Special offer

Don't Know What Bidet Is For?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408

My wonderful clients bought a gorgeous oceanfront condo in Bella Vista in Daytona Beach Shores just recently, and Jonny & Lola (names changed), now proud condo owners, share their excitement with their relatives and friends.

Last weekend their relatives came for a couple of days. They said they were interested to see what they could buy here, and Jonny asked me to show them a few units on the ocean.

So, here I am, in the unit, and I see them coming. After the introduction, Jonny turned to me and said «OK, now they are in your hands, do the tour».

Oops, I don’t do tours. I do not understand why I need to walk with people depriving them of an opportuity to discuss pros and cons of what they see in privacy, and instead do something like this:

Bella Vista Condominiums Daytona Beach Shores«This is the Master Bedroom. Here is a sliding door to the balcony, and here is a walk-in closet, and, oh, here is the Master Bathroom with granite countertops, and look how nice are the light fixtures, and there is a double head in the shower...».

I do not see value in calling a kitchen a kitchen, and a bedroom a bedroom. Of course, there maybe a few things that they may not notice, or which I would love them to notice, so it will be either after they spend their time in the unit, or I would point them out before. Instead of telling them that each window and sliding door is up to new codes and are hurricane resistant, I can tell them that on the way to the building.

But as for the tour, this is something they do themselves. If I were a buyer, it would be tough for me. I am easily distracted. If an agent walks with me and talks all the time, s/he is «stealing» my attention and I would not be able to recall not what type of kitchen was there, but even whether there was a kitchen at all...

Why do that? What is there that the agent does not want me to notice?

Sorry, Jonny, but your relatives are quite capable of figuring out what the toilet is for without live demonstration...

Remember Crocodile Dundee II? There is a scene when he is in the Hotel in New York and is asking the lady about bidet in the bathroom? She does not feel comfortable explaining, and she tells him that he would figure it out himself...

Exactly...

Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Lots of good advice and I think many buyers appreciate being able to look at the home and discuss things.  I do follow along but will enter a room just as they are leaving and going to the next one. Sometimes, I will notice something that I want to point out.  If there buyers seem interested, I invite them to take a closer look and I stay behind while they go through the home again.

Apr 22, 2011 04:32 PM
Phil Hillerman
Crye-Leike Realtors® - Rogers, AR
Crye-Leike Realtors®

You're right, you know your market and all you have to do it taylor your presentation to your clients needs.  Sounds like the past client didn't understand how you work.  I hope you made the sale! Have a great weekend!

 

Apr 22, 2011 04:33 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

I'm with you, Joan and Phil on this.  This is a great time to run around and turn on lights, open up shades and then follow them closing the shades and turning off the lights.  Let them 'explore' and they will ask you questions when they need to do so!  Great post, Papa Jon!

 

Apr 22, 2011 05:00 PM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Jon, I love that you wrote this. It is excellent. Guessing some real estate professionals guessing their clients came out of the bush. I usually only point out what they might not recognise . Like water dripping out of the light fixture in the Kitchen directly beneath the leaking shower, LMAO.

Apr 22, 2011 05:08 PM
John Michailidis
Real Property Management of Sarasota & Manatee - Sarasota, FL
Real Property Management of Sarasota & M

Very funny. You guys must be "high end"! I usually just point them to the hose by the out-house ;-)

Apr 22, 2011 05:14 PM
Miriam Bernstei
Rochester, NY

I'm with you too although somethings buyers are reluctant to open doors or cabinets by themselves and I will help them with that.  I also follow buyers around but let them look, think and ask questions.

Apr 22, 2011 05:28 PM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

I recently wrote an article about Sellers following you around pointing out all of the features of their home, and how I have never had a Buyer purchase a home when the Seller was there.  But this could be similar, huh?  If I get involved and want to tell them about all of the features of the home, then they don't really get to be emotionally involved.  So this is an excellent point, and one that we all need to remember when showing property - it's THEM that has to live there, not us, not the Seller, just that particular family.  Back off :)

Apr 22, 2011 05:30 PM
Rosa Almond
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. - Freeland, MD
E-PRO, SSC Short Sale Certified

Thanks Jon!!! I feel better now!! Servers are back up!!!

Apr 22, 2011 05:30 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Joan - of course, being there but giving them the space and privacy. Thank you

Apr 22, 2011 06:25 PM
Suzanne McLaughlin
Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN
Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Oh, the scene from Crocodile Dundee was ROTF - LMAO.  Thanks for nearly making the coffee come out my nose! 

I am with you...I don't do tours either, but I do point out the assets of the property before they tour. 

Smart man you are! 

Apr 23, 2011 01:40 AM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Have to disagree....I'm not a door opener. I do walk around and talk over things.  A brand new home might be perfect and all they are doing is deciding between dark granite and light granite. But in our resale market...I want to help them look beyond a stain on the carpert..or perfect backyard and see the high beamed ceilings or the busy street below. I look for different things. And I think I have enough experience to know when I'm being helpful and when I'm in the way.

Apr 23, 2011 04:28 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Karen, You're right about that--I just bring these things to their attention prior to showing.  Then at the end, say, "So what did you think of those gorgeous ceilings?"  If they missed it, I will want to do the guided thing!  Most people want to look at their pace so, I let them--for the most part, they catch these things and in the end, begin chattering about them.  I think it's individual style though.  My first broker showed me how he showed homes and I've done that ever since!  On occasuion, I'll give the grand tour--on a high-end property that really needs something hidden pointed out in nearly every room.  That makes total sense to me.  Lofts, not so much!

Apr 23, 2011 12:48 PM
Jenny Kotulak
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON
Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Too funny.  I can just see you pointing out a bidet.  Gotta tell you I hate those things.  I must say I have been in two homes recently that actually had urinals.  Yuck.

Do you put that on the feature sheet???  I'm not one to point out the different rooms but I will tell you that I showed a home once when the owner was home and I made sure I did a good job with the "tour".

A couple of months later the woman called me.  Her home had expired with her agent and she asked me to list the home.  She said she liked the way I showed her home.

It sold very quickly and everyone was happy.

Apr 24, 2011 02:47 PM