It was easy to tell the ones who’d gotten good advice from their agents. They were cleaned (in look and smell), staged well (no nick-knacks, family pictures everywhere) and prepared for showings versus those who are going for the hope-it-sells approach. You can tell way before you get into the house who falls in which category.
Real estate is always being judged
All of us make snap judgments. When you meet someone for the first time, what they wear, what they drive, where they work, went to school, their accent and mannerisms…it all provides a mental picture that, right or wrong, creates a story that we back-fill with other details we make up in our heads that may or may not be accurate about who they are.
When I see a well-staged, well-priced house, I think: the agent has a clue and is working to earn their commission by providing compelling advice; the sellers want to sell and understand that this is a price-war and beauty contest and are prepared for both; that agent and seller will probably be professional and timely if I bring a buyer, and that the negotiations will be in everyone’s best interest. I might be completely wrong, but that’s the snap-judgment part. Making assumptions based on a few clues.
Most of the time I am right…clues are everywhere when you’re looking. When I am wrong or get a surprise from left field, it’s disappointing, for sure, and I have had my share of completely false assumptions. But I know that the advice and information I give my buyers and sellers has an affect on the way they negotiate and prepare, handle disappointments and surprises, and enter into deals (or not).
So judge away. Everyone does it, and no one can help it. When it comes to real estate, it’s a WYSIWIG world…what you see is (usually), what you get. That’s what the inspection is for.
