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If You Like It, Buy It!

By
Real Estate Agent with Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties RES.0781237

I am one of those shoppers who will find something I might like to buy and then hold off actually purchasing for a day or even more.  

Why?  I don't know.  Maybe I just don't like to impulse buy. Maybe I have to think about it for awhile to be sure it's a good deal.  Maybe I want to make sure I really need it.  Maybe I am getting tighter with my money. 

Whatever it is, many times I will make my ‘delayed' decision only to find the item I now ‘really' wanted is no longer available. Someone else has purchased it and there is no longer anything exactly similar.  Bummer.

Because of my frequent buying indecision my husband has gotten accustomed to saying "If you like it, buy it".   I still don't regularly take his advice so I continue to get burned by my purchasing delays.

There is always some buyer indecision in real estate purchases. After all, it is the usually the biggest purchase one will make in a lifetime.

I've had a few recent 'indecisive' experiences with qualified, ready buyers --  Names have been changed to protect the innocent. 

Casper' found a home to purchase as an investment which he wanted to rent out.  When the property was reduced to a very attractive price, I recommended putting an offer in as I anticipated there would be a lot of interest.  Casper thought he'd wait it out a little longer -- after all --  he has the national news mindset that the market is so dreadful. Two days later there was an offer accepted on the property. Casper sad. :-(

'Elvira' found a property that was not in the best of shape but the location was priceless.  Even though Elvira thought the price was good, she took her time deciding because "who else would pay that kind of money and have to do all that work".  I told her you can change the house, but you can't change the location!  She said the property would be around for a long time. She had time.  Nope, sorry.  Another buyer snatched it up. Elvira not happy. 

Many buyers are in the frame of mind that properties will be sitting on the market for a lot longer and perhaps the property they are interested in also has a high number of days on the market.  So they take their time in deciding to pull the trigger. 

Then what happens?  The property they ‘loved' has been snatched up by someone else (how dare they buy MY house?) and there is not a lot they can do about it unless they want to go in and offer a backup, sometimes higher than what they would have offered in the first place.

Buyers should not think that just because we are still in a ‘buyer's' market, that they have all the time in the world to make a decision. 

If the buyer is dreaming of the house or planning where to put the furniture then that's a pretty good indicator that s/he should act quickly and without delay.  Get the offer in and hopefully proceed to an acceptance. 

If you like it, buy it.  Don't waste time. Monopolize the situation.  Go to the sale.  Go directly to the sale.  Pass Go - and collect your property!

 If You Like It, Buy It!

Comments(14)

Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Barbara -  I really like this post and I am going to reblog it for my local readers.  You see, I am not someone who has to take a few days to mull things over.  I know immediately if I want something or not and then I go for it.  It is refreshing to see the other side :0)

Oct 30, 2010 09:30 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

You and I share a common affliction. I spent all afternoon Wednesday hunting for a duplicate of something I "should" have purchased two weeks ago. I was successful, but sure wasted a lot of time.

And my husband will never let me forget that I decided to have lunch and think about it once before purchasing a pony for the kids. Of course, after lunch, the pony was no longer available. I console myself by saying it probably wasn't the "right one" for my kids.

So you're right - if that house says "home" the buyer should act quickly!

 

Oct 30, 2010 09:32 AM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

If you really like it, put it under Contract. 

Let the Buyer's Remorse pass by (usually in a day or two).  Then do the Inspections and the Title Search and perform any other Contingencies.   If you made a bad decision, you will be able to walk away.

On the other hand, if you wait...

Oct 30, 2010 09:43 AM
Jenny Durling
L.A. Property Solutions - Los Angeles, CA
For Los Angeles real estate help 213-215-4758

Excellent post! I will reblog this one for those indecisive would-be buyers in my own market.  Thanks!

Oct 30, 2010 10:18 AM
Peggy Chirico
Prudential CT Realty - Manchester, CT
REALTOR® 860-748-8900, Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate

Hi Barbara - Great post! I used to think about it too, but now I just buy it and return it if I change my mind. It takes a lot less time to return it than to think about it!

Oct 30, 2010 11:47 AM
Pamela Seley
West Coast Realty Division - Murrieta, CA
Residential Real Estate Agent serving SW RivCo CA

Barbara. so true even in this market.  There is no time to waste if a buyer sees a home they like, waiting to make the decision to buy could cost them regret later.

Oct 30, 2010 12:06 PM
Barbara Altieri
Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT
REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale

Susan -- I am so complimented that you reblogged this.  Thank you.  There are many times also when I know immediately that I want something, but I will still likely think about it. I am a TOUGH sell. 

Marte -- LOL. Never thought of it as an 'affliction'. I'll bet there's some made up acronym for buyer procrastination like there is for every new syndrome that is thought up on a daily basis.

Fred -- Good approach.  I have suggested that before to buyers in this type of situation, but they still wait. Sometimes it works out anyway; sometimes not. 

Jenny -- Thank YOU also for the reblog. That is so cool. There's a lot of indecisiveness going around these days. 

Hi Peggy -- Thanks for stopping by. Hope you're having success with your sister's house! I will frequently use your approach with clothing as I can't stand to try anything on in a dressing room. 9 times out of 10 it works out and I am happy I made the purchase. That is typically the case with the buyers who were thinking of waiting.

Oct 30, 2010 12:10 PM
Barbara Altieri
Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT
REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale

Pamela -- and the regret is worse than agonizing over the decision in the first place. Thanks for stopping by!

Oct 30, 2010 12:11 PM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Barbara...Well done and very true.  Will be re-blogging.

Kate

Oct 31, 2010 01:53 PM
Barbara Altieri
Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT
REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale

Hi Kate -- I am SO honored by your reblog. Thank you SO much for your comment and validation. It truly means a lot to me. 

Oct 31, 2010 03:15 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

You have it totally right --- if you like it - BUY IT, you have contingencies in which you can walk if truly needed.    Usually if they get the "warm and fuzzies" right away, it IS the right house!

Nov 04, 2010 03:57 AM
Barbara Altieri
Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT
REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale

Hi Joan -- You're so right about getting that feeling and knowing it's the right house. If that happens, it's time to put the offer in without delay.  Thanks for stopping by.

Nov 04, 2010 07:17 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

It usually takes a buyer just once with that happening before they learn their lesson and when they find what they want they buy!

Dec 29, 2010 10:53 AM
Barbara Altieri
Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT
REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale

Todd - Yes, if they get burned once, they are not likely to repeat it.  (hopefully!)  Thanks for commenting.

Dec 29, 2010 02:25 PM