How will I know when I've found "the one"?
Home shoppers ask us this all the time. The short answer, albeit incredibly unhelpful-sounding answer is: You just will.
I'm not blowing smoke. This is a real thing, and we see it all the time. Buyers walk int a house and they...just...know.
Something clicks - maybe it's a tree-lined street, the kitchen window that overlooks their dream garden, the convenient access to their favorite hot spots, or the light that floods the living room in the morning hours - they feel it. This is it, the homebase where they will live out their next chapter.
After we've spent enough time with our buyers, we start to feel it, too. We pick up on the little tells, often from observation more than what they verbalize. We begin to get a sense of what "home" looks like for them - and when we find it, we just know.
This sweet family of three came to us through a referral from past clients (our favorite kind of introduction - more on that later). We looked at several homes over several weeks. Eventually, we found one they loved. This home backed up to an amazing park and from that alone, they were hooked. We liked the lot, too. But...we didn't love the house.
There was a LOT of work - more than they'd anticipated. Still, the location tugged at their heartstrings, and they decided to give it a go. We made an offer, negotiated terms, and went under contract.
When we got to inspection, there were a lot of "WTF" glances exchanged. The report confirmed our concerns (and then some): years of deferred maintenance, DIY "upgrades" completed without permits, hidden leaks (SO MANY hidden leaks) - you name it.
The home still had potential but based on what we knew about the seller and the scope of work needed, it was clear there'd be no sufficient concessions or repairs coming their way.
Soooo...our buyers did what smart, thoughtful buyers do: they slept on it. Then they listened to their gut, and they decided to walk away. We fully supported that decision.
Here's where it gets good. We almost immediately found them another home. This home had been VERY well cared for, was in an arguably better location, and had a much better layout. It doesn't back to a park, but it does have a big, beautiful yard and it is close to schools. This home gives them the freedom to invest in updates they WANT to do - rather than repairs they HAVE to do.
They closed yesterday and we could not be more excited for them to move in and make this place their own!
Watching them turn the page into their next chapter is the best part of what we do. We are so honored they trusted us, and grateful to the past clients who connected us in the first place. Our business is built on referrals, and that is much more than a little "stat" we throw around. It truly means the world to us. It's not that we don't love meeting new people in other ways (we absolutely do), but because being entrusted with someone's friends or family is something we never take lightly.
Congratulations, Armstrong Family! We can't wait to watch your family grow into your new space, and to see how the home evolves as you make it your own.
Also, a huge thanks to the sellers and their agents (Adam Wiley and Jon Alcon). You were collaborative, communicative, and a pleasure to work with.
