. We have an image of the ideal partner, and then we meet someone who doesn’t fit our list at all – and it turns out that’s exactly the right person. Because life rarely follows our plans.

Compromises are part of the game

The perfect apartment doesn’t exist. Just as the perfect partner doesn’t exist. Every property has its pros and cons. The apartment has everything you wanted, but it’s on the 4th floor without an elevator. Or it has an elevator, but the neighbor plays the trumpet. Or it’s perfectly quiet, but the commute to work takes 45 minutes.

The key question is: what can you live with, and what is an absolute deal-breaker for you? This is a question worth asking yourself before you start searching – for both an apartment and a life partner.

Timing matters enormously

That apartment you viewed a month ago? The one you hesitated about because “maybe we’ll find something better”? Someone just bought it. They made an offer the day after your viewing and didn’t wait. Opportunities don’t wait – neither in real estate nor in life. Sometimes you have to make a decision before you’re “100% sure.”

But there’s also good news

Unlike love, in real estate you can have a professional agent. Someone who knows the market, will filter out unsuitable offers, check the legal status, and help you find “the one” property faster and safer. No ghosting, no disappointments on your first date with an apartment, no wasting time on listings that don’t meet your criteria.

If you’re looking for your “perfect match” on the real estate market in Kraków – we’re here for you.