Applying the 37% Rule

Recommended by JV

I read about this in a real estate article a bunch of years ago and it stuck with me. Now, I apply the logic in situations where if I don’t act, I could lose an option (think apartment hunting, wedding venues, hiring folks, vintage shopping for a specific type of item). The idea is that I should spend the first 37% of my search learning the market—I don’t commit to anything I see in the first 37% of the research— but after that, I lock in on ‘the first subsequent option’ that is better than everything I saw. It’s worked for me, I see it as an antidote to maximal tendency, and a remedy for indecisiveness.

The Trust Me Edit

2 months ago

Comments

Sara Quinn

@saraquinnAug 14, 2026

This is so timely and helpful thank you!

@jillianvogelAug 14, 2026

We're gonna need a follow up/reflection on how it goes!

Leah S

@leahsAug 14, 2026

This algorithm was originally called “The Secretary Problem” haha

@jillianvogelAug 14, 2026

literally the patriarchy

Jackie Homan

@jackiehomanAug 14, 2026

As someone prone to indecision… how do you know when you’ve hit that first 37% and need to move into a decision making phase??

@jillianvogelAug 14, 2026

Truly, it's math and it hurts my brain, but the more I engage with this rule, the more I've gotten a feeling for when I've explored "37%" --but the real answer is: If I want a vintage dress for a friend's wedding, and I have a 100-day window until I need that dress serviced at an alterations shop, then I'm spending the first 37-days exploring/going into different vintage shops or poking around ebay, etc. I need to be in decision mode by day 38, i.e. after that day, I'm going to believe I've seen the market, and I'm prepared to lock in on the best possible option before my timeline fully runs out. (If you're not in a situation where you could lose out on options as you're researching, or generally speaking, the market is stable, then you're lucky/probably dealing with a different kinda situation and 37% doesn't apply!)