Do you select the home that you like or do you eliminate the ones that you don't?
People often ask me "How many homes will we have to look at to find the right one?" There's no standard answer to this question since it varies from client to client. I've had several clients look at just 2 or 3 homes and find the one that they ultimately purchased. One of my clients went to see a single home, placed an offer and moved in within a month. (Granted she had looked at dozens and dozens of homes online, but only physically visited one.) That's a rarity, but a REALTOR's dream, especially with today's gas prices. Then there are clients who want to see every single home on the market in their price range.
I'd say that the average homebuyer steps foot into between 8 to 12 homes before making a final decision on which one to purchase. Much more than that and you may get weary of the home search. Viewing much fewer homes means that you may be missing out on the best deal and the right fit.
No matter how many homes you view, real estate is a process of elimination, not selection. It's all about narrowing down the field, finding out which ones won't work, until you're inevitably left with the best option. Very logical, to be honest. What's the chance of picking out one perfect house out of the thousands and thousands that are available? Isn't it more likely to eliminate the ones that won't work and taking a closer look at the few good candidates?
Think about any competition. For example in the Miss America contest, 50 beautiful women appear on the stage in front of the judges. The judges don't just view the 50 gorgeous women and immediately select one as a winner. There's a series of competitions -- talent, bathing suit, evening gown, interview, by which the field is narrowed down to semi-finalists and finalists. Once the field is winnowed down to a smaller group, each contestant is scrutinized more carefully.
In real estate, it starts by creating your wants and needs list. What's important to you? Location, schools, commute, amenities, size, price range, fireplace, backyard, security, granite counters, etc. You'll start at the top of your list -- the most general and start eliminating.
Have you ever played 20 questions? It's that game where one person thinks about anything in the world and another person has to guess it within 20 questions. You start by asking broad questions and narrow it down. Thus, you'll begin with asking the famous "Is it bigger than a bread basket?" or "Is it something living?" This will quickly narrow things down so that later on you can ask such specific questions such as "Is it green?"
The same goes in real estate. First, find and establish your price range. Next, decide upon a location. Then get more specific and start eliminating homes. Start looking at homes online by requesting listing to be e-mailed to you at www.SearchHomesbyEmail.com. Once you've got the field narrowed, then you can start looking for things like hardwood floors, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances.
Now, it's time for a closer look. Visiting homes you'll see whether there's enough closet space. Does everything appear clean or did the sellers just dress it up for the online virtual tour? Is the neighborhood really how you thought it would be? Whoops, we didn't know the train would be so loud!
I'd be happy to show you as few or as many homes as you like in your home search in Northern Virginia or D.C. We'll quickly eliminate those that don't work for you and find the one that does.
Whether you are buying or selling, choosing the right Northern Virginia REALTOR works in much the same way. Here's some criteria to get you started:
- Look for one who has been in the business for more than 5 years.
- Find a REALTOR who is not only an agent, but also a Broker.
Eliminate those that don't fit these criteria and then give me a call at 703-626-0715 or contact me online.
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