HEY MISTER! SHOW ME SOMETHING![1]© 2014 By Wayne D. Lewis, Sr.

5 Questions Buyers Maybe Asked

 When Calling a Real Estate Agent

By Wayne D. Lewis, Sr.

 

As the home buying season gets ready to kick into full gear, agents are waiting to hear from buyers.  Whether the buyers are standing in front of homes with FOR SALE signs, or from the various real estate websites on their laptops, tablets or cell phones, buyers are going to call their local real estate offices and agents.  Their main objective:  “Come show me this house!”  For agents on the other end, nothing would be more welcoming than to receive such a call, and then rush out to meet a perspective buyer at the home of the potential buyer’s choice.  Only…….

This approach to buying a home has many drawbacks, both for buyers and agents, and while it would be exciting for each agent to run out and meet a perspective buyer at a home that maybe the purchaser’s desired home, it would be important for a real estate professional to take important steps to help the buyer to choose a home that is right for them.

Even after the showing, buyers may find that the house needs more work than they intend to do, or that the price of the house is way more than they expected to pay for the small bedrooms, or the galley-size kitchen.  So, for the real estate agent, it may help both the buyer, as well as the seller, if a few questions were asked (by the agent), and answered (by the buyer).  The intent is to save time and frustration that may ultimately discourage the buyer right off the bat if they are either a first-time home buyer or, are looking at their next home to move up to, move down to or, are relocating to a new area.

Below, are just five important questions that buyers and agents should be able to discuss before meeting for the first time at a home that is FOR SALE.  These questions are not designed to discourage the buyer from seeing, nor the agent from showing the property.  But, these questions are in an effort for both buyer and agent to have a reasonable idea of what the buyer’s expectations are, and how the agent can help the buyer achieve his or her goal.  Here are five basic questions with a few sub-questions that may need to be asked in order for the agent to be well informed about the direction the buyer is intending to go in the home buying process (Questions are in no set order):

1. How long have you been looking at homes?
    
2. What are you hoping to see as you look at this home? For example:
   1. Is it important to you that the master bedroom is only 11’ X 10’?
   2. Are you aware this home only has 1 bathroom?
   3. Does it matter to you that the property is occupied?
       
3. Are you looking at other homes in this neighborhood?
   1. How does this home compare to other homes you have looked at before
   2. How did you preview the other homes?
   3. What do you like about this neighborhood/home?
       
4. How did you come across this home?
   1. Did you find it driving by?
   2. Did you find it using the internet?
   3. Are you working with an agent?
       
5. I may need to give the seller 24 hour notice before showing their home, can you give me another time option for tomorrow, if necessary?
   1. What is your name?
   2. What is your contact number if I need to call you back if something changes?
   3. Do I have permission to bring information on other properties in the area?
   4. Will you be needing any information on financing, or have your secured financing already?
       
      Now, if we count, there are actually 18 questions here.  But note how the additional questions are related to the prime question.  These questions are necessary not only to the agent, but to the buyer, as well as to the seller’s agent, and the seller.   The seller’s agent and seller need to be aware of who is being shown their home?  They need to know how often the house is being shown, or how often someone calls in on their home.  The agent needs to have an idea of the buyer’s determination, and readiness to buy a home.  The process of buying a home is strongly related to selling a home, and there are many aspects to the process that requires not only that questions be asked, but what questions are also answered. 
       
      Additionally, the questions that a real estate agent may ask, helps them sell themselves as a professional.  Granted, many of these questions could be asked at the house when the buyer and agent meet, asking some of the questions before hand, also helps set the stage for how the real estate professional acquires information, and how that information is processed well enough between the initial call and the initial showing.  As a buyer, you may want your real estate professional prepared and informed when they meet with you, even if on a drive by showing that started with just a FOR SALE sign in the front yard.
       
      The questions above are just a snapshot of the types of questions that your real estate professional may ask.  Your questions, and answers, may vary.  But as a buyer, you should be prepared to answer any number of questions leading up to, and including, showing a given home for the first time.  As always, regardless of which home you choose, be sure to Make Your Best Offer![2]
       

SPEAKER: If interested in having Wayne Lewis speak before your community group, please email him at waynelewissoldit@gmail.com

 

DISCLAIMER: ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED IS DEEMED TO BE FROM RELIABLE SOURCES, BUT NOT GUARANTEED.  NOT AN INTENT TO SOLICIT THE AGENTS, CUSTOMERS OR BUSINESS OF ANY OTHER AGENT OR BROKER. NO INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH ANY OF THE POSTS ON THIS BLOG SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS LEGAL OR FINANCIAL ADVICE.  PLEASE CONSULT YOUR ATTORNEY, FINANCIAL ADVISOR OR RELATED PROFESSIONAL REGARDING INFORMATION PERTAINING TO YOUR CASE.

 

 

 

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[1] The title of this post is taken from the famous phrase: “Hey Mister, throw me something!”  Many of us know this phrase all too well, as it comes from the throngs of parade goers at Mardi Gras here in New Orleans.   While the title is “Hey Mister, Show Me Something,” this in no way seeks to diminish or discriminate against our female real estate professionals throughout the real estate industry.

 

[2] Make Your Best Offer! ©2014 by Wayne D. Lewis, Sr.

Where is Your Heart? © 2012 by Wayne D. Lewis, Sr.

Also Visit my blogs at www.richfitusa.com

 

For the first-time home buyer, the opportunity to buy their first home is truly overwhelming.  Even with someone holding their hand, or with a road map clutched in their little hands, buying that first home remains a challenge unlike any other.  Of the many questions that first-time home buyers are asked by their Realtor, one is: Where do you want to live?” 

The answers can range from near their parents, close to their jobs, in the suburbs, close to school, or, get this one: “Anywhere, I’m not particular.”  Sometimes first-time homebuyers will give their agents 4 or 5 different locations to select from.  While that is not a bad thing, the real question is, where, more than anywhere, would a first-time homebuyer like to live?   

Getting first-time homebuyers to narrow down where they want to plunk down for a few years is a challenge, and for me, I thought if I could put it in terms of where they grew up, or why they are deciding to buy a home at all, it would be helpful to me to help them find their dream home.  So, I often ask many first-time homebuyers when they don’t seem to have it narrowed down:  “Where is your heart?”  After they get over the idea of the question, I follow with what moves them to move?  I follow up with a question of what would make their move a perfect move, to the perfect house.

While these questions don’t necessarily result in an epiphany where the first-time homebuyer just comes up with the ideal location, I do share with them that the areas that they have presented to me for consideration aren’t necessarily consistent, or that they are very broad.  I point out to them that my job to help them would best be accomplished if they could say exactly where they would like to start looking for a home.

I understand the challenges for first-time homebuyers in trying to make this important decision of where to live.  When my wife and I began looking for a home, we had no idea of where to look, so we just followed “For Sale” signs.  The disappointments were in the affordability of the homes, the lack of understanding of what was needed to buy a home, besides money, and knowing that we were going to find a great neighborhood to raise our family. 

As I think back, I remember Jane Lampkin, who was our agent.  She was wonderful.  She showed a number of houses, helped us to get financing, and explained a lot of things to us to get through the process.  At a point where we were disappointed in the selections, one day Jane called us and asked us how would we like to own a brand new house?  We were excited, and of course said “Yes!”  The property was located in New Orleans East, along the outskirts of New Orleans called Littlewoods.  Although I had gone out in the area to visit friends, the area never captured my interest, until my wife and I were looking at blueprints, and plat maps of where the house was going to be built, in a new subdivision between Morrison Road and Curran Blvd near Paris Road.  We fell in love with the idea of a brand new home with appliances, vaulted ceilings, stone fireplace, a porch, indoor laundry and so many other great things about not only buying a home, but owning our very first home.

When I ask my clients today, “Where is your heart?”, it is at that point that I am trying to detect a glimmer of anticipation, or excitement over and above that which they maybe going through already.  I am looking for, in their eyes, something that gives me a clue as to what would make their home buying opportunity as positive as possible.  If I am lucky, they will say something, or do something that will give me a clue as to what direction to move in while helping them successfully go through the home buying process.

If I don’t see, or sense anything right off, then, I have to be like Jane Lampkin was to us.  I have to seize the moment, guide them by their inexperienced hands, and show them the best of what is available in their price range.  It becomes a hit and miss at first, but I am always checking with my clients to see if I am warm or if I am cold regarding their likes or dislikes.  But eventually, it clicks.  They confirm by their choice and selection of a home, by their willingness to follow my guidelines within the process, and eventually by the referrals that I get from them for a job well done.

Maybe it is not a question that can easily be answered by a first-time home buyer to a stranger, a real estate agent, whom you don’t know.  Maybe it isn’t the kind of question an agent should be asking a buyer.  But if we are going to be spending at least 30 to 60 days together to help you achieve a life-long dream, shouldn’t I at least know where your heart is pulling you to live?  By the way: “Where is your heart?”

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