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DO YOU LOVE IT?

By
Real Estate Agent with Dyer-Walker Real Estate 01273104

DO YOU LOVE IT?

I'm a stickler for "Loving the Home you Purchase"! Others may say, here's 5 houses - Pick one. Or, this is what you have to chose from, just grab one!  I'm a firm believer of, if you're going to spend $250,000, $380,000, $500,000, A million on a house, "You Gotta Love it"!

 I sold this home to a family who did love it! That excited me! And... I represented the seller!

In the past 9 months buyers have been trying to get into a home, any home, they just wanted a home. Maybe the $8000 Obama Tax Credit was their motivation? But for those buyer's who just grabbed at anything did you ask yourself, "Do we love it"? Maybe I care too much... maybe I should stick to just selling the house... but, I want to make sure that people are happy with the home they choose!

Isn't buying a home an Emotional Purchase? What happened to the Emotion in this business?

Even for families who are going through short sales, many would like to sell to someone who loves their home, like they once did. "We sold it to a nice family, who's going to take care of it, raise their kids, and be nice to the neighbors." Tell me, after everything is done, that doesn't give them a little added peace?

Needless to say, this transaction ended up being about making sure the person who bought the home, really loved it. In the beginning I represented the seller and the buyer, focused on getting the short sale approved and keeping them both updated. Later I discovered the buyer, just like many others, was trying to take advantage of the tax credit; and she was trying really hard to get a home because she had been looking for over a year! Truthfully, she didn't really love it, and we both knew it. After discussing the pros and cons of purchasing "this home", she admitted she didn't love it and decided to cancel so I could sell it to someone who did!

 Selling this home to a buyer who loved it and was willing to stick it out for the short sale approval was more important to me than 2 commissions. (did I say that) lol

 We agents have to be true to ourselves and our clients. Sometimes our fiduciary duty extends from just getting the short sale approved to selling that same home to a family that really wants it. We have to put the Emotion back into Real Estate! Short Sales are tough, Foreclosures are no fun, but selling a home to a family that loves that house is true gratification of what we do.

Congratulations Again to my seller's for a clean short sale approval, to my team and the buyer's agent's team and to the Buyer's for not grabbing at anything and really getting the home you love!

 

Rama Mehra
Asante Realty - San Ramon, CA
TOP 1% REALTOR IN THE TRI-VALLEY

What you say is true but for many people here in the bay area, it is all about the deal. They don't care what they buy as long as they perceive a "deal" It is sad and it is a lot less fun selling to people who do not love the house.

Sep 29, 2010 05:33 PM
Erika Walker
Dyer-Walker Real Estate - San Marcos, CA
"Selling Real Estate with a Touch of Class"

I know... we know... but sometimes our instincts tell us... this buyer doesn't really love this house.. and when they don't, they back out... now we have to do double work finding a new buyer and alerting the banks for the short sale.

Sep 29, 2010 05:37 PM
Pat, Ben and Martin Mullikin
M3 Realty - Brookfield, WI

Erika, I'm with you on your philosophy! I tell Buyer Clients that they have to "Love the house - with all its WARTS" before they can buy it. I have heard there are agents' stories written that allude to "not telling" about the "warts" and falling back on the old - " Well I'm not an expert on ____________"

Our Buyer Clients love the houses they buy, and we usually wind up with loyal and happy clients at least partly due to our "WARTS" philosophy.

Sep 29, 2010 05:43 PM
P.J. Virgilio Jr., Realtor 408-568-6578 Selling homes in the Greater San Jose area and South through San Martin, Gilroy
Keller Williams Realty Silicon Valley - Gilroy, CA
San Juan Bautista and Hollister as well!

Erika,

That is on the money and seems to be common sense.... but as dad always said,"Son, common sense is not so common". isn't that the truth.

Sep 29, 2010 05:55 PM
Anonymous
debbie janos

Thanks Erika,

Proud to be the buyers Agent on this transaction!!! Pleasure to work with you!!!!

Debbie

Sep 29, 2010 06:40 PM
#5
Erika Walker
Dyer-Walker Real Estate - San Marcos, CA
"Selling Real Estate with a Touch of Class"

Thanks Debbie! You too! We'll definitely do it again! @Pat lol all its WARTS! And they all have WARTS now days! That's Great Pat! @ Patrick.. Right.... its a gutt instinct... we know when the buyer is not fully committed... we have to go the extra mile to do what right... 

Sep 29, 2010 06:52 PM
Alisa Bellamy
RE/MAX Metro - Charlotte, NC
ABR, CRS

Great post Erica! It's good to know that from coast-to-coast what we do and for whom we do it doesn't change! The market is challenging but working with clients--and agents--who have the right perspective makes all the difference. Keep up the great work!

Sep 30, 2010 04:34 AM
Scott Hayes
(512) 786-8300 - Austin, TX
Realty Austin, Broker Associate

Ericka,

 

I just said the same thing to a client earlier today. He spoke about a house saying *I guess I can make it work*

 

My answer was that he should love the house, not be lukewarm about such an important purchase.

Oct 05, 2010 06:51 PM
Erika Walker
Dyer-Walker Real Estate - San Marcos, CA
"Selling Real Estate with a Touch of Class"
Yeh Scott because we know if they really don't love it, they'll back out of the transaction. So we want them to make sure! Right!
Oct 06, 2010 04:44 AM