Sarah sighed. "The wrap-around porch was a 'Must-Have,' Leo. It’s right there."

They did move on. And three months later, they found a small, sturdy colonial. It didn't have the wrap-around porch, but every box on Leo’s list—from the to the Solid Foundation —got a satisfying blue checkmark.

As they sat on the floor of their empty, safe, and structurally sound living room on closing day, Sarah took the checklist and framed it.

"If the repairs exceed 5% of the value," he read quietly, "we move on."

While Sarah imagined paint colors, Leo became a detective. He followed his checklist into the dark corners of the basement, checking for the "Musty Odor" warning sign. He stood by the windows, testing for "Drafts and Seal Failure." He even flushed every toilet simultaneously to test the "Water Pressure and Drainage."