Knowing What You Want is Crucial

I had a buyer that frequently visits Myrtle Beach for quick getaways from New Jersey come to town a couple of weeks ago. He went out and purchased linens and towels since he was getting ready to purchase something right away. The problem was is that he was all over the place.

First he wanted a pet friendly condo with low HOAs that he could rent out short term. I set up the appointments with exactly the best on the market that fit his criteria. But then he decided that those areas were too far away from the beach and wanted something ocean front, even though the HOA fees are much higher. I showed him a few of those and together we spoke to a property manager and discussed all that is involved with owning an ocean front condo including the short term rental programs.

Once he realized that he didn't want to pay the high HOA fees, he was back to condos away from the ocean. By the end of his trip he went back home to New Jersey with linens and towels but no condo. I sensed he was frustrated and I was too. I certainly learned my lesson to make absolutely sure the customer knows exactly what it is they want and if there is any doubt, we probably need to do some more homework.

Now, on the other hand, a buyer from Virginia came in last week and because we figured out what he wanted beforehand, it was a much more enjoyable visit for him. We narrowed it down together to 7 or 8 properties to look at on a Saturday. I showed him a couple on the low end, a couple on the high end and a few in the middle. By 2:00 p.m. that afternoon, he found the right townhouse for his needs and he got to spend the rest of his time enjoying all that Myrtle Beach has to offer and didn’t have to waste time looking at properties that he wasn’t interested in. He was happy and relieved to be finished searching so early.

The bottom line. Sign up for email alerts and begin to see what is available within your price range. Work with your REALTOR to narrow down your search criteria and then go see the homes you can afford and know that you want to own. Be honest about which features you must have and which you’d like to have. Come up with your top five must-haves and top five wants to help you focus your search and make a logical, rather than emotional, choice when home shopping.

Also, make a list of your top five community priorities, such as schools, ocean front, pool, etc. Ask your REALTOR to help you identify three to four target neighborhoods based on your priorities.

Chris Kavanagh - Sales Associate
Watermark Real Estate Group
843-655-0711 (cell)
843-353-1990 (fax)
ckavanagh@watermarkagents.com
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