Buying a home is an exciting time that offers many parallels to dating. You look for the basic characteristics you want in your home. You want spacious ... all brick ... tri-level ... hardwood floors ... 2 car garage with a light commute to work. When you find the perfect package, you are thrilled. Even if there are a few flaws, you hardly notice. You think about what you'll do to the place to make it even better. You can envision your life in this dream home - spending time alone or with friends. You are in love. Everything seems so right, you consider pulling out your checkbook to make a commitment to buy.
But then you start thinking. The kitchen is too small, the yard is too big. Is this the best time to 
buy? Do I really want to buy at all? What if I lose my income? Maybe I should just keep looking. The love that started to blossom turns to disinterest. Emotions may start to change similar to in a relationship. You may end up rejecting a perfectly nice house for vague reasons.
Real estate agents see this all the time. Potential buyers come through the house and seem so interested that an offer seems inevitable. Then, they drop out of sight without any indication of what made them change their mind.
Unfortunately for the seller, this can be a nerve-wracking experience. They question their agent and themselves. Was the price too high? Is the house in a poor location? Was the buyer turned off by the blue tile in the bathroom? Sellers beat themselves up when people don't follow through on their apparent interest.
It is hard for sellers not to take this rejection personally. The agent will usually inquire to try to get feedback about what cause the buyers to change their mind. If the would-be buyer gives feedback, he may say nothing specific. The initial enthusiasm for it just faded away after he thought about it.
This is even more frustrating for the seller, but the buyer might be experiencing fear of commitment or a range of emotions that might have nothing to do with the house. Neither the real estate agent nor the seller himself can rekindle house passion grown cold much less second guess buyer's motives. The best approach is try to remember that the rejection isn't personal and stay positive for the next buyer.
The Marla Schneider Team can help you sell your Wilmette home or buy your next one. Move with Marla!
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