How to compare three homes without losing your mind

After the third viewing, most people cannot remember which kitchen belonged to which house. The remedy is not a better memory but a better method, and it fits on one page.

Before you start, write down five things that matter most to you. Three might be practical, such as space, light and commute. Two might be about feeling, such as calm or a place to host friends. This list is your compass.

At each visit, ask the same questions in the same order and note the answers immediately. Take three photographs from the same positions: the entrance, the main living space and the view from the largest window.

Score each home out of five against your list the same evening, not the next week. Impressions fade quickly, and the charm of the last house can quietly erase the faults of the first.

Use a side-by-side view to compare measures that are comparable, and leave the rest to judgement. A number cannot tell you which hallway feels welcoming. It can tell you which one is wider.

If two homes remain close, return to the one you keep describing in the longer sentences. The home you talk about most easily is often the one you imagine living in.