You Only Get One Chance

Judgments based on a first impression are not always correct but what else do people have to go on? We are constantly evaluating the people and places we come in contact with and form our perceptions based on what we can see. Most real estate agents are aware that the currently overstocked market means that you have to present a client's home in the best possible manner to have any hopes of competing. Many Douglasville builders have felt the pinch from the recent slowdown and have delayed new starts until their current standing inventory sells. Developments that were just getting started when the slowdown occurred had no choice but to press on.

Several new construction developments have opened in the greater Douglasville real estate market this year. I make a point to visit each Grand Opening (everybody loves a free lunch!) and spend a lot of time evaluating the development, lots, grading, home construction materials and workmanship, prices, etc. I attended one such opening this summer, a new subdivison priced around the $300,000 range. Upon entering the subdivision I noticed the lack of landscaping and roads caked with Georgia red clay, not uncommon in new construction but certainly not appealing. Lunch was great and networking with the other agents is always fun and helpful, the best reason to get out to agent events in my opinion.

Everyone pretended to ignore the glaring fact that the model home was nowhere near ready to show. Filthy windows, mis-matched kitchen handles,and drywall dust are one thing, but this home also had major issues such as hardwood flooring that was not installed close enough to the wall resulting in large gaps, uneven tile spacing, and non-code back decks which are simply unforgiveable in today's competitive market. People looking to buy a home in Douglasville and the surrounding area expect a certain level of craftsmanship when purchasing a home in this price range. Seeing what seems to be small things like this makes buyers wonder what else was done improperly that they cannot see. Buyers today expect a home to be in 'move-in ready' condition and expect the most for their money, many do not have any imagination and cannot see past the dirt or imperfections in a home. Why should they with so many to choose from right now? Buyers have to be able to imagine themselves living in that home, hard to do in this case.

As an agent I would have advised this builder that these issues needed to be addressed and the home cleaned and staged properly before ever allowing an agent or buyer to see them. Back at the office later that day the rest of the agents all discussed how the homes were overpriced and not ready to show to the public. I revisited the subdivision two weeks later and found no changes even though I was honest on my feedback card. This development is on the higher end of the West Ga market and offers no amenities either, I think that they are going to have a tough time at this rate. Georgia Builders can be stubborn at times but an agent needs to make their clients understand that they have only one chance to make that first impression on a buyer and factors like curb appeal and craftsmanship can go a very long way to helping bring the price that they find favorable.

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