What 3 Stages Do Buyers Go Through While Preparing for a Home Search?

There are three main stages buyers go through as they prepare to purchase a home.

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search

Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation

Today, I want to pose an important question: What is your timeline?

My marketing team and I have been conducting some research recently, and we’ve found that there are three primary stages in the real estate timeline that buyers tend to follow as they prepare to make a home purchase. Let’s take a look at each of these stages.

1.  Awareness. We’ve found that people in this stage tend to be between 18 to 24 years old. This is the stage where a person may have considered the notion of buying a home but haven’t really gotten serious about doing so. People often become very comfortable with where they’re at in life. Sometimes, they become too comfortable. In order to move past the awareness stage, you must be proactive.
2.  Interest. Buyers at this stage in their home purchase timeline have become more actively engaged with their home search. They are beginning to look more frequently at online listings, and they may be consuming other media related to the real estate process as a means of preparation. At this point, buyers are typically eight to 12 months away from actually moving forward with a home purchase.
3.  Decision. This final stage in the real estate timeline is the point when buyers are calling Realtors and setting up appointments. Buyers in the decision stage are typically three to six months out from making their home purchase. It is at this stage that people become truly serious about finding a property

A home purchase is a major decision—it takes time.

With all that in mind, remember that a home purchase is a major decision—it takes time. Most of the clients my team and I work with spend several months working their way through the process.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Don't Settle for a Subpar Real Estate Experience

If you aren’t working with the right agent, you may be leaving money on the table. Allow me to share some insight on how to choose an agent who will maximize your success.

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search

Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation

Let me ask you something: Are you leaving money on the table?

Allow me to explain what I mean. For sellers, consider whether you’re truly getting the most out of your listing. On the buyers’ side of things, think about whether the price you’re paying for a home is fair.

I’ve seen a lot of homes sell for more than they should, lately. However, I’ve also seen homes sell for far less than they could have. One reason for this is Realtor mismanagement.

Now, I would like to share some information about the processes of buying and selling a home. Hopefully this insight will help to put everything into perspective for you.

The true challenge is finding an agent who will guide you every step of the way.

There are three parts to each of these processes, and I’d like to go over each of these steps within both processes for you today. Let’s start with the three steps of buying a home:

1. Find the right home.
2. Negotiate the contract.
3. Think about what comes next.

As for sellers, the three steps of listing are:

1. Find the right buyer.
2. Negotiate the contract.
3. Think about what comes next.

You probably noticed that each of these processes, on a basic level, are very similar. Another similarity between these processes is the importance of having a strong Realtor by your side. However, many people in today’s hot market wonder whether it’s worth spending the extra money on one Realtor when another might do the job for half the cost.

Helping someone find a home is easy. And, in a hot market, it’s also easy to help someone find a buyer. If you put a home on the market, list it online, and price it fairly, you’re going to get offers. The true challenge is finding an agent who will guide you every step of the way. The right agent will not only help you to buy or sell a home, they will also help you put (or keep) more money in your pocket at the end of the transaction. If you’re buying a home, you need to work with an agent who can negotiate the best price.

All of these are the considerations you must keep in mind when choosing an agent. Find an agent to work with who you know, like, and trust. Beyond that, find someone who will help you maximize your success. The right agent will keep you informed and continue to provide you with value even after your transaction is complete. Are you looking for an agent who is truly there to help, or are you looking for one who will disappear after closing? The choice is yours.

If you have any other questions, would like more information, or want to know how my team or I could help you reach your real estate goals, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

There's No Price on a High-Quality Realtor

You’ve probably heard the saying “You get what you pay for.” Today, I want to talk about how this adage applies to the world of real estate.

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search

Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation

You’ve probably heard the phrase “You get what you pay for” many, many times. Generally, this is true. People will pay more for a higher quality of service. However, many companies out there today are disrupting the real estate market.

The real estate industry has operated in the same way for a long time. But, now, things are changing. That said, it isn’t surprising that companies like Redfin or Purplebricks are offering discounted service.

I can’t say that I have first-hand experience with doing real estate through these sites, but I can say that people who pay less for a service generally will receive less in return. 

When you’re working on buying or selling a home, I would advise you to interview a few traditional Realtors. I’ve heard horror stories about websites like Redfin and Purplebricks, but it’s only fair to mention that I’ve also heard horror stories from people who have worked with inexperienced Realtors.

Sometimes you have to spend more to earn more.

There are a lot of Realtors out there. A large number of them are probably just winging it, so I highly recommend seeking out professionals that make up the top 10% or 15% of the industry.

My best advice is to do your research before making a decision on how to move forward with your real estate goals. Instead of focusing on how much you’re going to pay someone to help you sell your home, focus on what you’ll earn once the transaction is complete.

Real estate is a big industry, but a small community. Realtors in any given area will know one another, so it’s important to work with someone who has a good reputation. Sometimes you have to spend more to earn more. So, focus on the big picture.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.