Deciding Which Way to Err, or,
“A Picture Showing is Worth 1,000 Words”
In medicine, a “false-positive” refers to a test result that is incorrect because the test indicated a condition or finding that does not exist.
Unsurprisingly, the opposite of a “false-positive” is a “false-negative” — a test result that is incorrect because the test failed to recognize an existing condition or finding.
House-Hunting Trade-Off’s
Thankfully, residential real estate doesn’t have anything so dire.
But, there is something at least a little bit analogous for Buyers’ agents sifting through “For Sale” homes for their clients.
Namely, agents have to balance the risk that they suggest or show clients a home that isn’t a fit for them, vs. the risk that they omit something that actually might be.
“A Picture Showing is Worth 1,000 Words”
Making the right call is necessarily client-specific, and depends on how broad or narrow the client’s criteria are; how well the Realtor knows the client; and how well the client knows the market.
But, when in doubt, good agents err on the side of letting clients make that call, vs. making it for them.
P.S.: A good compromise can be for the agent to preview a possible candidate, then report back to the client.
As a practical matter, especially if a “For Sale” home is close by, I tell clients I’d rather jump in the car and spend 20 minutes getting them through, then spend 15 minutes painting a verbal — or email — picture.
