Educated buyer + Listening Agent + singing house = SOLD....Yes I think you could buy the first home that you see!  :-)

Don R.

Don I think so too.  It is not the first time I've seen this happen.  I'll brag and tell ya, for me it happens a lot!

One of the worst sales night mare is buyer loves first house. It is the same with shopping. If my wife sees the first thing she likes when shopping OOOO. I think it is a difference between men and women . I guy with the same result goes oh wow how lucky is this I do no t have to shop anymore. And before you respond in the negative let me say I do all the food shopping and 95 percent of the cooking. So I am not be a chauvinist

I think if you do your job well, there is every reason to think that the first home you see is the one. I have a policy if someone shows a huge amount of interest go back to the office write it up, make the offer, then tour some-other properties while you wait for an answer.. tell the seller your still looking tell the buyer your eliminating back up options.

Sometime they don't understand that when you do your job well and have a lot of experience - you can make it look easy...like a gymnast.  But is takes skills, education, and practice, practice, practice.  Good luck with your deal!

I do think that women shop differently then men.  I don't think that is chauvinistic.  But not all women shop alike and not all men shop alike.  Everyone is different.  But I don't think home shopping is like shopping for shoes or a new dress.  I think buyers are more sophisticated than that.  I think buyers take a home purchase more seriously and are more educated.

Nannette, I have seen so many buyers who passed up the home that would have been perfect for them because they were afraid something better might come up later.  Buyers need to have the wisdom to make the commitment when the right home comes up.  And agents shouldn't be shy about telling them that a home seems to meet all the factors that the buyer says they had been seeking.

Steve that is a good strategy

Yvette that is why we are called the professional right?  Thanks!

Nannette-  Over the years I have been asked the question about liking the 1st house my buyers see...my response is: you know what you want & what you like and when you find it, YOU KNOW.

Nice when you are able to capture the buyer's needs, wants and present it to them in a "first house."  Good job!

Brian I'm not afraid to ask for the close.  I'm not shy about it.  I can tell when a buyer needs to move forward and give support when needed.

Laura Exactly.  Kind of like going to the doctor.  I walk and expect the doc to diagnose me properly and give me what I need.  He is the professional.  I don't want it to be a long drawn out process.

Gary Thanks! I love my job!

Great Job Nannette ! What a way to bring the clients needs to the forefront ~

Thanks Melissa it is all in a days work.

Nice job telling this story. When I first began selling, I was sort of afraid to take on that more tailored work...and rather would show a string of homes within their parameters and let THEM choose. Now I've worked occasionally as a Buyer's rep, and am vigilant about listening and touring all the properties to narrow it down ahead of time. Recently, some out-of-town folks wrote up a contract during their visit. It fell through (because of the Seller) after they returned home. I became their eyes and ears and they wrote up a new contract for a house, sight unseen. wow... (I took hundreds of pics and organized them to send and walked them through a final selection).

Mara you describe how I do business as well.  I think after being with someone 20 minutes or so I can determine which properties currently on the market meet their needs.  You just put your feet in their shoes and go walking.  Some folks may be better at it than others but I think a little practice (sometimes a lot of practice) and Poof you sold a house!  Buyers are happy and sellers are thrilled.  It is a win win for everyone.

My wife did, but I made her wait a day or two to put in the offer.  I knew she would like it we had been looking on this block for two years, the first house did not cut it, but the 2nd did and 5 years laters still here

Dave When you know what you want and see it the decision is practically made for you!

Nannette, With the internet it is easier to find the right house first time out?  Don't you think?  In the past when the folks liked the first house, we had to see the rest of the houses to make sure the first one was indeed the best!  Today's way saves time and money!  Good for you!

Great post Nannette! Last year I had a client that went the other direction and it cost me! The couple loved the house and had all the amenities they wanted except no fence and no landscaping. With their excitement, I thought we should go ahead and write the offer-they wanted to talk it over for a day and i could not convince otherwise.

I called the next day and they did not answer or return my calls. The following day they called and said there were two other houses they would like to look at before making offer. i set the appointments and we went. After we saw the two houses, they told me that they felt they would not find anything better than the house from earlier in the week.

I then had the unfortunate responsibility to tell them that the house had went under contract that morning! They were needless to say upset. They actually blamed me for not pushing them harder to make an offer.

They wouldn't answer my calls for about a week, then I found out they put an offer in on another house that just came on the market, with another agent.

Nannette: I do not like shopping PERIOD. So, when I was looking for a condo in my area for my mom I knew who to call. She is not on AR, but she is the best Realtor I know. I don't say that lightly, because I know quite a few. But she is a slam dunk type. She will find you the property you want. She only had two properties to show my mom, but the first had everything we wanted. No need to see the second. Offer written and accepted. Settlement in a month. 

You sound like a slam dunk type too. 

I think that sometimes, people are afraid that there is "something better out there" and may be hesitant to commit too quickly.

Also, buyers listen to their friends - and if their friends say something like, "I looked at 50 houses before I found one to purchase" then the buyer may think something is wrong if they see the home within the first 2 or 3 that they view.

The first day that we go out, I always tell my buyers that they should bring their checkbooks because chances are, we are going to find the home for them today."

Nannette- Now this is what I call listening to your client.  Sometimes, as you see, a buyer spends so much time looking online that they pick things that might not even be what they want....but you listened and found it .  Now that is what I like to hear.  Good for you, and it sounds like you have a happy client :)