Often first-time buyers suffer from this tunnel vision that focuses almost exclusively on the home. If you run into this “biggest house with the best features on the biggest lot I can buy” mentality, you have an excellent opportunity to start a neighborhood conversation which can, in the long run, make your client happier with the home they eventually own.
Here are four excellent questions to ask your client in order to get a “neighborhood conversation” going:
1. Tell me, if you had to choose between a smaller home and a longer commute, which would you choose?
2. How important is it to you to be able to walk to grocery stores, restaurants, and other local businesses?
3. Are you concerned about having access to sidewalks and parks?
4. What about your current neighborhood bothers you? What do you like about it?
While buying the neighborhood may seem obvious to you, many clients haven’t taken a step back to consider the big picture of home ownership.
Here’s a great article from HGTV you can also share with them to get neighborhood conversations going:
http://www.frontdoor.com/Buy/How-To-Choose-A-Neighborhood/1162
