Waste some time with us, will you?

If we had a dollar for every time a buyer client told us “I don’t want to waste your time,” we’d be spending all our days in this Sewickley salt cave. We first heard it during home buyer interviews we conducted as part of some experience design research years ago - and it keeps coming back. If you’ve ever thought you might be wasting an agent’s time, especially if you know and like that person, you’ve been influenced whether you recognize it or not by bad agents.  And you are probably internally conflicted about your home search. 

Our hunch is that buyers have unfortunately experienced one too many exasperated real estate advisors, who are showing the miles they’ve put on their cars on their faces. Maybe you’ve met one of these agents - you can feel how much they want you to buy a particular house, or how little time they have for your indecision. Guess what? That’s NOT your problem! Find someone else to “waste time” with. 

8 Things That Might Be Going On When You Say You Don't Want to Waste an Agent's Time 

1. You're not sure if you actually want to buy a house 
2. You're not sure when you want to buy a house
3. You're not sure if you can afford house, or if you want to afford it even if you could...
4. You're not sure what kind of a house you're looking for, so you want to narrow that down before committing to an agent
5. You're just looking for fun, and know how busy agents often are 
6. You know agents are usually not paid unless a house is actually sold
7. You don't want to be pressured by an agent to buy
8. You're not sure if you actually want to work with an agent at all!

8 Responses to the Reasons Why You Might Be Saying I Don't Want to Waste an Agent's Time 

1. That's totally fine. We'll figure that out. And it might change.  Much easier to figure that out if we talk about it.
2. Some people buy houses over 1 intense relocation prepper weekend, but usually this takes time.  Let's get to know one another before you're ready to flip the switch.  
3. Just because you can afford a house, doesn't mean you should buy one.  Let's look at the big picture and run some numbers.
4. The only way to figure out what kind of house you're looking for is to reflect on your current and past living situations and go see stuff. Pretty simple. Get out of your head! 
5. Do you think we would be doing this if it wasn't fun? Hell no! Come along for the ride with us. 
6. We'd be happy to explain how we're paid to you and why we don't charge a retainer.  Let's not make it awkward! 
7. An agent who pressures you to buy a house should be selling something else.  Real estate relationships work when clients are pulling, not being pushed. 
8. We get it.  We're not your average real estate agents.  Just spend a little time with us. 

Our primary job when we’re representing buyers is to make sure you avoid 3 things: overpaying, missing out on your dream house, and buying a house that reveals surprises after closing you could have avoided with better due diligence. 

We can’t do ANY of those things, however, unless we understand who you and your people are, what else is going on in your life, and how this potential home fits into it all. That’s where the sticky notes come in.  Let us figure out this puzzle with you, and whether it ends in a home buy or not, it will be time well spent for everyone.  Promise.