In last week's blog, I wrote a bit about Buyers wanting to buy "Forever Homes." In my area, for many Buyers these are often houses with a bit more land where they can stay forever!
When working with Buyers, it's important to help them really begin to narrow their wants down to those features that are most critical to their long term happiness--of course all while meeting their ultimate goal of forever.
Sometimes that narrowing comes easily. The Buyer has a list of wants that has been carefully edited over months years of dreaming:
- 3 bedrooms
- 2 1/2 bathrooms
- Big kitchen
- Awesome neighborhood
- Big fenced yard
- Maybe an acre or two
- With a garden
- Less than 20 years old
- And in my price range!
But then they start internet shopping and that list of wants starts to grow:
- FOUR bedrooms
- And a den
- With a family room
- And a barn
- With a shop
- Less than 10 years old
- Updated
- And in my price range!
Because, of course, the internet pictures don't lie and there are at least 20 or maybe 30 houses in the area that are better than we could imagine.
Sound about right?
We real estate brokers are often very talented photographers and writers. We've learned what it takes to get a buyer through the door: That strategic shot of the kitchen from just the right angle that makes it look huge, awesome, perfect! And the description: "Updated within the last 10 years, …."
And then the in-person tours start. That "updated within the last 10 years" house is a joe-bob-sarah homeowner handyman special. With lots of interesting finishes completing those updates. Layers and layers of tile on the floor and windows that don't quite close.
Time for the reality check: After touring 10 houses or so, the Buyers begin to realize that their ultimate house doesn't quite live up to the "dream."
So how do we help a buyer figure out exactly what Buying the Dream house really looks like?
Now's when the talented real estate broker comes into play. We skillfully guide these desirous home buyers through houses with the great bones they desire, in the areas they've described, with room for that barn and shop. And where they can put up a temporary fence while saving to do the ultimate cross-fencing they've envisioned. We listen and we listen hard. We try to redirect where necessary, helping the Buyers prioritize their dream. Is the big yard, or acreage the most important? Would three bedrooms with room for a den fit the bill? Or a future theater room in the "needs to be updated" basement rec room? Is there room in the house to g
row, change, and adapt?
We remind them that a forever house means years of making the house into their dream; that the dream image may change as they move forward. And that time moves fast and they’ll be delighted to be inside their own four walls, where they’ve created their very own masterpiece!
By helping a Buyer actually see the potential in a house that's realistically within their current and future budgets, the dream becomes reality! THAT’S what a dream really looks like!
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