Looking for some suggestions from other agents/brokers (Realtor, sellers, houses)

[sugarmaple]

Hi, I am working with a couple who are very interested in a specific area - we have been working together for quite some time and have yet to find "the perfect place" for them ---

Aside from the typical contacting homeowners from the town's grand list -- interested in selling your home type letter, does anyone have any thoughts about other mechanisms to help find a property -- have also looked at 2-family properties that can be converted back to one-family -- other than knocking on doors and telling people that I have buyers who are interested in their home.....

anything other brokers/agents have done in the past to find a property?

[WendyK]

I have used ads in the Real Estate Wanted sections of the local paper and craigslist with specific descriptions of what you're looking for. Something like: "I am a licensed Realtor working with buyers who are looking for a home in XXX that has at least 3 BD/2BA, whatever....They want to stay in the price range of $300-400,000. We have looked at everything that is listed - if you have been thinking of selling your home, please contact me, etc."

This is a great way to find potential sellers even if the property doesn't work out for your particular buyers.

[austin-steve]

... does anyone have any thoughts about other mechanisms to help find a property --

I'm sure you'll get some good suggestions, but I have a different take. I think it's easier to find new buyers than it is to find a "perfect" home for uber-picky buyers.

It's a total judgment call and each agent will have their own breakoff points and criteria based on experience and available time. And I have in fact worked with buyers off and on for more than a year and finally found what they wanted. But each time I've done that, the buyers had a specific and clearly articulated set of wants and needs that I knew we'd eventually find.

Contrast that with the slippery-picky buyers who simply find something wrong with every house no matter what. And they can't describe what they actually want, only what they don't want.

The test I use to ferret this out is, while standing in yet another house they don't like, I'll ask "if you could wave a magic wand and change anything and everything about this house to make it perfect, what would you change?" If they're stumped and can't answer, we're done. I dump them and move on and simply explain that I can't help them find what they can't describe. If they say, "I'd make the kitchen bigger and add an island, and move the master downstairs and add a home office off the main entry ...", then I know that I just need to do a better job of helping them get clarity on their "must haves" versus their less important "nice to haves".

Good luck.
Steve

[sugarmaple]

Hi and thanks! Steve, I totally understand and 'get' what you are saying...especially re: the loooong search and I actually have used a similar line...magic wand...list of loves/hates and what if's -- we have finally come to an accord as to the location/town and we are in a specific price range and...it is really now about finding the right house, not to be confused with the 'perfect house' -- although there are many houses on the market right now, including that specific area, there are insufficient ones re: town water/town sewer [more well/septic] and either a rougher area or too expensive, even with today's market -- has anyone ever written to probate court[s] and/or probate attorneys ...seems sort of maudlin to me yet perhaps that is another venue to consider - properties that families do want sold but have not been listed yet....??

I also like the idea of posting on Craigslist and similar sites?

Out of curiosity only and perhaps our moderator can advise...I know we cannot advertise/market properties on City-Data; however, can we inquire if anyone knows anyone who knows....?? and if we are permitted to do so, perhaps we all can get involved in a real estate search thread - not a selling one. Thoughts?