Author: Patricia Feager, 2/1/2018
Entry #1 for February AR Contest for Lisa Von Domek
There is no question that children see, hear, touch, smell, taste, feel, and think a lot. Their brains are always concocting ideas, saying things out loud, and expressing how they feel. Plus, they are eager to learn. As a mother, grandmother, and Real Estate Salesperson, my favorite observers are children under five years old.
I love working with buyers who have small children. Kids say the stillest things and they are clever too! When working with Buyers that include family, parents have major decisions to make for location, schools, budgeting, needs, and wants. Our paradigms shape who we are and what we become. Stephen Covey said it best:
"The way we see things is the source of the way we think
and the way we act. Our paradigms, correct or incorrect, are
the sources of our attitudes and behaviors, and ultimately
our relationships with others."
One of my favorite love stories about buying real estate involved parents and their three toddlers. What I love best and why it was so special is because while the parents were looking around, the kids started running around so I stayed with the kids and we talked about what they like, dislike, shapes, colors, sizes, and naming thing, i.e., kitchen appliances. When it comes to buying a new home, parents understand their mission and goals. We consult from the beginning, after showings, we talk, text, and send emails. Kids under five interpret their parent's house hunting expedition as seeing their favorite Fast Food sign, feeling hungry, wanting to go to the bathroom, plopping down and taking a nap, play time, and they say what they want to say. And when it takes too long the kids may act out or inquire, "Are we there yet?" or Is this our home?
Something that happened to me when I showed houses to a family was overhearing the twins talk to each other in the back seat when nobody else was talking.
Twin #1: Do you like that house?
Twin #2: Naw, couldn't see out the windows.
Twin #1: Do you like da other one?
Twin #2: Naw, it stinks!
Twin #1: Do you like mommy and daddy's house?
Twin #2: Naw, Patricia has more houses!
Twin #1: Yeah! She has lots of houses!!!
House hunting is a family affair. Perceptions count. Buying a home is the bigggest and most expensive investment in parent's lives. Every experience teaches us something to learn. Paradigms are shaped early in life. Everyone's thoughts are not always correct but when kids are trying to understand and told the truth they learn to accept. Some days you just have to laugh and laughter is a great stress reducer.
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