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Do You Really Want to Buy a Home?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . REALLY?!?

By
Industry Observer with RETIRED / State License is Inactive Inactive License Oregon

Do You Really Want to Buy a Home?  . . . . . . . . REALLY?!?

It is very rare, indeed, when I come across a buyer who really does not want to buy a home. 

This event happened last Saturday, when I met a prospective client.  Apparently, she was not listening to her mouth words.  Because, if she had, she might have heard herself.

I left the appointment thinking only one thing:

Do you really want to buy a home . . . REALLY?!?

Because I don't think you do!

Topics of Conversation

Here are a few of the things the wanna-be home buyer told me:

  • "We've been looking for 3 years "-- REALLY?!?  Three years ago our market was just beginning to mop up after the meltdown left it's fallout.  There was plenty of property to go around, with pricing to match!  Currently, in both area and price points ($500K-$750K) there are over 92 ACTIVE homes for sale.  Over 92 . . . that's a lot! Wonder why nothing's flipped the switch . . . oh wait, maybe 'cause . . . 
  • "My mother comes along and finds all the things wrong with the house" -- REALLY!?!  If all anyone can do is find fault with things, then maybe . . . just maybe . . . complaining and kvetching is the reason someone can't find a house to buy.  When buying a home becomes similiar to Moses' group wandering around in the desert not finding the promised land . . . perhaps it's time to cut the apron . . . fly, be free!!
  • "We have an agent" -- REALLY?!?  And in 3-year's time, this agent has been dragged around to every house that has fluttered your knickers only to be beat down by . . . mom?!?

The list of "must haves" were exhaustive.  Some made absolute sense, such as commute times to work.  But, there were some doozies.  Of the most unrealistic of the "musts" was the home, itself, which needed to have a kitchen window that overlooked the yard so the homebuyer could watch the kids play in the backyard.  

Beautiful homes with decks were ruled out, because the decks blocked the view from the kitchen window.

Hmmmmmm . . . it's a backyard.  What are they afraid of?  The Harpies coming down to snatch up one of the little darlings?  The irony: one of the reasons for wanting to move was the current home having no backyard! 

My Overall Take Away

The continued search for the Holy Grail meant that while the search was "ON" the home buyers were NOT happy in their current home . . . hence the epic 3-year search for another one.

If happy in their current home . . . there would be no need to look for the replacement.  They aren't happy in their current home, they aren't happy in the homes they've been touring for the past 3-years. 

You want my professional real estate advice:  

1.)  Leave mom at home with the kids.  Ask her to babysit.

2.)  Stop focusing on the negative.  

3.)  If you're not happy in your current home -- GET HAPPY!  Because it doesn't seem as if you'll be moving anytime soon.

 

Posted by

 

 

Carla Muss-Jacobs has RETIRED effective May 1, 2018

Representing Buyers in the Portland Metro Real Estate Market | Clackamas Multnomah and Washington Counties | Since 1999

Carla Muss-Jacobs, REALTOR®, ABR, CEBA, ePro
Principal Broker/Owner ~~ INACTIVE

Carla Muss-Jacobs' retirement became effective May 1, 2018

Direct: 503-810-7192 

 

All Rights Reserved © 

Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Yes indeed, the "I've been looking for 3 years" should sound the alarm bell. Someone who really wants to move would have by then

Sep 25, 2014 05:26 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Hi John . . . I agree.  Accentuate the positive!

Hey Kathleen -- family dynamics for sure.  Save the drama for your momma!  The agent isn't new, she's just being strung along because she wants to list.  

Hi Karen . . . houses without clear views from the kitchen window are nixed. Fear of the Harpies??

Hey Jane -- we have wonderful properties in their price range -- beautiful and quick-moving.

 

Sep 25, 2014 05:32 AM
Chris and Maria Jeantet
Shasta Living Real Estate - Redding, CA
Top Realtors in Redding CA

Dont focus on the negatives. Thanks for the reminder.

Sep 25, 2014 05:49 AM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Next!  LOL  These are not buyers, they are window shoppers.  

Sep 25, 2014 05:57 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Geez.  They could clear the land in front of the window if that really was a priority...  Three years and no movement means movement is not going to happen.  Ugh. They aren't ready.

Sep 25, 2014 08:37 AM
Yolanda Cordova-Gilbert
Richmond, TX

Carla,

 WOW! I think maybe they are just not happy period, we get these from time to time in the model or people that never buy the are professional lookers!

Sep 25, 2014 09:18 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

You could have stopped with "we've been looking for 3 years"  Really?  Ouch, unless there were financials to overcome they don't want to buy a house.

Sep 25, 2014 11:19 AM
Kwee Huset
Kwee Huset Realty - Venice, FL
Venice Florida Homes For Sale

Hi Carla,  hopefully when the buyer are ready to buy s/he will call you for help. BTW thanks for your comment on my post.

Sep 25, 2014 11:38 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

"Fluttered your knickers," now that's funny but really not so funny to the agent that spends that much time when the buyer isn't even serious and can only find fault and make excuses. Plus, it's an insult to all the sellers who are serious about selling their home. I wonder if these buyers are even pre-approved and if so if the lender keeps updating their pre-approval letter? When I work with people who are cash buyers and they drag me around it only goes so far before we part ways.

Sep 25, 2014 09:02 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Carla, maybe this is what they do as a hobby.  The search for the holy grail in homes.  It's a lifelong search!

Sep 25, 2014 09:54 PM
Shannon Milligan, Richmond VA Real Estate Agent/Associate Broker
RVA Home Team - Richmond, VA
RVA Home Team - Winning with Integrity.

Sounds like they need to have a Come to Reality moment. The "What Do I Want For Myself". ONE time we allowed my husbands parents to come along and they were so negative about a house we loved that we didn't purchase it. We still talk about how it was the one that got away. Never again. We house hunt for US.

Sep 25, 2014 10:23 PM
Maria Gilda Racelis
Home Buyers Realty, LLC-Manchester, Bolton. Vernon,Ellington - Manchester, CT
Home Ownership is w/in Reach. We Make it Happen!

Hi Carla: You are hilarious. But doesn't this unravel the truth about some buyers with ridiculous expectations?

Sep 25, 2014 10:36 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Yuck....she is a career looky loo....just say bye...not buy ....she would not be satisfied if she designed the window AND the backyard

Sep 25, 2014 10:50 PM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

Hi Carla - thanks, and I have seen this as well. Definitely not a serious buyer. I had one several years ago that I drove to so many properties to no avail. And to this point they still have not purchased.

Sep 26, 2014 01:22 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Today, a client brought dad along on a house he was so happy to find. Dad didn't like it and embarrassed the son in front of us. I told the son to do what he wanted. He is the one who will live there.

Sep 26, 2014 01:55 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Carla,  I can't imagine I would ever be an agent that continues to work with folks for 3 years.  All circumstances are different ... based on what you described here ... I think I would have cut that cord 2 years ago.

Some people are just stuck in the negative poopy place.

FEATURED IN CRAP-TACULAR

What the?

 

Sep 27, 2014 03:49 AM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Three years, really, and they already have an agent? I wouldn't touch these people with a 10 foot pole. They will never buy.

Sep 29, 2014 01:57 AM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

......and how much time did you spend with this "pretend" buyer before you left the appointment.

Sep 29, 2014 06:09 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Carla~ I'd say that buyer is really NOT ready. I admit, it took us time to find our home 8 years ago, but we were only driving ourselves crazy, no one else!

Oct 05, 2014 01:46 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Carla

Your take about the buyer is right on the money.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Oct 08, 2014 01:13 PM