Yesterday, I arranged and showed a client a property she had seen over the weekend and was seriously considering. My role in moments like these is not to talk anyone into or out of a home. It is to help buyers see what they might not notice on their own or read in a disclosure package.
I am not an inspector, but I own my home, purchased as a fixer-upper and completed numerous projects over the years, and have read thousands of inspection reports while touring tens of thousands of properties. That experience shapes how I walk through a house.
No two houses in our market are the same. Disclosures are often pieces of a puzzle, and part of my job is looking for missing pieces or seeking clarification from sellers through their listing agents.
This particular home had a number of things worth examining. The advertised square footage differed from the public record. A neighborhood nuisance issue had been disclosed. Further inspections had been recommended, most of which were investigated, though some areas of the foundation remained inaccessible. Throughout the interior and exterior, there were varied wall textures and stucco inconsistencies that could indicate movement, past moisture intrusion, or workmanship that was simply not up to standard.
This is not unusual. Even multimillion-dollar homes carry issues. So much of our housing stock consists of homes that are decades, if not a century, old. It is rare to find a property without components that are due for replacement or attention. The difference is in the nature and scope of those issues.
In this case, all of the physical challenges could be addressed with money. The neighborhood nuisance was less certain. The house was small. When I reviewed the sale history, the property had been on the market four times in 25 years, with one instance of sitting for several months before selling. My read is that buyers have consistently outgrown it and, rather than invest in expanding onto a generously sized lot, have chosen to move on.
That history matters.
Late that evening, my client and I went through the disclosures together at length. I gave her a set of questions to sit with. If her life changed, a partner, a child, would this property still work for her? Did the house, the block, and the neighborhood feel worth her investment of hard-earned money and the inevitable inconvenience of the work ahead?
This morning, she came back to me with her answer. It was no.
And that is a good outcome. Knowing when to walk away from a property that does not truly serve you is just as valuable as finding the one that does. My job is to make sure my clients have what they need to make that call with clarity and confidence.
I also just learned that I have been named to the Real Trends list of the top 1.5% of Realtors in the nation, out of more than 1.5 million. That ranking is based on production, which is really just another word for client results. So what does that mean for you? It means I bring experience that is hard to replicate, and a track record that speaks for itself.
If you are looking to buy or sell, or simply want a knowledgeable resource to call when questions come up, I am here. And if you know someone who could use that kind of support, I would be grateful for the introduction.
