If you're searching for a home in Bucks County, PA, you may have your "must have," "desirable," and "would be nice but not necessary" lists all typed out.
Here's my advice - chuck 'em.
Oh, we've all heard about making your lists. We start our journey armed with a mental picture of our dream house, and then blaze through home search websites, ignoring the 3 bedroom homes, or those without a fireplace, or without a 2 car garage.
One of my favorite Soulful Sisters Susan Haughton wrote a great blog, entitled, If Buyers are Liars, then I'm the Biggest One of All. Spawning a surge of posts by like-minded (and awesome) REALTORS like Kim Brown and Jennifer Allan, we've all decided to nod our heads and agree with each other wisely.
You may think you know, but you have no idea.
Have you ever had a mental picture of exactly what you wanted? Maybe it was an outfit, or a piece of furniture, or even your new home in Bucks County? The subsequent shopping trip is usually a lesson in futility, because you can hardly ever find what you've envisioned in your mind.
Once you start looking at homes in Bucks County, you'll find that those lists you've made are pretty worthless. You buy a home, not a house, and that's more than the number of bedrooms, fireplaces, and acreage. When you walk into a home that works for you, it's an emotional connection, a feeling of "This home is GREAT!" I've recently compared it to this: You've always had a thing for blonds, however, you haven't been connecting with any of the blonds you've been meeting lately. Then, WHAMO! You meet this smoking-hot, charming brunette, It's love, baby!
So, how do I suggest Buyers search for homes in Bucks County?
- Get a list of every home on the market in your price range / area.
- Take a Sunday drive past every single one and cross out all of them that immediately give you an "I don't like it." feeling.
- Tour the rest. If it ain't working for you, move on. Give it a fair shot, but you won't talk yourself into liking a home the longer you stay in it. You either like it or you don't.
- Realize that "I don't like it" is an complete answer. Sometimes, there is no "because."
- As you continue to tour, figure out what you like and don't like. Haven't found a new development you like after looking at 5 or 6? Then you can probably eliminate them from your search from now on. They just don't do it for you.
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Realize "I don't like it" is a complete answer....excellent! Love that line.
Ditto - I LOVE that line!!! Have you ever watched Property Virgins? That AIN'T a line that is acceptable to Ms. Rinomato... and I've been struggling for months to come up with the perfect way to explain why that irritates me. You did it. Thank you. Oh, I suggested this for a feature. It's FABULOUS.
LOL. I only know that line because John and I got into a heated...we'll call it a "discussion"...when we were home searching. On paper, this house had everything, and John liked it. I scrunched me nose up and said, "Ew. No." He kept asking me why, and all I had to offer was "I. Don't. Like. It."
LOL @ JA's comment ref: Ms Rinomato. LOL It.is.so.true. One of these days, I expect her to say, "What, you don't like it? It's just SHELTER, people, just shelter."
Excellent post! And thanks for the shout out! I'm with Susan and JA here...LOVE THAT LINE! It is an answer, and a very clear one, at that. And your list of suggestions? Bullseye!!
I think one of the bigger hurdles buyers have to clear is realizing that they don't always have to have specifics for not liking something. Sometimes you just aren't feeling it. Period. (Just ask John ;) )
Ms. Rinomato is the Empress of Overcoming Objections. I guess that comes from only having 30 minutes to show properties, write up an offer, negotiate counter offers, and allow for a word from HGTV's sponsors. ;)
I'm happy to give my buyers all the time they need, on as many days as they need. Because until I get a TV contract, the only one that matters is the one between me and them.
LOVE this post, and I will re-blog it! You are so right about this process. Reminds me of when I go out shopping for a new dress to wear to a party. Of course, i never find it when the pressure is on. However, if I'm out shopping for a gift for someone else and I'm relaxed, that's when I find it!
I always tell my buyer clients that I'm looking for that body language we all know when they find "IT." They straighten up their shoulders, their eyes light up, and they start taking it all in. I call it the "happy dance," and that's what I'm looking for! Great post!
Hi Heather~ There is nothing wrong with saying "I Don't Like It!" I tell my clients all of the time, you won't hurt my feelings and besides it's not my house! It is so exciting though when they find the right one!
Melissa - Thanks so much for the reblog! It's my first one! It's funny how we all have a word for that feeling. My partner always says, "The house was winking at them." I think that's adorable.
Vickie - LOL - right. It's not my house. Say what you want! I'd rather have an opinionated "I don't like it" than someone who tours every home on the list and gives you no feedback because they don't want to be rude. We learn a lot more from the "I don't like its."
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment, ladies. It's very much appreciated.
Hey, I reblogged too!
Melissa - I always tell buyers "take ALL the time you need - I'm in no hurry!" to which they often reply something along the lines of "Well, I am!" Okay - works for me, too!
You did??? THANK YOU! I'm off to read what people had to say.