I have a slight obsession — ok, problem! — with checking out real estate listings on Redfin. And like many people, I’m a sucker for a recently rehabbed older home — I love that combination of restored crown molding, open floor plan, and new kitchens and bathrooms.

When my wife and I were house hunting a few years back, I remember thinking I might have found a winner online. We called our agent to set up a tour of the home.

Within the first five minutes it was clear that…

A) The homeowners had hired a very good photographer.

B) Whomever they had hired to rehab the home had cut corners.

C) The homeowners were hoping potential buyers wouldn’t notice this.

Needless to say, it wasn’t the house for us. But this tale does allow me to make the following money metaphor:

Are you addressing your money issues — or cutting corners and hoping no one notices?

Unlike rehabbing a home, there’s no “getting away with” cutting corners when it comes to your money issues. In the long run, you’re only hurting yourself and the folks you care about most.

Here are some signs that you might be cutting corners:

You’re not having regular conversations about money with your spouse.

How often do you check in with your spouse about money? It doesn’t need to be a daily occurrence but make sure you’re doing it at least monthly. The longer you go without talking about money, the more the stress and tension build and the harder it becomes to address those lingering issues. It’s best to nip it in the bud before it becomes a bigger problem.

You haven’t set a “run it by me” number.

If your spouse spent $100 without checking with you first, would you be upset? Or maybe it’s $1,000? Have you and your partner agreed on what that number is for each other? If not, hash it out and start practicing this accountability. Your number doesn’t have to be same as your spouse’s. Do whatever works best for you as a couple.

You haven’t clearly laid out what matters to you both and why.

Here’s the big kahuna. You know what happens when we assume – we inadvertently upset our partners in the process. Yes, it takes time and effort to get to the point where you’re aligned financially and emotionally. But the payoff of being on the same page around your shared values is well worth the investment.

And remember, you don’t have to DIY this “home improvement” project. If you’d like help getting on the same page with your spouse, I can help. Schedule your call.

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