Boise Real Estate Blog

Here’s Why I Preview Homes Before Showing Them!

I work with a lot of buyers, many of whom come from out of area.

Some of them have never been here before.

Most of them have spent ample time viewing “real estate eye candy” on the internet, but they lack the context that’s necessary to understand what they’ve seen.

They often focus on specific homes that look appealing online without realizing they don’t match their criteria for location, quality, commuting, shopping, schools, and other important factors.

My standard practice, when working with buyers, is to have a detailed initial conversation and learn what matters most to them.

That means asking a lot of questions and listening carefully about their needs, wants, likes, and dislikes.

This conversation also allows us to determine if we’d like to work together.

After understanding their situation, I complete a broad MLS search that usually includes only MLS area, price range, bedrooms/baths, and square footage to get a feel for what’s available.

If my buyer has specific criteria, such as single-level, 3-car garage, formal dining room, and other specific features, I include them in my MLS search.

My broker-level MLS search tools allow me to see information that isn’t displayed to the public.

That information often reveals the true character of the home and helps me to narrow the field.

Then, I personally review each listing matching that criteria and eliminate the obvious mismatches.

If my buyer wants to be in a specific area or subdivision, it’s pointless to consider listings in other areas.

After eliminating the misfits, I research each home’s location with my mapping software.

That usually results in eliminating more listings due to being located on busy streets, backing to major roads that will get widened, bordering vacant land that will get developed in the future, and other criteria.

Then, I drive by the remaining homes to assess the neighborhoods and the homes’ exteriors.

That reduces the list of possible solutions further.

Next, I preview the homes that made it through my previous screening process, viewing them through my buyer’s criteria.

After my extensive scrutiny, I show the best homes to my buyers.

With our current low listing inventory, I often end up with only a few homes to show.

The best part of my process is that my buyers see the best of the best instead of “all the rest”.

My process also saves my buyers’ valuable time and avoids the confusion of viewing homes that are of no interest to them.

Most of my colleagues think I’m nuts for going to the trouble of doing drive-bys and previewing.

They think it’s a total waste of time.

Many agents stubbornly cling to the practice of showing homes they’ve never seen while “hoping” their clients will finally say “I’ll take this one”.

Personally, I’ve never found hope to be a good business model.

And, I’ve never understood why any agent would show homes they haven’t even seen!

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Are you looking for a home in the Boise Area?

I do real estate differently!

Think of me as your own Personal Real Estate Consultant!

Give me a call @ (208)938-5533 and let’s talk about how I make the home buying experience easier for my clients!

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