I just spent good part of a day with the loveliest buyers from a Northern state with cold, gray winters. They were looking for a place to purchase for their upcoming retirement in a few years. Both were looking for a milder climate. They had seen several episodes of HGTV showing the beautiful coastal Southern cities of Savannah, Charleston, and my lovely town of Wilmington, NC. They decided to check out these cities on a week long road trip. After a month or two of phone conversations and emails, I lined up an itinerary of beautiful homes that fit their criteria. They had all their finances in order. We were both excited to meet and search for their dream retirement home.
We piled into the car and toured 5 beautiful properites. I had an opportunity to play "real-tour" and show them a few sights...the beautiful beaches, our grand lifestyle mall, some historical sites, our museums and gardens. During the course of the day, the couple revealed that they skipped a tour of one of the cities and had called the realtor to tell him to cancel their showing appointments. They knew from the get-go that this particular city wasn't the place for them.
At the end of the day, we recapped the homes I'd shown. Sheepishly, they admitted that the South just wasn't what they expected. They confessed to their terror of hurricanes. They expected the scenery to be just like the episodes of HGTV. Unfortunately,just like every city including their own, there are pockets that just aren't all that pretty. It was much more humid than they were prepared for. Our southern cities just didn't have the scenery they hoped for. It just wasn't their paradise.
Thankfully, they were honest and said they were going to continue to look for the locale that best suited them. Some would be upset. I was grateful. How many times have we made phone call after phone call, sent numerous emails and personal notes, only to get no response or a vague tempting promise for the future? I, for one, would much rather know the truth. Wasting time is a luxury I just don't have. So, thank you Mr. and Mrs. Buyer for not wasting my time and telling me the truth. I hope all of my buyers feel as comfortable as you did. I can handle the truth, I promise. My time is a valuable asset and I appreciate your respect.
Barb - I too would rather know the truth, it's all about respect, which should go both ways.
I think that you have a great attitude about it. Those can be tough, but like you said at least you wont be spending any more wasted time.
Amen...they say the truth will set your free! May sting a little but we are all better off hearing the truth. Thanks for sharing.
I am in total agreement with you about the truth. I would much rather have the truth than no response.
Had a lovely family relocating here from Colorado. After a day of home touring, I had another round set up to follow. I called the fellow to confirm, and he confessed that although he was used to the area having grown up here, his wife and adult daughter absolutely hated it after having spent the last 2 days there. They missed the mountains too much. They went back home to the Mountains and stayed put.
I definitely prefer that honestly to the black hole of communication, wondering if they are alive even.
I always appreciate honesty from buyers. And the South is not for everybody!!! Better to tell you now than waste more time!
I too appreciate honest courteous buyers like that! You did your job helping them determine what is NOT for them.
I too would rather a buyer be upfront about their expectations rather than drag everything out. I'm glad this turned out well for you.
We all hate the reality that the buyer decided to go a different direction. Like you said, at least they were honest and told you up front this was not a area they wanted to continue seeking their retirementproperty.
Agree, it is better to know -- and look at it this way -- you only spent 1 day of wasted gas and time before they told you -- so that is a plus as well.
Barb
Giving and getting feedback is so important. How else can we improve our product or service if we don't know how it is perceived? I have tried to get feedback from my clients about why a certain property works or doesn't work --- it helps pinpoint the ones that will.
Barb -
How NICE that they were willing to have that conversation with you. It allowed both of you to walk away with integrity. My angst comes when, after two or three days or weekends of showiing property, the client simply stops returning emails or phone calls and that final conversation is never had.
Barb
I agree, the liked you enough to let you know how they really felt. Hopefully they will find a place that suits them better. Courtesy seems to be in short supply these days.
Wow, you mean things look different on tv? Thanks for sharing, sounds like a great couple and I'm sure they'll find the right area eventually. Arizona is WARM without the humidity!
I would rather be told today that its a no go than to still be pulling homes and sending emails to a client that wasnt interested.
Barb, my feeling exactly. Buyers, tell us the truth! It will save us both lots of wear and tear.
I wish all buyers were like this . . unfortunately some of them aren't very honest with us.
I agree with you Barb. I don't mind spending a day with some one that's up front with us. It's the ones that continue to waste time and just need something to do on the weekends that I have a tough time with.
Barb, I'm with you. I would rather know than have them disappear on me. Maybe you can stay in touch with them and refer them out and still get a referral fee at least.
Barb, I absolutley agree with you. I hope and want my clients to feel like they can be honest with me, and not think that they will hurt my feelings. I feel more hurt when I keep calling and sending emails with no response back. This becomes a bit irritiating. It's great when you part on good terms. Who knows, by maintaining a good relationship, they may know somebody that is moving to your area, and they will be happy to refer you.
Wonderful, these are the types of clients we all wish we had. Always better to know what they think rather than waste your time. As agents we have to remember we always want what is best for them, not our bank account. On the bright side you were able to make them see what was more important to them. It's a great feeling, although it does not help the bank account. It's not just about the money. I bet you they left feeling very comfortable and happy with you. Maybe a referral will come out of it down the road...
Barb,
Clearly you did a fabulous job with these folks in that they were comfortable being honest with you. Hats off to you! I too prefer the honest responses.
After many years in sales, I've come to the conclusion that there are a lot of buyers who are afraid of hurting our feelings by telling us the truth especially if they genuinely like us. They'd rather string us along than admit that we don't have what they are looking for. I've been telling my buyers right up front lately, that it's really ok to tell me their real thoughts and in fact I prefer it. It's been working.
Barb:
I don't have a real problem with taking prospective buyer out ONCE. I realize that they are hunting and may not feel the area is just right for them. Who knows they might just be talking to some friends back home and your name be advanced as an agent who now the area, and they turn out to be your next buyer.
Well said! I completely agree. I love sharing our beautiful community with visitors and I'm sure there are plenty of places that wouldn't work fo me either. I too appreciate thier respect for my time and have even gotten a few referrals from friends of folks I've shown around once, who decided not to come, but had friends who decided to check us out!
Thanks for your post. It seems as though buyers today are not always so truthful and I agree with you, thanks for your honesty. I never feel as though any time is wasted that I spend with any buyer but it sure does help to get right to the heart of things and move on. Life is moving quickly!
In 20 years of real estate I have never seen the term real-tour. That is a great description and I will do the rule of giving you credit the first three times I use it.
Joe: I cannot take credit for realtour...i heard it lots before. Feel free to pass it around.
Hi Barb ~ I too loved the term "real-tour" and will be happy to spread it around. Funny - I rarely do this type of tour and having scheduled one the other day remarked to my colleagues that I was surprised to rarely have this type of potential buyer - since I signed up for several of these tours myself before I was in real estate. While I won't make a habit of it I actually enjoyed the tour - nice customers, fun chance to see some listings I might not have otherwise, and a chance to show off the best parts of our area.
Great post and congratulations on the feature.
Liz
I have a routine for incoming potential buyers I call the "City Tour" showing them the highlights of our area. Nowadays so many people preview even the city highlights before getting to an area, they are already pretty familiar with the sights.
As for your customer, have to appreciate that type of frankness. It makes our job much easier.
I think we all agree with you Barb. Mr. and Mrs. Buyers saved you a lot of valuable time being honest with you. It is a great lesson for all of us. Be honest, we are all adults an can usually handle honest!!
Barb, they are entitled to their opinion, but you may also have to shake them out of Lah Lah land. Even downtown Honolulu has its crummy parts. I think they are unrealistic. They may be honest but they also may be searching for a long time. Maybe they need to live in the South Pacific on an island.
Barb - LIke you, I would just rather know that a particular area is not what someone is looking for, rather than pursuing it under the assumption that it's what they want. It's particularly hard for folks coming in from other areas, and unless they have spent time there the reality mya just not work. Or the pricing.
Jeff
It just wasn't their paradise.
Hi Barb,
There's a reason they're trying to escape those cold, gray winters. Don't give up on them. Sometimes you have to sell your area. Timing can be critical. Call them in the middle of January and give them a SC weather report! :)
Hmm. I wonder what happened. I don't know how I made the font larger and blue.
Honesty is always the best policy, always. Maybe they'll re think after a harsh winter. Plus you cannot judge an area by one visit. They may come back for a second showing of the city.
Barb: No kidding. Five Stars for those people. I would much rather hear the truth than have my time wasted. What a great perspective too regarding how much time we spend on call, hand written notes, etc. You have a positive and caring attitude. Very much appreciated. Thank you!
That is a good thing! I have wasted tons of time on buyers who ended up buying in the totally different part of the state, never leading on that they had no intent of coming to my neck of the woods. I am with you totally, I would rather hear the truth and cut my losses than to drag out something that will never come to fruition!
It just wasn't their paradise ... gosh that is beautiful prose, Barb!
My local market, Metro Portland, is a stone's throw to Washington state, where I am not licensed. I get a few buyers who are looking in "Vancouver" (WA -- not BC) and Portland. Some scenario . . . spend a lot of time to have them buy elsewhere?? I tell them to get back to me once they realize they want to move to Portland ;-0
I love it when a client is just up front and honest saves us or me lots of pain like you said numerous emails etc etc just be honest but the fact most are not
I always work on the assumption that I am selling my town the area and all the good things it has to offer, long before I am ever going to sell them a home. I am usually selling against other towns in Colorado . You can usually tell after a couple of hours of riding around with customers if they like the town or not.
I feel the same way you do as I want to hear the truth from buyers as then they neither I waste each others time.
Hi Barb,
"My time is a valuable asset and I appreciate your respect"...I feel the same way. My time has become one of my most precious assets. I'd rather know the truth from a comsumer right up front, and they can expect the same from me.
Barb,
The label professional applies to you. These honest buyers do remember that and if anyone they know needs a real estate agent in your area, they'll pass your name on. Guaranteed.
Hi Barb~ I would much rather someone be upfront and tell me what they think on the front end. I guess sometimes they just don't get comfortable enough in the beginning to feel like they can just tell us ....It sure makes it so much easier! I have a hard time being a mind reader!
Barb,
When you can't make money, you might as well make friends. It is great that they were straightforward and you handled it perfectly.
Honesty simply means you can move on.
Ofcourse you want to be told sooner rather than later....
Patricia
Barb, I agree 100% with you. It's all about the Golden Rule Just tell me...I can handle it!
Gosh it would be great if the buyers would show an even greater touch of class by sending your broker a gas card or restaurant gift certificate to be passed on to you as "thanks" for the time you spent preparing for them, touring them and showing homes to them. Personally don't you always bring a hostess gift or send flowers after benefitting from someone's hospitality?
Hi Barb. I agree with you. I would rather have a buyer who is honest plus who does not waste my time. It's a respect thing for me. Great post :-)
I too agree with you! Spending the one day with them just lets you say that you got to see the scenery. You sometimes need a refresher of your surroundings. You may have passed a great home that was a FSBO or one that fits another client. Kudos to those Buyers! I would have gave them a Thank You gift! Well, I guess you did! The tour!
Barb,
I'm sure that it was somewhat comforting to know also that it was the locale that wasn't right for them, not the agent... it sounds like you did such a wonderful job with them.. giving the day, showing them around the area in addition to showing them possible homes that might fit them.
Based upon your committment to them that day and the amount of time that you spent and then their honesty with you, I would be willing to bet that if they know anyone moving to your area, that they will recommend them to you.
Great job with your clients and interesting post.
Nancy: It sure would be something if we brokers got a parting gift! I must say, though...they insisted on buying me lunch. These were some very classy folks.
Barb, intersting situation. They were respectful in giving you that information up front. But, a lot of people are afraid to do so. I'm not sure if it is about not wanting to hurt feelings, as it is about their own discomfort or diappointment.
I ask those enquiring about home inspection services to call me, if they've selected another home inspector. A lot of people shop price only. As with a lot of services, that may not be the best way to choose. Of those enquiries that don't become home inspection orders, maybe 5% take the time to call me back to tell me why they choose another inspector. It has been price, and scheduling. Funny, when scheduling is the reason, I've been available for that time ... hmmmm, I wonder if it was something else.