I’ve noticed a curious link between imagination and emotion.

Both have their place in our lives, especially those of us who like to think of ourselves as creative. But the down-side of imagination and emotion is the harm they can do when we try to make a sound decision, especially when it comes to buying and selling real estate.

For example, people get caught up in the heat of the market, which is emotional, and they assume that that hot market will carry on forever, which is imaginative. The same thing goes when the market is in a downswing, as it is now. They forget about the fact that markets are cyclical, especially here in the Bay Area.

When people are overly reliant on imagination and emotion, it’s easy to become stuck and stressed out, wrestling with dilemmas that are removed from reality. Eventually it’s easier to pass these decisions off to someone else, ending up with "take my word for it" advice from a well-meaning friend or real estate agent.

But let’s face it: when you have a decision to make, such as buying or selling a home, you’re responsible for your choices because in the end, you’re the one who has to live with them. That’s why, especially in stressful situations, it behooves you to collaborate with a consultant, gathering information and objectively evaluating the factors that support the making of an informed decision.

A recent book comes to mind on this topic: The Wisdom of Crowds. It suggests that, under certain circumstances, the best results come from asking the opinion of as many different people as possible.

While I wouldn’t go so far as to make decisions by asking everyone, I do think that it’s always a good thing to have a second pair of eyes from a seasoned professional. You get informed feedback, reminding you of your goals. And watching your back.

Having choices is one of our greatest gifts in life. And when choices are really tough, I’ve found that knowing I’ve done whatever it takes to make the best decisions, even when things don’t go my way, provides peace of mind and makes all the difference in the world.