One of the best conversations I’ve had with buyers happened in a driveway. I’d spent weeks looking at homes with a couple who were relocating to Florida, and the house they’d just asked me to show them was missing all three things they’d told me they had to have. Before we went inside, I said, “I’m completely confused. This doesn’t match your criteria.” They looked at each other, smiled and said, “We’re confused too.”
We had a good laugh, but it was worth stopping right there. A few weeks later, they bought a home that had all three things they wanted. They’ve bought and sold several homes with me since, and that driveway conversation is still one I remember.
In this episode of Florida Explained, I share a few of the times I’ve encouraged buyers to walk away, including what I noticed in a freshly renovated house and how a flood insurance quote changed one couple’s mind about a home they loved.
Does the house still meet your three must-haves?
When I work with buyers on Florida’s Treasure Coast, I ask them to name three things their next home needs to have and tell me why each one matters. The reason is the part I want us both to remember during a showing. It’s amazing what a beautiful kitchen can do to a person’s memory, especially when there’s a pool right outside the door.
Suppose you’ve told me you need a one-story home, and now we’re standing in a kitchen you love with the primary bedroom upstairs. I’m going to ask what made the stairs a concern in the first place. You may have reconsidered, and that’s fine. But if that concern is still there, it deserves as much attention as the kitchen you’re picturing yourself cooking Thanksgiving dinner in.
What does a renovated home look like up close?
I showed buyers a renovated home with fresh paint, new light fixtures, luxury vinyl flooring and a white kitchen. They were ready to call it the one. As we walked through, I noticed that the tile didn’t line up, there were gaps in the trim and some of the doors didn’t close properly. Taken together, those details made me question how carefully the work had been done. I wanted my buyers to take a closer look before deciding what the renovation was worth to them.
That’s also how I handle a showing when you’re buying from out of state. I’ll bring the camera close enough for you to see the chipped tile, turn it toward the back window so you can see how close the next house is, and pause outside so you can hear the road. Those are details you’d notice standing beside me, and you deserve to know about them before you make an offer.
How soon could you be paying for a new roof?
At another showing, my buyers were already talking about where their furniture would go when I started asking about the roof. It looked fine from the ground, there was no sign of a leak, and the manufacturer’s warranty still had years to run. What we needed to know was how soon they might have to replace it and what homeowners insurance would cost in the meantime.
Once we looked into both questions, the buyers realized a new roof would likely be an expense much sooner than they’d budgeted for. They asked me to take homes with roofs more than ten years old off their list. Ten years was the cutoff those buyers chose because of what they felt comfortable spending. For another buyer, I’d start with the condition of the particular roof and an insurance quote for that address.
Would flood insurance change what you can afford each month?
One couple I worked with could already picture their family spending the holidays in a home we toured. When I checked the property, I learned it was in a higher-risk flood zone. We looked into flood insurance, added that cost to what they expected to spend each month and talked through the new number. They loved the house as much as they had when we walked in, but they were no longer comfortable with the payment. They decided to keep looking.
That’s why I check the flood zone and elevation even when a house is inland. The distance to the beach tells you only so much. Elevation, the home’s construction and the coverage you choose can all affect the premium, which is why I’d want a quote for the property you’re actually considering.
If you’re looking at homes in Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound or elsewhere on the Treasure Coast, tell me your three must-haves and why they made the list. Once we’re out looking, I’ll remember what you told me, even if we’re standing in the nicest kitchen we’ve seen all day. Contact Maria Wells at Lifestyle Realty Group.
Have you ever walked away from a home you thought you’d buy? I’d love to hear what changed your mind in the comments on Florida Explained on YouTube.