The Perfect Real Estate Relationship

by Mike Farmer

Real Estate Broker

Author website

At least for me and how I envision my future. A lady from Arlington, Va called me last week. She didn’t say “Can I go look at some houses next week when I’m in Savannah?” — No, she had read my business blog and understood I recommend we do first things first. She asked to meet me in the lobby of the hotel where she’s staying so we can discuss a game plan.

She has a home to sell (attention all Arlington Va agents!), and when she sells it, she wants to move to Savannah. We sat in the lobby and over coffee and bagels discussed her vision of what she wants. She described what she’s dreaming of and I described areas in vivid detail and we went back and forth until we narrowed it down to a couple of areas.

It turns out our esthetic tastes are quite similar, so it made the conversation flow easily. She asked what the negatives are moving to Savannah and I told her without violating any laws. She decribed her life to me, how she had worked in several different fields, how she’d been a nurturing mother (still is, I’m sure) and a wife, and how now it’s just her — retired but still wanting to be active, how part of her dream is to become active in the historic preservation efforts in Savannah, that she would like a little cottage, airy and light, preferably near water, but close to town — she described how she loves diversity, doesn’t want to sound like a northerner, but doesn’t want to live in a place with a single, limited mindset — how she likes cosmopolitan eclectism. I understood her.

This is the personalization and context that I’m not sure machines will ever understand, it’s the human contact of real estate that I love, and it’s the service I want to provide — to take this lady’s story and to be an active part of it as it goes into another chapter, to help her accomplish a goal to personalize her lifestyle plans in a home she can feel a part of, that reflects her personality and sense of life.

First thing first. She has to sell her home and I’ll search for a good, connected agent to help her. I gave her ideas of what to look for in a listing agent. I’ll send her listings and area information on the ones we discussed that should meet her needs and wants. Once she’s sold her home and we’ve focused in on the neighborbood, we’ll zero in on a home, and all along I’ll make recommendations of inspectors, lenders, attorneys — the network.

I want to make the process enjoyable and hassle-free, I want her to relax and experience the process knowing that someone is working behind the scenes to make it all happen. Who knows what will happen 5 to 10 years from now, whether agents will be unnecessary, but for right now, there is value to add, stories to be a part of.