I received calls this week from a couple of people interested in purchasing a home; however, they feared the possible rejection of not being able to pre-qualify for a home mortgage. These calls echo the many calls I receive and I am pretty sure this "fear of rejection" goes way beyond the callers who've contacted me.
So, in my role, what do I do? I give them the following tips:
- I encourage my callers to take action because KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. The" worst" outcome that can happen is they are not able to qualify NOW, but they are now empowered to know what actions they need to take to be in a better position LATER. The "not knowing" robs a person of the power they have to be proactive and make better decisions in the future; plus the "not knowing" is just not a fun place to be!
- I encourage my callers to set a goal, establish a budget and get in agreement with their spouse/significant other if their desire is truly home ownership. I LOVE the calls I get when couples have taken this advice, then call me back 6, 8 or 12 months later saying "we are ready"! Plus, the home search is much more enjoyable and closings are so sweet because my clients' dream of home ownership (and the sacrifices to get there) are recognized and rewarded.
- I encourage my callers to consider continuing to rent versus own as their current situation or the unknown about their future may not align with them being a homeowner at the time....and that's OK. Sure, I may loss a sale here and there, but nothing is worth losing my integrity (and sleep) in steering a person in a different direction that may benefit them in the long run. That's part of my responsibility in this public role as a Real Estate Agent!
I love my job, my past clients who've moved beyond their "fear of rejection" and all my future clients who will share their own testimony that yes.... KNOWLEDGE IS POWER and I WILL TAKE THE NEXT STEP!
Comments(2)