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Try a "House History" to Bring Life to Your Listings

Studies suggest that the decision to buy a home is often tied to an emotional reaction a prospective purchaser experiences in the first few minutes during a home visit. Perhaps there are ways that Realtors can enhance this experience with a house history. While it's helpful to tell a prospect how nice it will be to enjoy morning coffee from the bay window overlooking the lagoon in back, people always connect with stories, and helping buyers visualize the people who years earlier experienced the same view peaks interest.

Don't let the fact that the home you are selling was built in 2006 deter you; rather ask the question, what would someone have been looking at if they had been sitting in that spot 100, 200 or 300 years earlier. In my region, the Lowcountry of South Carolina, there is a rich history surrounding every home that can be cultivated and re-told with a little research and creativity.

In this very competitive market, I've seen more Realtors thinking outside of the box and developing house histories to enhance their listings. These include everything from a home's design, construction and upgrade geneology to more emotional histories that include fascinating anecdotes about prior owners, architects and visitors.

We've all heard our clients insist that their home is unique and it's worth the effort to listen carefully and find ways to tell a story about their home. I've written a bit about my family's first home in this country at "Telling a Home's Story," http://activerain.com/blogsview/466753/Telling-a-Home-s. I'll share some of my current clients' home histories in the coming weeks.

Posted by Rick Hoel - Broker/Realtor, Bluffton, SC on 04/19/2008 06:48 AM

Comments (6)

house history, lowcountry, south carolina, home stories

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6 Comments on Try a "House History" to Bring Life to Your Listings

Great idea for an old town like mine (Falmouth MA). Thanx for the note.

04/19/2008 08:13 AM

by Heath Coker, Broker Owner (Cape Group Real Estate & REindex.com)

Rick,

Adding more than BR/bath/LR and the like makes for much better Buyer interest......older props with extra background even better

04/19/2008 08:24 AM

by Dan Brudnok - ePRO, ABR, CSP - Chester County, PA Real Estate Pro (Keller Williams - Exton - PA License Number #RS225179L )

Rick, this is a great post. And a really cool idea. Thanks!

In the past year we have renovated a 100+ old church into our home. If you are interested in seeing the before/during/after pics they are on our website www.sellingclarkcounty.com . On the right side click on about us, then click on Patty & Scott's latest project. Let us know what you think. : )

04/19/2008 08:34 AM

by Patty & Scott Carroll - RE/MAX, Vancouver WA (RE/MAX Equity Group)

This concept does work Rick, I've been able to find old photos of homes when they were one of the only homes in the neighborhood back in yesteryear. Prospective buyers really like the romance of that.

04/19/2008 09:19 AM

by Fox Cities Real Estate Hotline--- Bob Edwards- Appleton, WI (Coldwell Banker- The Real Estate Group)

This is exactly what I enjoy doing, tell a story about the home, put the buyer in the picture with something that may grab their attention. Nice post!

04/19/2008 09:23 AM

by Mary Strang, WI Real Estate (RE/MAX Hill Country)

To tell the story of a listing to a new prospective buyer to catch their imagination and make them listen, stop and get them interested in the property. The first few minutes of a showing are critical and to evoke some kind of an positive emotional reaction to the buyer is essential! When I list a house I try to understand from the owner their homes "story" and try to capture it in my listing description and photos.

I showed a listing of mine last week where I could tell that the buyer wasnt objecting to anything I was saying and they were just quietly listening to me talk about the neighborhood and the updates that have been accomplished that they were interested in the house. Their buyer agent was adding her two cents to back me up which helped as well. But I totally agree with you that every home has a story to tell about its past, previous owners and is much more than just # of beds, baths and wood.

Cape Cod Realtor

04/19/2008 11:40 AM

by Stephen D White, E-Pro, ABR Cape Cod Realtor® (Ocean Blue Realty llc)

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