How Many Showings is Too Many?
Just as there is “love at first sight” in relationships, there is also “love at first sight” in real estate. I’ve witnessed it several times: sometimes even before my clients said anything, I knew that they had found the home they wanted to buy (body English and facial expressions speak volumes!)
At the other extreme, I’ve also worked with clients who, either because of their decision-making style, or unique home preferences (location, style, etc.), took longer to find the right home. Such clients will typically want to see more homes, then go through the finalists more times, before deciding.
As in most things, a happy medium is best.
Even when a client is convinced that they’ve found “the one,” I’ll encourage (if not insist) on a second or even third showing, just to make sure that they’re not making a rash or impetuous decision.
Like relationships (again), it’s smart to distinguish between genuine love and infatuation. As a realtor, there’s nothing worse than having a client reconsider their decision after the Purchase Agreement is signed and the inspection contingency is removed.
At the other extreme, when clients are still on the fence after seeing a home several times (two-three showings is standard prior to buying), it may be because the home isn’t for them.
While lightning doesn’t always strike in every deal, lingering ambivalence is usually a sign that’s something’s missing. When that’s the case, especially in a Buyer’s market, the smart thing to do is keep looking.
