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Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS, South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker! (Fathom Realty Washington LLC)

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Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

At our very first meeting to discuss what they are looking for... I tell all my buyers in all prices ranges that unless their name is Bill Gates and they have a comparable bank account, it will be a miracle to find 100% of everything they think they want. I like to set expectations early on. If I hit 85-90% I think I'm doing well.

Apr 30, 2019 08:49 AM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

The moment they tell me their wants is when I'll casually mention the odds.

Apr 30, 2019 10:16 AM
Rainmaker
679,404
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

I make this conversation part of my conversation on my first time going out with my buyers.

Apr 30, 2019 09:39 AM
Rainmaker
4,571,967
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

It's a discussion from the first meeting and the foundation of the search.  The words may need to be repeated often depending on circumstances, the occasion or the buyer.  

Apr 30, 2019 09:16 AM
Ambassador
2,161,048
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Pretty much right off the start.... no house, not even new construction, will be perfect, it will be a matter of checking off as many needs/wants as possible and then add your own touches later. 

Apr 30, 2019 08:57 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,623
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Day 1 first meeting. Set expectations day 1.

Apr 30, 2019 01:57 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,271
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Best way to get that across is review after showing a block of homes. That basically starts to give them an idea that it is not possible or less likely. 

Apr 30, 2019 10:42 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Before we get going, I have them list out the items they're looking for and then sort them by "Must have, Nice to have and Can live without if I have to".

 

Of course with that said, I did find everything my 12 year old self wanted in my first house with the first one I looked at... 20 years later.

Apr 30, 2019 09:59 AM
Ambassador
6,392,929
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Before showing the first home we meet in the office to discuss many things including this.

Apr 30, 2019 09:37 AM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

When? Up front, but can try. Sometimes they fall in love with something else. Or, maybe your building idea is a good suggestion. Agents don't like that because it's a long wait to pay day, but it may be the right advice.

Apr 30, 2019 09:18 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Usually at the first meeting

May 01, 2019 05:28 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Set that expectation up front.  Determine wants and needs.

May 01, 2019 03:12 AM
Ambassador
5,229,939
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

At our first meeting so their expectations are set. They will create a wants & needs list and as we tour each home, we actually shift their lists. 

I think as long as they are informed and educated about the current market, they are fine with 80-100% of their boxes being checked, Paul!

Apr 30, 2019 09:23 PM
Rainmaker
2,220,323
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

In our fist meeting. 

Apr 30, 2019 06:09 PM
Ambassador
3,587,835
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

LOL Paul this is part of the intial conversations especially with first time buyers or buyers that are new to us.

Apr 30, 2019 03:09 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

This usually comes during our first meeting when we discuss their criteria. I want them to understand the difference between what they need and what they want.  Location, views, size, layout, community, exposure ~ things like that are important vs color of the walls, floor material, front door color, window treatments,  etc.  can be easily changed. 

Apr 30, 2019 01:58 PM
Rainmaker
1,052,186
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Look. If you want perfection, build it.
If even then.

Apr 30, 2019 01:24 PM
Rainmaker
2,390,437
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

When. I tell them right away if their expectations are unrealistic Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS  but I let them know why and encourage them to focus on what's really important.

Apr 30, 2019 11:15 AM
Rainmaker
7,835,329
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

We know you can find the right property.

Apr 30, 2019 11:01 AM
Rainmaker
564,494
Maria Sapio
Keller Williams of Central PA - Carlisle, PA
Real Estate Agent- Carlisle, PA. Mariasapio.com

For some buyers it's a matter of untangling the difference between wants and needs.  That can sometimes be challenging for some buyers.

Apr 30, 2019 10:42 AM
Rainmaker
851,242
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

Our first time out & after seeing a few properties...  

May 01, 2019 04:54 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

In the beginning I explain buying a house is an exercise of compromise.

Then I show the everything suitable and let them reach the understanding themselves.

A buyer submitted a 2 page spread sheet in 6 pt font with all their NEEDs including a Palm in the front yard. We did achieve 100%.

"This house checks ALL the boxes! How much shall we offfer?"

May 01, 2019 04:50 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,370
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

I shoot for the needs and the wants are just bonuses! If they are searching for perfection, they will never find it!

May 01, 2019 04:45 AM
Rainmaker
901,513
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

Right away. Most people have to compromise, even if they build. I work with a lot of people relocating to the area. I've found people think they're going to get a huge house with a wrap around porch and a acre or more of land when they move here. I usually have to break the news to them during our first discussion. It's all about understanding where they're coming from and educating them about our area.

May 01, 2019 04:26 AM
Rainmaker
805,799
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

I tell them right at the start if their want list is unrealistic for their budget. Champagne taste on a beer budget just doesn’t work.

Apr 30, 2019 04:00 PM
Rainmaker
1,751,029
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Paul, we always shoot for 100%, but it's rare that the property settled on hits 100%. 80% is pretty good. 

Apr 30, 2019 03:45 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Paul,

It really depends on what perfect means to someone.  Ron and I have lived in 7 perfect places, which includes the apartments we lived in during college.  Each was perfect for that time, and I expect that our next place will be the same way.  A

Apr 30, 2019 10:37 AM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

True. But they have to compromise.

May 30, 2019 10:09 AM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

True, the very first meeting will tell you what direction to go with the buyers.

May 30, 2019 08:10 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,801
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Refer these people to other agents. 

May 01, 2019 10:05 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,153
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Instead of talking about long-odds and near-impossibilities, approach it the other way i.e. that is pointing out where you can take down walls, put some up, expand a room, divide one or add-on which is popular. Even nature & animals molds/adapts to the environment using what is on hand and it builds on that. Just get a potential house, dream and begin already!

May 01, 2019 06:39 AM
Rainmaker
4,935,567
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Would be nice if we could find them 100% but I have never done that.

 

May 05, 2019 09:52 AM
Ambassador
3,164,119
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

honestly even when I built after living there 3 months there were things I wanted to change.  

May 03, 2019 04:01 PM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

If they can't figure it out themselves, you telling them will not make them believers. It will only undermine your credibility with them.

May 02, 2019 12:00 PM
Rainer
67,369
Evelyn M Epperson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Johns Creek, GA
A Tradition Of [Excellence, Trust & Service]

I set that expectation at our first meeting.  I usually explain they will have to compromise what is important to them.  I usually have them make a list of the bare minimum of what they must have in a home and also a wishlist of everything they would like to have.  This usually helps! 

May 02, 2019 07:07 AM
Ambassador
3,345,066
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

It's a process.  Many buyers have found 100% and more! 

May 01, 2019 08:58 PM