"When you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there" ~Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland
When I heard this quote in a talk about the power of intention, I immediately thought about my Sunday open houses and all the people who come through with an unstated intention. I have to think their intention is to buy a house, otherwise they wouldn’t be spending their free time viewing homes for sale. Understandably, people at these open houses are reluctant to state that intention. For some it’s because they are just starting to think about moving and are truly unclear about their wants and needs. Others just prefer to do their own research on the numerous websites that provide an abundance of helpful information and they are not ready to commit to a Realtor. This works well if you are just getting started but if you are going to use the Internet to find properties, make sure that you are on a site with accurate information. Many times information is old and not updated in a timely way.
When is the right time to sign up with a Realtor?
Think of a Realtor as a guide. This is your life and your journey but there are a lot of side roads that you can take if you don’t know where you are heading. The earlier you start with a Realtor the better prepared you will be all along the way. We are in a very different market now. Negotiations are fast and furious; there are many multiple offers on properties that are priced well, inventory is low and many buyers are ready to make a move. When the market is volatile like it is now having an agent working for you is a real advantage.
The key in real estate is timing. A full-time Realtor with whom you have a buyer’s agreement will be actively working to make sure you don’t miss out when the right house comes on the market. A good agent knows the market and spends much of his/her time previewing houses with you in mind. When they see the right house that matches your needs, they make you aware of it first. You won’t have to wait until Sunday to see if it’s right.
If you don’t have a buyer’s agent, find one.
Don’t run around every weekend looking at open houses in hopes that you will be able to find the house that you want on your own. Think of all the options that don’t have an open house? What about the house that is listed, but not on the multiple listing service yet because the homeowner is cleaning, painting or de-cluttering? Often agents get an early notification that a house is coming to the market by the agent who is listing it to encourage them to think of clients they may know who would like it. If you have an agent who hears about a great house that would be perfect for you wouldn’t you want to be able to see it right away?
If your intention is to buy a house, then don’t take the long and winding road to get there. State your intention as your goal and use the best path to get there, with a Realtor as your guide. Make a point of going to open houses, but not to find the right house, to find the right agent for you. Interview them, talk with them, read about them and then sign up with them and let them work full-time for you!
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