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What do you do to get Buyers to Buy??

By
Real Estate Agent with Dorothy Hanson, Broker

I have some clients who are definitely ready to buy and we just get on with it.  Others can't seem to make a commitment.  Some of this probably has to do with Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan, being resort communities and these are often second homes.  No one will be living in the street if they do not buy their second home. 

However, there is something else going on too.  Clients are watching the real estate news from the media and have decided that they will wait until things get worse.  Are things definitely going to get worse and do these clients have a crystal ball that will tell them the absolute bottom of the market?  And if they are in love with a property, will it still be around when things are worse?

I tell them buying a property is not like buying stock.  One share of Dell stock is like any other share of Dell stock but the real estate property they fall in love with will not be like any other property.  There is a similarity between stock and real estate in that it is good to buy on the way down and not on the way up.  It is impossible to gauge the very bottom of either the stock market or the real estate market. 

How do you handle this?   I hate to see these clients making mistakes.  Instead of "buyers remorse" they will have "non-buyers remorse"   Thanks 

Comments (5)

* Rate A Home
Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI
Dee Dee, trying to get the buyer off the fence these days is frustrating. Beyond begging, there's not much you can do to convince them, until the Dream Home they were hoping to buy sells out from under them. Then they seem quicker to move more rapidly on the next choice. If you figure it out, let me know. :-)
Jan 18, 2008 02:57 AM
Robert L. Brown
www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic
There are some buyers out there who are trying to "steal" a home. I tell them i'm good but not that good. I also ask them how would they like it if someone tried to do it to them and they actually still want to go thru with the offer they want to write. We need to educate them more. We need to show them how to stimulate the economy.
Mar 03, 2008 05:11 AM
Robert L. Brown
www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic
There are some buyers out there who are trying to "steal" a home. I tell them i'm good but not that good. I also ask them how would they like it if someone tried to do it to them and they actually still want to go thru with the offer they want to write. We need to educate them more. We need to show them how to stimulate the economy.
Mar 03, 2008 05:11 AM
Robert L. Brown
www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic
The buyers are looking for great deals. There has to be incentives to get them to move forward. Sellers have to dangle carrots to bring them in. People have to be flexible on both sides of the table.
Apr 23, 2008 01:30 PM
Linda Schulte
Keller Williams - Alpharetta, GA

Isn't it unfortunate that this strong buyer's market coincides with these high gas prices!  Of course, buyers want to look at everything.  I guess the best thing is to have as much information available as possible.  Don't just walk in and out of houses like a tour guide but really bring added value as a consultant.  Know your numbers, know the market, preview the inventory.  Hopefully, as we build that relationship, we will build trust, making it a little easier for our buyers to BUY SOMETHING!

Linda Schulte, Keller Williams North Atlanta

Apr 23, 2008 01:47 PM