The “Driveway Test”: A Funny (But True) Way to Know if You’re Ready to Buy a House in CT

Let’s talk about a very real moment that happens to buyers in Connecticut.

It’s not when you get pre-approved.
It’s not when you schedule your first showing.
It’s not even when you lose your first multiple offer situation (welcome to the club).

It’s when you pull into the driveway and suddenly become a full-blown detective.

You’re sitting in your car, staring at the house, and thinking:

• “Is this roof giving… 2006?”
• “That mailbox looks like it’s been through something.”
• “Why are there three sheds?”
• “Is that a neighbor’s chicken coop or a haunted playhouse?”

This, my friends, is the Connecticut Driveway Test.

And weirdly enough, it’s one of the best ways to know if you’re actually ready to buy.

Step 1: You stop looking at the house and start looking at the life

At first, buyers focus on bedrooms and bathrooms.

But eventually, your brain shifts to:

• How will I live here?
• Will I hate this commute?
• Where does the snow go?
• Can I get out of this driveway in winter?

Connecticut buyers become practical FAST.

Step 2: You notice “CT-specific” stuff

Some things only matter in Connecticut.

Like:

• Oil vs propane vs natural gas
• Septic systems
• Well water
• Stone walls
• Drainage
• That one basement that smells like 1974

Step 3: You start judging neighbors (don’t lie)

Buyers always say they’re not worried about neighbors.

Then they see:

• 7 cars parked on the lawn
• A trampoline in February
• A “NO TRESPASSING” sign on a 0.25-acre lot
• A neighbor snowblower collection that looks like a museum

Suddenly you’re like, “Hmm… interesting.”

Step 4: You either get excited or you get the ick

This is the big one.

You pull up and either think:

• “This feels right.”
  or
• “Nope. Nope. Nope.”

And the weird thing is, buyers are usually correct.

The driveway test doesn’t lie.

Step 5: You’re ready when you can be honest about trade-offs

The buyers who win in Connecticut are not the ones who expect perfection.

They’re the ones who can say:

• “I’ll take the smaller kitchen for the better lot.”
• “I’ll take the older bathroom for the better location.”
• “I’ll take the busier road for the better school district.”

Because in CT, you almost always trade something.

Final thought

If you’re buying in Connecticut this year, don’t worry if you feel overwhelmed.

That’s normal.

But once you start doing the driveway test, you’re officially in the game.

And when you’re ready, I’m here to help you navigate the process, avoid the money pits, and land the right home.