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How Many Homes Do I Have to See Before I Find THE ONE?

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Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

How Many Homes Do I Have to See Before I Find THE ONE?

House hunting varies from buyer to buyer.  I have taken some buyers out that have seen one or two homes and knew immediately that they had just seen THE ONE.  Others, I have taken to sixty homes and they struggle to find the one to call home.  It is a process that you can't rush.

Having a list of must haves certainly helps to narrow down what works for you, and what doesn't.  While you may not be able to say YES to a home right away, saying NO to the ones that don't work for whatever reason is just as important.  Every time you say no to a home that doesn't work for you, you are leaving the door open for the one that will fit you best.

Often, as the house hunt progresses, buyers will learn that some of the things they thought they liked, they don't.  And some of the things they thought would be deal breakers aren't at all. Whatever you do, be kind to yourself and your individual process.  You may not have an overblown reaction to THE ONE when you finally see it.  There may not be fireworks, but rather a peaceful feeling in your gut and the ability to see yourself living there.

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Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Chris Ann,  Just put a nice home under contract for a repeat buyer.  Both purchases involved buying the first house they saw ( among many ). I joked that next time I will start by showing them something on the Gulf !!!  Hope your Easter is the best !  

Apr 08, 2012 04:32 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News
One of my current buyers were sure they wanted X in their new home. Yet the quickly discovered that they didn't like the floor plans in any of the houses with X. Now they are off the list and we actually have more options to consider.
Apr 08, 2012 04:39 AM
JoAnn Moore
The Mortgage Market of Delaware - Georgetown, DE
Home Loans in Delaware

Well written Chris Ann. It's like "Say Yes to the Dress". The brides expect to have this magical reaction when the right gown is tried on. But sometimes, like you say here, it just feels peaceful and you can visualize yourself walking down the aisle in it.

Apr 08, 2012 05:24 AM
LaNita Cates
REMAX of Joliet - Joliet, IL

Even before I was a Realtor, my husband and I looked at just 3. We knew the area we wanted, the price and it was simple. So imagine someone like me dealing with someone that wants to see more than 5 houses! LOL!

Apr 08, 2012 07:04 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I especially like the buyers who say they can tell when they pull up to the curb. No, they can't. They might hate the curb appeal but end up **loving** the home. You know about 3 minutes into the house if it's right. You can't make yourself fall in love with something that isn't right.

Apr 08, 2012 07:08 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Good advice Chris Ann.  It's different for every buyer.  It will also depend on where they want to live and what's available that meets their criteria.

Apr 08, 2012 09:26 AM
Belinda Spillman
Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO
Colorado Living!

Chris Ann.  I love the transformation we get to experience when a buyer finds a home they love.  Its like a light goes on.  Very cool.

Apr 08, 2012 11:10 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Chris Ann that is a great question, i have to ay that many buyers often fall in love with the first home they see, many often are told to see other homes and then the first one gets solkd to someone else.

Apr 09, 2012 12:17 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Bill:  It's only happened to me once that a buyer purchased the one home they saw.  Another time, a buyer saw two and picked one.  That's certainly not the norm.

Cindy:  It's interesting to see the wants and needs change when they see the homes that offer what they thought they needed and wanted.

JoAnn:  And in that case, as with real estate, as long as your family and friends don't talk you out of it.  I hate that about that show...and real estate transactions.

LaNita:  I think I saw only six or seven before narrowing that down to three for my husband to pick one.

Apr 09, 2012 12:48 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Elizabeth:  Yeah.  Curb appeal isn't everything.  However, if you drive into a neighborhood that for, whatever reason is giving the buyer a negative vibe, it's probably not worth it to not go inside.  But if it is just curb appeal, that can be changed.  

Donna:  To an extent, that's true.  There certainly isn't a lot of inventory in my neck of the woods, and hasn't been since last fall.  Still, I've had buyers looking that long despite seeing home after home that meets their needs. 

Belinda:  I love seeing that light go one.

Scott:  I'd say the average in my market is between twenty and thirty homes for most buyers before they are comfortable moving forward.

Apr 09, 2012 12:54 AM
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