Two Kinds of Buyers (and Why Only One of Them Ends Up With a House)

Most people don’t lose out on a house because of money. They lose out because they’re looking for something that doesn’t exist.

After more than ten years of helping people buy homes around Ames and Story County, I’ve noticed there are really two kinds of buyers.

The first kind knows exactly what they need. Number of bedrooms. A garage. A price range they’re comfortable with. Maybe a shorter drive to work or room for a shop out back. We sit down, get clear on those non-negotiables, and go find it. When the right house shows up, they recognize it and they buy it.

The second kind is chasing perfect. The kitchen from one house, the yard from another, the location from a third, all at a price that doesn’t match any of them. I get it. Buying a home is a big decision and nobody wants to settle. But I have to be honest with you: perfect isn’t a real listing category. Every home is a set of trade-offs, and the buyers who do well are the ones who decide ahead of time which trade-offs they can live with.

Here’s a simple exercise I walk clients through. Write down three lists: must-haves, nice-to-haves, and deal-breakers. Keep the must-have list short. If it’s longer than five or six items, some of those are probably nice-to-haves in disguise. That one sheet of paper makes every showing faster and every decision clearer.

My job isn’t to talk anybody into a house. It’s to give you enough information that when the right one shows up, you actually know it. Pricing, condition, what similar homes have sold for, what the inspection is likely to turn up. That way you’re deciding on facts, not nerves.

And sometimes, yes, I’m the guy telling you, “Nope. Not this one. Keep looking.” That’s still doing my job.

So which buyer are you? If you’re not sure, let’s figure it out together. Reach out to me directly and we’ll put your list on paper before you ever walk into a showing.

Thinking about buying, selling, or building in the Ames area? Call or text me at (515) 290-7950, or email sievers@c21sre.com. Seen one of my videos? Comment MATT on it and I’ll get back to you.

Matt Sievers, REALTOR®, Sievers Real Estate Team with CENTURY 21 Signature Real Estate