Bryan Robertson, Los Altos Realtor, makes a great point about Sellers who bring their entourage with them when they're looking for a house. Of course you want some moral support and advice from others who have purchased homes, but remember that for the most part, the information they give you is their opinion.
Since my husband was a home builder, he was often called upon when our family or friends were house hunting. He kept his input though, to construction related issues.
Bryan's recommendations are excellent... get a home inspection; gather the comparable information from your Realtor, and invest in a designer, architect or Home Stager.
Yes, Home Stagers can consult with Buyers as well as Sellers. If you have a Buyer who is on the fence about how her furniture will fit in the house or what updates they can make, call in your Home Stager!
A home buyer walks into a house, spends an hour wandering around fawning over how nice it is and how it's absolutely perfect. They've been looking for a while and decide, we'd like to make an offer! Good news! But, before they write the offer they'd like to have a couple of friends and family show up to get their opinion. You come back to the house and meet your clients, along with 15 friends and family who, the helpful sort they are, point out all the things THEY DON'T LIKE. When they're done, the buyers decide not to buy.
WHY?!?!
I work in a market where some buyers absolutely WILL NOT make a final home buying decision without bringing along their Entourage of Deal Killers. I refer to them as that because, ultimately, they'll actually do more harm than good. Here are some reasons for why the Entourage of Deal Killers (aka friends and family) should NEVER be allowed to help you make a buying decision:
- They'll never live there
- They aren't paying the mortgage
- They don't reflect the buyers taste, just theirs
- They'll never live there
I repeated that last point because unless they're living in the house and paying the mortage, their opinions are based on subjective criteria. Unless they are qualified to certify construction quality or some other aspect, their opinions about floor plans, layout, colors, and other details are not important. What is important is WHAT THE BUYER THINKS!
For agents, there is little we can do to dissuade using the committee. If our clients want to get other opinions, they're welcome to do so. What we can do is try to explain that any objection offered by friends and family is just their opinion. Ultimately it's the buyer who has to like the home and be willing to buy it. Some things I tell my clients who bring their Entourage of Deal Killers include:
- Get a home inspection so you have an objective opinion
- Have an interior designer or architect look at any shortcomings
- Review the top 3-4 things they really liked about the house when they first saw it
Going back to the things they like and weighing them against the issues brought up by the Entourage of Deal Killers can help buyers think logically rather than on the emotions of others. I recommend taking this approach with my clients so they can make the best possible decision without being swayed by the subjective opinions of their friends and family. Good homes in good areas of Silicon Valley and Los Altos in particular are rare. Let me help you make the best home buying decision you can.
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Bryan Robertson, Broker Associate | T: 650.799.9951 | Email: bryan@serenogroup.com | Website: http://www.BryanRobertsonHomes.com |CA License: 01191946 | Sereno Group - Los Altos branch | 369 S. San Antonio Road | Los Altos, CA 94022
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