There was a meme recently on Facebook that said:   ” Realtors are like matchmakers, they introduce people to houses until they find one and fall in love.”

This is really the truth!  And it’s part of why I love what I do !

Finding a new home ( and selling an old one) is not just a business transaction.   Even though it is to some extent “business”;  your home is your refuge.   It’s where your family and friends gather for important events.   It’s where all your memories are made.   It’s not just an amount of money invested or four walls.   It’s a statement about who we are and reflects our personalities, interests and tastes.

As a realtor it’s really a joy helping buyers fall in love with their new home.   This is especially true with first time buyers.   It’s a huge milestone – purchasing that first home – and it can be scary, confusing and incredibly exciting all at the same time.   Shepherding a new buyer through the maze of searching, looking, contracting, inspections, loan contingency and ultimately closing makes me feel a little bit like a mom.   I have to play the devils advocate, be the voice of reason, calm jittery nerves and ultimately smile with pride as my clients successfully get through the process of buying a home for the first time.   These buyers are generally so appreciative because they need my expertise and counsel.   I am not their parent, yet I can act in that role a bit to help them make a wise choice in their first home.

Repeat buyers are wonderful as they don’t need quite as much attention.  It’s not their first rodeo, so they are more confident and have learned a lot from previous ownership. Usually these folks are buying larger for an expanding family – which I love because I get to play with young children while parents tour a home and this makes me so happy as my own children are not yet at the point to provide me with grandchildren!

Buyers who are up-sizing or down-sizing are often former clients and this is the ultimate compliment for me as a real estate agent.   When clients feel that I did a good job for them and refer clients to me or come back to me themselves,  it’s the best feeling!  Buying and selling can be stressful and sometimes difficult, what I ultimately want for all my clients is a smooth transaction and their happiness.   There are times when things are not always smooth so when we come out the other side successfully, it’s the greatest.

Just as important as matchmaking buyers with new homes is helping sellers make their homes LOVABLE.   Putting your home out there for sale is kind of like putting yourself onto an online dating service.   You want to put your best house possible forward and make it as appealing as you can for the buying public.   This can get tricky because our home is so reflective ourselves,  a seller’s idea of “pretty” and “appealing” might not be so much for much of the buying public.   As a listing agent I work with sellers to get their home ready to show with decor changes/ideas/staging while being mindful of their feelings and ability or desire to do these changes and keeping price in mind.   It’s not always easy and often sellers feel they know the market realities better than the professionals.  Thankfully, most sellers are willing to hear the facts and take them into account – eventually!  😉  Selling can be just as much a process as buying.  We want happy satisfied sellers too!

So let me help you or someone you know fall in love with their next home while avoiding kissing any frogs and for those ready to sell we will get you the best “online (dating) profile” we can to attract all those buyers.