So, I have been holding Open Houses here in Marin County week in and week out for who knows how many months now - It has become my favorite pass time - One of the best ways to meet clients, neighbors, friends or just passer-bys. Fortunate for me, due to the ads I place, online or in print; I always have a lot of visitors, never a dull moment and I have met so many wonderful people doing that!
One thing I have noticed is that being in a buyers market, I am getting a lot of very specific requirements and reasons for why one property is not Completely Perfect (is there such a thing as "completely perfect"?) for his/her/their needs -
Gonna have formal living room, how about that formal dining room? I really don't see the need of
formal living room nor dining room, just a big waste of space and furniture, great room would be wonderful, just what we need; Always want that big backyard, backs up to open space; I am tired of mawing that lawn, don't want the responsibility of maintaining all that landscape, give me a postage stamp sized yard; Ceiling is too low, feel pressured; Watch for high ceilings, too much waste of energy; Pool? No Way, Sir, never swam, never wanted to swim, never will swim; Have to have pool, wonderful exercise, my kids are on swim team. Hardwood floor is a must; but we just love the softness and warm feeling of carpet: I really wish the living room is tiled, Spanish style; Have to have the View, water, hill, close, distant; too much shade, too sunny; Single story for retirement; how about that two story for privacy? Kids next to us, or down the hallway in their own corners? on, and on, and on...
And of course, we always aim to please; so we try to sort out the puzzles and find them the absolutely perfect house with the lowest, lowest price for years to come while we do it all with a big smile!
But now, this must be a baby boomer issue. They have dispensable income, they are retired or nearing retirement, and they have those collections - they have to have a garage for their three cars collection (the ones that actually park INSIDE of the garage), the five cars collection; one has nine cars; how about RV parking? I have many requests for that. Now that we have a lot of time, RV parking is a must for that great retirement dream we always have!
Are you having fun searching for that Perfect Home for your clients?
I am. I take it as a great challenge and I love it when I find that perfect home for my clients!
It takes a lot of time and patience, but the feeling of Great Accomplishment and Satisfaction is Priceless!
Sylvia Barry
, Realtor, ePRO
Marin Realtor for Marin Luxury Real Estate
Marin, Sonoma, ,San Francisco North Bay
Frankk Howard Allen Realtors
website: www.SylviaSellsMarin.com
Blog: www.AllAboutMarinHomes.com
SERVING MARIN, SONOMA, S.F. BAY AREA - FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS Beveldere, Corte Madera, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Larkspur, Marinwood, Mill Valley, Novato, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito, Tiburon; Cotati, Penngrove, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa.
Hi Sylvia,
too bad that property is not here in DFW. I have a buyer looking for a home with lots of parking.
Figuring out the needs of buyers is always a challenge. It has been my experience that buyers ask for the moon but settle for less.
Hi Angelia Angelia Garcia (Francesca Realty.LLC): I used to live in Plano, Tx. I can see why you have the client who'd need lots of parking! There are so many luxury homes in DFW area. I am sure you will find him/her the perfect house! Good luck!
Yes, Kathy Kathy Fey (Fey & Associates): But what fun it is when you get all the puzzle solved and find out, Ah! This is what they REALLY want! Fun thing about dealing with buyers, there are so many surprises!
Good luck on finding the perfect home-I know how challenging that can be. A lot of the times the buyers have to agree on what's most important and realize they too can compromise. You are right when we do find the perfect home it is always a wonderful feeling.
Pat Pat Champion (Coldwell Banker Camelot Realty): Thanks. Luck, patience, creativity, diligence, imagination, I guess all comes into play to help our clients find that perfect home which, like you said, may not be perfect, perfect, but it's just right for them!
There is no perfect home. However, there is the best home that meets your client's needs, and it is out there somewhere.
Sylvia, I enjoy the "hunt" for that perfect home. Of course, I come from a background of merchandising and finding products that would be most likely to appeal to our customer base. I was always looking for just the perfect product, and the newest, best thing. So that thrill of the hunt, so to speak, has transferred with me over to my real estate business. It is a great feeling and so energizing!
Hi Rich Rich Mielke, REALTOR, Frederick Maryland Real Estate (Realty Executives of Frederick MD): Absolutely, they just don't know that until they walk in the house and feel it's home! Then they can live and improve on or even love that 'imperfection' of which they thought it was so important before.
Hello Vicki Vickie Slade (Real Estate of The Rockies): I am with you, whenever other agents get frustrated with their clients, I said to send them over, because I would love to work with them. There is that special feeling about finding the best thing for our clients that make our work very rewarding!