Hilton Head Island Has Nosy Realtors!

Realtors as a group tend to be very open and friendly people.  This is particularly true in the South and very, very true here in the Low Country!  We love the Hilton Head Island/Bluffton area and want everyone to know it!

Often, people who are not used to being "chatted up" by a relative stranger (like your Realtor when you first meet them!) are a little taken aback by the many questions they are asked.

Realtors often walk a fine line when they first meet potential buyers.  If they ask too many questions, they can be perceived as "nosy" or "pushy".  Neither of these are traits most people look for in their Realtor, the person they will be spending quite a bit a time with!  If they don't ask enough questions or ask the wrong ones, they can end up wasting everyones time and causing frustration.

However, certain questions must be asked.  One of the first questions, after the pleasantries of who are you and where are you from should NOT be "How much can you spend?" or "What do you want to see?" Rather one of  the most important questions, in my opinion, at this point "Do you have a time frame for this purchase?"  There are others, but knowing the "when" is extremely helpful.

There is a big difference in a  potential buyer who is just curious about the market and a buyer that is ready to buy.  This DOES NOT mean that a Realtor does not want to work with the person who is just curious!  It means that they will need to begin their education a little differently. 

Generally, someone who is ready to purchase has done their homework.  They have visited the Hilton Head Island (or other area they are interested in) many times and have a general idea of what area they want to look at and probably have already spoken to a lender about their financial ability (That is another question!) to make the purchase.

Someone who is just beginning the process or is just curious about local real estate, needs much more education.  They may have only visited Hilton Head (or other area!) once or twice and they are curious as to what prices are and maybe even what this area has to offer.  In other words, "When we decide to buy, why should we buy in Hilton Head? Often, these customers have not spoken to a lender and have no idea what or even if, they can purchase.  They also need to know that the homes that they see now will not be the same homes that will be available in the future.  In other words, they will see examples of what this market has to offer.

What this customer needs to know is very different than what the one who has made the decision to buy needs to know.  They need broad, general information about our market.

Another question a Realtor may ask you, as I said above, is "Have you spoken to a lender"?  This is not to corner you, make you feel uncomfortable, or give you the idea that unless you are ready to buy today, or spend a certain amount, that the Realtor is not interested in working with you.

Quite the opposite!  Lenders have changed their parameters quite a bit recently and even veteran buyers may not be as qualified as they think!  From personal experience, I can tell you I have had people ready to buy and found the perfect property, only to find they need to put 20% or more down rather than the 10% they thought they had to put down.  Quite a shock when you are basically being asked to come up with twice the money you thought you needed!  Sometimes a buyer can do this but often they can't or do not want to part with that much cash.  It is far better to know up front what the financial situation is rather than have the heart break of locating the perfect home and then find it is out of reach. 

When this happens, a potential buyer is often disheartened to the point where they just give up on the whole idea of buying a home, whether it is a first home, second home or investment property.  It has become a bad experience for them.  Buying a home should be one of the best experiences of your life!  To make this experience everything it should be, answer the questions your Realtor asks as honestly as you can and understand there are reasons the questions are being asked other than idle curiosity! 

If you are not ready to buy, be up front about that, too!  Again, from personal experience, people contemplating buying a second home or investment property are often not ready to buy for a few years.  This is common and should be clear from the beginning.  However, if your Realtor expresses disappointment or seems to lose interest in you after you tell them you are not ready to buy yet, it is time to find another Realtor!  You should be comfortable working with your Realtor and view this person as a trusted resource. Your Realtor should send you periodic updates on market conditions here so you will be well educated when the time comes to buy.

Another questions your Realtor may ask you is, "How do you plan to use this property?".  Again, not trying to pry or be too personal!  Purchasing a home for a primary residence is one thing, but properties that are going to be used as second homes strictly for the use of the buyer and  a second home that may be put on the rental market may not be the same property!  Here on Hilton Head, to be a good short-term (vacation) rental property a home must meet certain criteria.  If the Realtor fails to ask this question or the buyer is not open with the answer, then there is a good chance the buyer will be looking at properties that will not be all that they want it to be.  A Realtor here on Hilton Head must know where these properties are and where they are not.  Some areas strictly forbid short term rentals.  Again, your Realtor should be asking you these questions so you will have the property you really want.

Any other questions your Realtor may ask, just know they are trying to get an idea of what you really want and are working hard to make sure they show you everything that may fit your idea of the perfect property.  Try to answer them with this in mind and understand that your Realtor may not be the "nosy" person yo think!

With the right information, your Realtor can find you the home you are looking for and make the whole buying experience as smooth as possible. 

To check out the real estate market here in the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton area, please visit my website at www.KatGardner.com.  You may also contact me at Kat@KatGardner.com or 843-422-3381.