Buyer delusions
I have seen this before, and I will see it again:
Last week, one of my clients returned to house-hunting after a nine-month break. She was pleased to see a condo on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) which she liked last year.
We get there. Now it is empty; it doesn’t look as nice. The halls look shabby...but that’s not all that has changed.
My client says, “Where is that little study?”
“What little study?” says I.
She opens all the doors and can’t find the study she clearly remembers in this condo. She remembers stacks of paper, boxes, desk...It was never there.
It happens all the time. People move rooms from one property to another. Most of the time, it is bathrooms or little side rooms. Stairways shrink or grow. Closets disappear or expand. It is a trick of memory. Has it happened to you?
How to avoid “buyer delusions:”
1. Limit the number of places you see in a single day. Most people can remember only three.
2. Develop a consistent note-taking style.
3. Try to forget the bad places entirely.
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Not only do buyers move rooms from property to property, they don't really look at the property at all, in some instances. What do they look at? The owner's furniture, family pictures, art, curtains, etc.! I try to get them focused on the appliances, the room layout, ceilings, windows, doors, etc., but I hear, "wow, I love that dining room set...will they negotiate?" What about the water stain on the ceiling? "Great patio set".....never mind the septic system. It's a challenge, and when you take them back for a second visit, you are correct, they'll say, "wow, I didn't know this house had a dining room"...when they wanted to negotiate for the furniture that used to be there!
wow, a really thought provoking blog. really sparked a terrific dialogue....
Here's a problem that could easily be solved if agents and sellers drew up printed floor plans and offered them to prospective buyers when they come to look. That's standard in many parts of the world.
That's a great idea, PTR. A little labor intensive, but something that could be a real help for buyers in planning furniture placement, size, layout, etc. For newer construction, of course, plans are available. Some homeowners have actually kep their blueprints from years before. Great suggestion.
I also recommend, to sellers, to remove as much clutter and extra furnishings as possible, put the knick-knacks away, clear the kitchen counters, etc. That way, the buyer is not distracted from what's really important, and where the true value of the home lies.
yep, buyers pay more attention to the sellers decor, which goes with the seller, than the house, which does not.
This is, of course, the essence of proper staging.
Carried a step further, its what re-development is all about. Sadly, some things help a house sell better, but live worse.
And why would sellers want to solve this problem? They are selling their house, not engaging in charitable educational activities. Buyers are adults, and can draw their own floor plans.
With the floor plan you could also solve the sqt inflation problem, and yes this is standard in most western countries, and imagine all your potential buyers will start measuing during a open house. The house we bought actually had this provided. Even though it was an old huse
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