Jeff,

We ask that question all the time of our clients.  I can't imagine that it is intrusive at all.  If someone asked us, we would happily tell them.  How else are you going to identify what homes to show?  In commercial real estate, when someone wanted to buy a building or lease space, we got down to the nitty gritty of the business.  A

Brilliant, Jeff!  Do you find a lot of your buyers to be relocating?  You provided a lot of great resources.  Those buyers will be lucky to work with you! 

Jeff, this is a must-read post by all Carlsbad home buyers. You offer so much information that's critical in finding the right home. Beautiful pictures, make me want to move to Carlsbad.

Reminds me of the days I spent at Point Loma Jeff Dowler. God smiled when he made your area  

Lifestyle questions are SO important. If I planned to move there, I'd want to be close to a place where my large dogs could run and play. My son would want to be near a quality gym. My husband would want to be where he couldn't see any neighbors. (Since we're not millionaires, I guess we won't move there!)

Hi Jeff - asking the right questions up front sure makes the search more productive.   Some thing like two stories won't work for some. 

Good morning, Jeff -- why, yes, you should ask those kinds of questions!  And when you listen as carefully as you do --- the results achieved will be even better. Good topic to discuss and a clever title too.   

It is important to get the story before the search.  For me it would be a shack on the beach.  I would be fine with that.  A bathroom would be a nice bonus.

Whether it's finding the right home for our clients ... or finding the financing that's the perfect fit for them, questions are the tool we use as professionals, Jeff Dowler.  With home buying selection and financing both, there are options available.  The more we know, the better we can eliminate the bad options and offer the good ...

You put a very caring spin on question asking ... just as it should be from a real estate professional ...

Gene

Hi Jeff - You're right. That's a discussion that we always have with clients. There are so many different lifestyles on offer here, and focusing at the start of the process always makes it go better.

Jeff Dowler  Great questions to get to know our clients and what their wants and needs are

When inventory is tight then buyers must do much more compromising if they intend to be successful in finding a home. You have a good series of questions that will lead them to think what is the most important to them.

Great post.  Lifestyle is a very important aspect when it comes to buying a home in a new location.  Great idea with the questionnaire!

Lifestyle is what we are selling all the time in Central Oregon, Jeff Dowler .  We have property in the city, we have acreage property, we have rural homes, we have mountain views, river views, townhomes, single family residential, golf course communities, resorts, 2nd home areas, and so much more. Listening to your clients to determine their needs is the MOST important thing a buyer's agent can do in our market.

Good morning Jeff. What an excellent post this is. Narrowing down the real essentials matters anywhere and everywhere.

Amazingly well done Jeff. It's a very comprehensive post. I like this statement: "The right house in the wrong area will not work!"

But interestingly enough, an almost right house in the right area will absolutely work.