Sometimes you just never know what will trigger a potential home buyer’s response to a home. They may walk in the front door and see a decadent but borderline light fixture and the first bit of negativity will start to appear. Or they may not even get in the front door if the neighbor’s dog noisily charges the fence. Even worse, there is no fence and the only thing holding the lunging, barking critter is a length of chain. Suddenly the car seems a much safer place. Is there a way to adequately deal with such happenings? Sometimes yes. At other’s the situation may be out of your control.
Iffy Neighbors
As a realtor you can make sure the property for sale is beautifully staged, that the outside has a fresh coat of paint and that the bushes and lawns are well manicured. But you have no control over the neighbors. They might have the equivalent of an auto graveyard in their backyard or a dog as big as a moose with an attitude to match. Maybe both. Perhaps that same neighbor likes to sit on his front porch and watch your every move. Sounds like a bad movie, doesn’t it? In this situation your hands are tied. A potential homeowner will either embrace the noise and eccentricity, or not.
Did You Hear the Rumor?
Rumors travel like wildfire. Some may have a basis in fact, others may be pure speculation. What happens if potential home buyers hear rumors of rezoning or of a governmental buyout due to a land appropriation deal? The best thing for you to do is to bone up on the facts about an area and advise your clients before the rumor mill gets them. Start with putting up to date info in the MLS listings. You may even attract a different type of buyer that is open to a change or two. Who knows, they may have secret dreams of turning that single family home into something with a rental suite.
My Dining Room Table Won’t Fit
Most people don’t buy a house to fit their dining room table. Usually it’s the other way around. But once in a while you run into folks who just can’t part with a piece of furniture. It might be a family heirloom or something that Uncle Joe made from scratch and just can’t be replaced. Finding out about this seemingly quirky deal breaker before you show properties is the best way to go. Get the dimensions of the object and try to only show properties that have rooms big enough to fit. Sometimes you can convince a home buyer to put their prized possession in another room, but don’t count on it.
This is Not What I Wanted
Many home buyers have a certain architectural preference when it comes to homes. Some are purists that want the layout of the inside of the property to match the exterior. Others want the vintage look of an Old Victorian or Queen Anne but want a modern kitchen and open floor plan. That sort of layout just didn’t exist a century ago. If in your pre-look interview you’re getting mixed messages about vintage looks and modern architectural concepts you might have a bit of trouble finding the perfect property. Try and find that Victorian home with the open concept but if it’s not possible, have a heart to heart with your clients. You may have to do some educating on architectural styles and remodeling possibilities but you might just turn them around.
Too Many Offers Can Discourage Clients
In a hot buying market chances are homes will get multiple offers. Some prospective buyers don’t even want to look at a property that they essentially have to bid on. They walk in, want the place, put down the cash and that’s it. You really can’t do much about how many offers a property gets. But, you can find out from the listing agent just how hot a particular property is and what the offer acceptance date is. With a potential end date in mind you might be able to convince a client to bid on that property. That date takes away a bit of the uncertainty that revolves around a multiple bidding scenario.
Comments:
Post Your Comment: