Some people like to include others when making big decisions. Some prefer to go the solo route. When it comes to purchasing real estate it is no different. However, if your Realtor doesn’t understand the implications of each decision-making style, it can lead to frustration for everyone involved. And here’s an example that explains why.
Let’s say a nice young lady named Joy is entering the market for the first time, in search of a downtown condo in roughly the 350k range. Together we look at about 25 different units over the course of a month or two. Finally, we find a property that Joy really loves. It’s really the first property she’s seen that she says she really wants. Naturally I ask Joy if she would like to put in an offer. She responds, “Well, I love it…I just want to make sure my parents like it as well.”
I know what’s coming. Joy’s parents are going to have seen just this one unit, and they’re not going to like it. Sure enough we make an appointment to see it with Joy’s parents, and they say to Joy, “It’s too much money, you won’t be happy here.” At first glance, when a ‘newbie’ to downtown sees how much bang you get for your buck, the reaction is almost always that of shock and disdain. “That much for 600 square feet? I could buy a mansion in North Bay for that kind of money.”
It’s hard to argue with mom or dad, even though in this case you know they may have no clue what they’re talking about. (I know my mom is reading this… Love you, mom!) In all likelihood, Joy’s parents have never entered into a downtown condo before this viewing. They may not be familiar with the condo marketplace and it may have been many decades since they purchased their own home. How then can they say this condo is over or underpriced? How can they be sure that Joy won’t like it when they haven’t seen her expressions and heard her thoughts on the other units? However, they have known their daughter a lot longer than I have so we all need to respect each other’s viewpoints.
The bottom line is this: a great Realtor has this discussion with their client before they start viewing properties. I love the fact that people get their friends and family involved, and it can never hurt to have another pair of eyes and a different perspective…if it’s done in a knowledgeable way. If it makes you feel more comfortable to have someone with you, it makes me more comfortable as your Realtor. Have this discussion with your Realtor beforehand and include your trusted advisors in the entire process. They may not be able to attend all the other showings, but if you can involve them in as many as possible they will get a much clearer picture of the market, your thought processes, and your general ‘likes’ and ‘dislikes’.
Even though I’m solely serving the needs of my client, I want everyone involved to be as happy as possible with my client’s final decision. And the best way to do that is to involve all parties from the first showings to the very end of the process. Having more people on your team means more work to keep everyone together and on the same page. But it can be worth it. Find a Realtor who knows how to make this scenario a happy and beneficial one.
In the words of Jerry Maguire, “Help me, help you.”