During our first “get to know you” chat in June, my soon-to-be buyers thought they were very clear on what they wanted. LAND! Maybe 7 acres? Maybe 70? They were not certain what either felt like, but they knew they wanted some land. And they wanted an updated home (NO OLD HOUSE) with an “open concept” layout, a main level en-suite for when grandma visits, a pool or a place for a pool, and it had to be in a specific geographic area (which just so happened to be my stomping ground). They were very self-aware, and knew that they really didn’t have a concept of how much land, or what they would do with all of it – they just wanted land. I told them whatever they wanted was out there, maybe not right now, but it would be eventually – BUT we needed to start seeing properties so they could start to get a feel for what different size and types of land are out there. I explained that what they wanted was actually “unique” and they needed to be prepared that these properties are not “off the rack,” that it could take up to a year to find the right property for THEM – but we could do it. And they were going to have to start kissing some frogs. I expected them to talk it to decide if they wanted me to be their Buyer Agent. They looked at each other, and then at me, and said: “could we go see these 3 properties TODAY?” Ok, sure! We signed the BAA and off we went!
Their schedule was such that we hit it hard for one day every 2 or 3 weeks. We would plan out day-long tours in details. Many of these properties were complicated and needed at least 90 minutes to properly tour. We ate on the road. Young son was with us, and by the 3rd week, he was giving the property tours. Mrs. Buyer kept spreadsheets of different data points, including distance to their son’s school, distance to work, distance to church.
And we had SO MUCH FUN! They were so open to anything and everything – sometimes it would surprise me what they wanted to see, but it was always fun. Elegant, custom-built early 70s homes; cute (tiny) cabin-in-the-woods with a retro redo in mid-Century modern; rambler that defined “ramble,” spread out in all directions, tired McMansions, cookie-cutter “industrial farmhouses,” nutty crunchy eco-friendly, cut-off-from civilization contemporaries with a “bet they were cool hippies” vibe, plus plenty of horse farms, cattle farms and crop farms. With tenant houses and without tenant houses. Price range was fluid. We’d have our eye on a “coming soon,” and were devastated when it went under contract same day active. Our days were long. Often, we were just enjoying exploring every property in depth, and I would have to say, “We gotta go! We have only 5 minutes left here and a 20 minute drive to the next property!” But still sometimes we would linger, taking in the vibe of the property. And sometimes they would apologize, and I would respond, “Stop! Don’t apologize! This is MY JOB – and I LOVE my job! I LOVE exploring all these properties. I am having the time of my life! I LOVE THIS!”
Several months later, we settled on a gorgeous, enchanting 25 acres in Keymar. The property itself is fairly simple. They don’t have to worry about having someone crop it, nor do they need to cope with cow or horse facilities they don’t really want or need. No tenants to worry about. About 7 parklike acres, and another 17+ in forest conservation. GORGEOUS PROPERTY, exactly the way they wanted it – every outbuilding already converted in a way that suits them. And GORGEOUS house! Did they get everything they wanted? Remember that “open concept” and no old houses?
My Buyers are now the proud owners of a 1769 Georgian Colonial listed on the register of National Historic Places. No open concept. But you know what? This home is just the right size for their family of 3. Like many historic brick homes, it looks more imposing (and larger) than it actually is. So many of the current era homes we visited, my Buyers wondered what they would do with all the rooms, all the extra space. And while not “open concept,” my Buyers could visually themselves in the spacious rooms of the 1769 home, and they could visualize how they would use each of the rooms. And what about grandma? There is a fabulous apartment in a converted building just steps from the main house.
Yes: My buyers got everything they needed, everything they wanted – and nothing that they didn’t.
And while closing day is always a glorious day, this closing day is also slightly bittersweet – because we were having so much fun – and because they were so game for anything and everything, so open minded. It was a sincere pleasure to represent them.