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Get Those Ducks In A Row When Buying

By
Real Estate Agent with Sailwinds Realty

Get Those Ducks In A Row When Buying

When reading along (yes, I still do read) and seeing an old expression, I always wonder where the phrase originated and why.  What did it really mean? Getting your ducks in a row is one of those phrases that gets my research juices flowing. So, of course, I head for my trusty friend Google to find the real scoop.

According to most of the explanations I found, the term comes from the sport of bowling. Bowling, what's with bowling, I was expecting fluffy yellow things that go Quack Quack.  It seems that many years ago, bowling pins were called ducks. Who knew? Since I wrote this a week or so ago and published it somewhere else, I received a message from a follower telling me that in Maryland, there is Duck Pin Bowling. The pins and balls are smaller. Isn't the internet great!

It's Those Darn DucksAha,  I found a duck reference after all. One article did discuss the Mama Duck and her ducklings theory. It goes like this: Mama Duck always has the children follow in a row. If one strays, she will stop and line them all up again. Thus, getting her ducks in a row. 

 

Enough with the stories: How do we apply this to real estate.  In the world of real estate, it is very important for the buyers to have all their ducks in a row before starting the process of searching for a home.

  • Get pre-qualified first.
  • Make sure you have the funds needed (your lender will discuss those with you).
  • Decide how many bedrooms/bathrooms/garages you can live with or without.
  • Decide which area is best for you: for schools, for commuting, for sociability.
  • Make sure you have all the tax records and bank statements needed and ready to hand.
  • This bears repeating: Get pre-qualified first. You don’t want to be disappointed by looking at homes higher-priced than you can actually afford.

Get those ducks in a row and things will go easier for the process. Call me, I work well with ducks.

Toni Weidman, Florida Luxury

Toni Weidman

Broker-associate

Florida Luxury Realty
727-237-0083

 

 

 

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Thinking of Selling Your Home in Trinity-New Port Richey to Hudson?
Craig and I have been selling in this area for 20+ years.
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Toni Weidman-New Port Richey FL Shayna Weidman
Toni Weidman
 Broker-associate
Florida Luxury Realty
Trinity, FL 34655
727-237-0083
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Comments(16)

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Toni, I like the analogy.  So many don't get their ducks in a row before they start the home buying process.  Some folks just think they know everything about home buying and selling even though they may never have done it.

Jun 05, 2015 02:05 AM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

How in the world are you going to get ducks to row for you... if you're going to go out in a boat, do your own rowing... sheesh! 

Jun 05, 2015 02:07 AM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

There are lots of people like that Kathleen Daniels  and not all show up in a real estate context 

Jun 05, 2015 02:08 AM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

Oh Fred Hernden I knew you would come up with something funny.

Jun 05, 2015 02:08 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Very interesting, I often use that phrase, but never really knew where it came from, thanks for sharing this with us!

Jun 05, 2015 02:24 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Toni,

Excellent sleuthing on your part, and I have always like that expression.  A

Jun 05, 2015 02:29 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

That's a great list of ducks for homebuyers to line up prior to buying a home, Toni!

Jun 05, 2015 02:35 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

I like your explanation Toni! You've outlined the perfect formula that's easy for a buyer and consumer to understand.

Well done Toni! As for the origin and where the phrase came from, I think what matters more is how it's applied to the point one is trying to make and you made your point very clearly and concise!!!

Jun 05, 2015 03:09 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Great explanation Toni! Though most buyers would love to jump and start looking at homes, getting their finances taken care of is the first on the list..no money..no home!

Jun 05, 2015 04:17 AM
IRMA Beltran
Century 21 M & M and Associates-Turlock homes Real Estate - Turlock, CA
Your Real Estate Agent 4 Life Always there 4 You!

Very interesting comparison but I like to say getting pre-approved rather than prequalified would be getting their ducks in a row. I've had to many situations where buyers are pre-qualified and at the end that lender can't help them.

Have a Wonderful Blessed Day!!!

Jun 05, 2015 04:19 AM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Just reading the title reminded me of one of my all time favorite post "Duck, Duck, Duck." Like your post, we just can't emphasize enough how important it is to get those ducks in a row.  It just makes the process go so much more smoothly and the haphazard shot in the dark method.

Jun 05, 2015 04:32 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Pre-qualified means nothing in my market.  I want to see a pre-approval that's gone through underwriting.  A pre-qual is nothing but the borrower verbally telling the lender and there is no back up documents submitted, or reviewed.

Jun 05, 2015 04:51 AM
Anita Clark
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

A very good analogy, Toni. So good to see you back in the Rain again too. ;-)

Jun 05, 2015 07:45 AM
Rob Thomas
Prestige Homes of The Tri Cities, Inc. CALL....423-341-6954 - Bristol, TN
Bristol TN-VA & Tri Cities Agent, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

learn something new all the time... thanks for the post!

Jun 05, 2015 10:05 AM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Toni ... great post, photo and your post has been featured to the group:

FRIENDS AT ACTIVERAIN

Jun 07, 2015 07:01 AM
Amanda S. Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Virginia Homes For Sale

Toni, such a great analogy! The ducks have to be in a row before jumping in the home buying pond. There's too many things that can (and will) go wrong if the buyer isn't organized before starting the process. 

Jun 07, 2015 11:30 PM