Blog Stories Good decisions made right here!

Good decisions made right here!

By Living Room Realty, September 11, 2019

Todd and Shefaali were referred to me by one of my all-time favorite client’s whom I now consider a dear friend, and after interviewing a few brokers decided I was a good fit to help them find their new digs. They both work from home, and in addition to two home offices needed a separate space where family could enjoy an extended stay. They also were not keen on using the basement as a work or guest space, so that meant finding a home with 4 above-grade bedrooms close-in for under $550K. They also love the charm of an older home as opposed to a new build, and with a budget of $550K our options were somewhat limited. Okay deal – challenge accepted!

After several outings, a 1891 charmer off of Fremont caught their eye, and upon walking through I could tell that this one really spoke to them. What they weren’t seeing though is how many items stood out to the trained eye that were going to need attention either now or soon. the Sellers had owned the home for 20+ years and it was clear that while they cared for the home, didn’t do too much outside of necessary repairs and maintenance. This old house was a great fit for someone with deep pockets and tons of time to care for it – something these buyers were clear from the beginning that was not their jam. I began to subtly point things that stood out, and it was sort of falling on deaf ears. It’s like when your mom tells you not to like that cute boy, as your daydreaming about your first date. We left the house with them wanting to write an offer, and I suggested this would be a good one to sleep on and in the meantime I would reach out to the listing agent about activity. My conversation with that agent left me feeling a bit like these sellers would be rigid negotiators, furthering my suspicion that if these buyers were to move forward, we would likely end up back at square one with a lot of inspection money and time lost. After passing this along, we thought it would be a good idea to go back for a second look and made a plan to do so. I showed up, and there next to Todd and Shefaali was Todd’s mom who wanted to see the home for herself. Thank goodness, someone who knows them better than I to help them make an informed decision. Hilariously and thankfully, she did not hold back in her disdain for the house, and it was actually quite comical to be a bystander during their light-hearted yet pointed debates about why to or why not to buy this house. I think we saw the home 3 times total before they decided to move on…

…moving on. We visited several homes from there, and one that we toured in the very beginning of our search had a price drop so we saw it again. After getting more exposure to what the market and each neighborhood offered, Todd and Shefaali finally felt comfortable saying “yes” to a sweet 1920’s bungalow steps from Wilshire Park and Alberta Arts district to enjoy strolls with Milo, their pup.  This home has the perfect mix of charm and modern amenities, 3 bedrooms including a true master suite, and a nice yard perfect for an office shed for Todd, a creative solution we concocted that he seemed really excited about. After inspections, there was quite a bit of follow-up due diligence and some negotiations. The process of this confirmed for us all that they made the right decision by passing on that other home. What’s more, BOTH sets of parents approve! Handing over keys, and joining them for some bubbly on the back deck was a moment I am so thankful for in celebrating them in their new home. Congratulations Todd and Shefaali – I am so happy to have been part of this process!

I would love to be part of your next move…

Erin Primrose, Principal Broker Licensed in Oregon with Living Room Realty
503-317-8111  |  www.ErinPrimrose.com  |  Erin@ErinPrimrose.com
7650 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219

Living Room Realty

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