Sorry I’ve been off track for awhile. Blogging is enjoyable, but only when I have the spare time.
I noticed the house hunting tips article in the Seattle Times this weekend. There wasn’t much in the way of actual tips, but it was a good piece on learning to compromise. The odd part of these two buyers’ stories is that they each took almost a year to believe that what they wanted, respectively, did not exist.
As agents we like to consider ourselves patient, understanding, and even compassionate when it comes to helping our clients find what they are looking for. But for goodness sake, couldn’t someone talk some sense into these people in less than a year? Think of the many costs incurred during that time: interest write-off, market appreciation, time wasted while looking, another year of rent down the drain.
We meet these folks from time to time. They sincerely want to buy a home, but are resistant to the truth that what they want doesn’t exist. We’ve learned that if they cannot accept the truth at the beginning stages, these buyers will have a difficult time throughout the process. It will difficult for them to accept their financing terms, the result of the inspection, the appraisal, the title report, the escrow fee, etc.
It’s all about trust, and it starts with your agent. If you’re looking for rebates from companies like ZIPPO or REDFIN, you must be experienced and highly knowledgable about your market area of interest. In the end, after burning up your car, your time, your money, it isn’t worth it. Get a referral from someone you know and trust to find a good agent. Be specific about your market area of interest. Meet with two or three agents, then pick one. Stick with that agent throughout the process, unless something seriously puts you off. Be prepared to BELIEVE your agent when they tell you what is, and what is not, available.
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