In a recent LinkedIn post, Nick Curum discusses a common pitfall in major life decisions, particularly concerning property purchases, advocating for a more rigorous, boardroom-level approach. Curum highlights a prevalent disconnect between the meticulous planning applied to professional careers and the often more casual thinking applied to significant personal investments like a home.
Curum begins by recounting personal experience, stating:
“I have moved more times than I can count. For work. For study. For more space. Each time, I spent weeks on the job, the course, the commute. The property decision got whatever time was left.”
This personal anecdote serves as a springboard to a broader observation about decision-making processes.
The ‘Judgment Gap’ in Major Life Decisions
According to Curum, this disparity in analytical effort leads to what he terms a “judgment gap.” He argues that the issue is not a lack of intelligence but rather a deficiency in the application of critical thinking and analysis when it comes to significant personal financial commitments.
“We use boardroom-level rigour on our careers. Then holiday-level thinking on the house we are about to leverage,” Curum writes. He elaborates on the consequences of this approach, noting that individuals are often surprised when their property investments do not yield the expected financial results six months down the line.
Curum emphasizes the profound impact a property has, extending beyond mere shelter. “A property is not just ‘somewhere to live’,” he points out. “It is the one place you return to every day. It carries the cost. It carries the risk. It is where the maths either works – or quietly eats into everything else.”
Introducing the ’10 Checks Before You Offer’ Framework
To address this “judgment gap,” Curum has developed a framework he calls “10 Checks Before You Offer on a Property.” This tool is designed to instill a more disciplined and analytical process into the property acquisition journey, mirroring the preparation expected in a professional setting.
The framework is presented as a “simple pyramid that forces you to build the case before you get excited about the deal.” Curum lists the critical checks in a specific order:
- Area demand
- Strategy fit
- Full cost stack
- Numbers and downside
- Legal and finance readiness
- A maximum price
- A walk-away rule
Curum stresses the importance of adhering to this structured approach, drawing a parallel to professional responsibilities. He poses a critical question: “If you would not walk into a board meeting without this level of preparation, do not walk into an offer without it either.”
He encourages readers to utilize this framework for their own property dealings, suggesting they “Zoom in on the image, save it, and run your next deal through all 10 checks.” The overarching message is that personal financial decisions, particularly those involving significant leverage like a mortgage, warrant the same level of scrutiny and preparedness as major corporate decisions. Curum concludes with a powerful statement reinforcing this principle: “If the case would not pass in a boardroom, it should not pass in your life either.”
This post by Nick Curum serves as a compelling reminder for individuals to apply a higher standard of judgment and analysis to their personal financial decisions, particularly when it comes to acquiring property.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Nick Curum on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on June 9, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →