Hi Cindy,

Time for a gut check: rather than asking us, (who have limited information and haven't spoken to this client)...what does your gut tell you?

I have never regretted following my instincts.

You know whether you need to invest more time/energy/effort or not...

Follow your instincts on this one!

Best,

Holleay

Cindy - Sounds like a typical buyer who may want a nicer home than they can afford. I would make sure she is pre-qualified, and then like others have suggested, ask her what the backup plan is if she does not find a home in 6 weeks. Those two things will tell you a lot about where she is coming from, as how serious she is.

I would continue to send her listings because that doesn't hurt anything, and should be automatic.

I'd send her listings but put limited effort into meeting her deadline. She sounds "lukewarm" to me.

Cindy: You have to love these SoCal 'Buyer Time Wasters'. We have so many buyer liars in our system, I have even started to block them as it is clearly apparent that they love our website, but are most likely either scammers, dreamikng, or have another agent they are working with.

Cindy -- sounds as if she doesn't understand the process.  It's time for a face-to-face reality of the market meeting.   If you don't find a home in this time period, what will you do?   I'd listen and wait for her answer.  Depending on the response, decide what to do next.  Some people "want" but simply don't understand how to achieve it.  

When I was new in sales ( a hundred years ago) I met an mentor that taught me how to answer this question.  On my other blog, I have an article titled "When In Doubt Blow em Out."  This article tells how I learned to "feel" if someone is going to buy.  It is a long article.  I am going to give you the short version.  You are already out of control.  You are shopping her way not your way.  You already 'feel'  that she is not going to turn into a commission.  If that were not so, this question would not be posted here on AR.  My advice on this deal, blow her out.  Good bye Adios let me refer you to my colleague that specializes in customers that like to do it their way.  BUT How can you know if that is the right decision?  The way you find out if that is the right decision is you follow up with the buyer.  The definition of a hot prospect is someone that wants your product, can afford it and will likely buy it from you or your competitor within a reasonable anount of time.  If you abandon this prospect, then follow up with a phone call six weeks later and just ask."Have you bought a house?'   No .  What does that tell you?  It tells that they were never a prospect.  You made the right decision six weeks ago when you blew em out.  If the answer is yes we bought a house, what does that tell you?  They were a good prospect and you made the wrong decision.  By the time you have blown out three hundred prospects and followed up , you will be able to "feel" it.   If a rookie asked me ,"Should I go spend time working with these buyers?  I feel like they are not serious."  I would tell that rookie,"When In Doubt, Blow em Out."

I'm dealing with the very same thing in Massachusetts.  She has a 2-month deadline, and all the good inventory is under agreement within a week.  Says she "knows what she wants, and she'll know it when she sees the right picture."  I'll certainly return her calls and send over a listing that looks interesting, but she's not quite at the top of my priority list.

Ask her if she's working with other agents, and ask what type of loan was she preapproved for. Also, ask for name of lender and loan officer. If it's like pulling teeth to get answers out of her, I would quit wasting your time with her.

Explain that she has a limited bank of options to choose from and in a very short time to do it. Tell her to get in the car and at least look or bye bye, next!

Not sure you have enough concrete information, yet if you do, and she's under contract, keep sending her properties to review.

You'll want to discover what criteria she's using to disqualify the homes you're sending, so you can stop sending homes she's not interested in buying. I use Listing Book for all my clients so it's not any waste of my time, it's automatic.

Low priority buyer.

She says she's pre-qualified? 

Yes, because a buyer on a deadline is good.  They will soon become realistic to the market.  Just remind her when you have to have a contract in order to close before school starts.  The last few days before that deadline she will get very motivated.

Sounds to me like she is really not all that motivated. It's nice you don't have to show her all these homes but givven the inventory one wonders if what she wants and can afford really exists? And what IS the plan if, in 6 weeks, no house? Given she needs 30 days to close timing is pretty tight What do you REALLY feel is the right thing to do? Good luck

I also would ask if she is working with multiple agents. Many buyers call the listing agent or hop from one to the other - whomever they can get on the phone when they want to talk. Send emails or followup every couple of weeks. She may have cold feet and could show up at your doorstep a few months from now.

Just keep sending her homes.  She will wake up.  Send her a link to your IDX and ask her to pick out some homes she would like to see.

I would just continue sending her the listings.  If she does see something she likes, she may suprise you and buy it.  If you are not having to show everything in person then just do what you can.  

I have this situation right now going on, low inventory, school district, and one small area.  We always have to weigh all of the above questions that others have mentioned.  Going with your gut, always does seem to be the best solution. Keep us posted Cindy Davis when and if she decides to make a move.  Good Luck!

It would depend on how much you have qualified this buyer. There are so many questions to ask not posted here.Besides the urgency...which is a big buy sign... Has she owned before? Has she seen homes or neighborhoods in the are that interest her? Total move in condition with premium price or maybe a little work, carpet, paint, landscaping? I'd want as much info as possible, maybe shake the bushes of homes not on the market.

I'm not sure what is taking your time.  Do you have auto email?  Set the defaults to meet her criteria and  show her homes when she wants to see them.  Some buyers want to look at everything on the market and some only a few, but I don't see where there is an issue.  It sounds as though you already had "the talk" about her options if her lease runs out and she is able to stay, so..........

Not sure she is as motivated as most "active" buyers. Like otters have said I suggest minimal effort until she kicks it up!

She says she is pre-qualaified. Ask for the letter from the financial institution she's getting the mortgaage through. I would also send her a Buyer Rep agreement to sign. Here in Texas whether we first are contacted by email or face to face we are obligated to have the client acknowledge and be informed of Buyer's Brokerage Services. If she wants nothing to do with either, I would move on. You can set up an auto search and she can let you know what she wants to look at. BUT I would get the pre-qual and rep agreement in place first. One more thing though she is letting you know what she doesn't want to look at, therefore you're not running around looking at everything. May be worth your time since she doesn't want to waste time.

Explain about and have a buyers agreement for 6 months signed, get a copy of the preapproval letter then send listings by email. It seems she is in no hurry and has limited interest. Without the above docs limit the time even more..

She should be aware of the limited inventory that is available and I'm  sure you have explained that...but if she is in such  a "time crunch" because of the school deadline I would think  she 'd be a little more receptive to seeing the properties you've sent her.  She probably knew  she would have to find a home and unless she has a "genie" in a bottle",  NOT TO MANY DEALS BEGIN AND END IN 6 WEEKS!!!!!  I'd give my next buyer a call!!!!

I would want to see a pre-approval letter from her lender, so you can tell how much she can afford.  I have a buyer in Escrow now,  and I showed him 2 homes and then asked my lender to call him.  I then sent him "the life of an Escrow" which explains the process..  About a year ago, I let a "maybe" buyer go because I didn't want to waste my time.  I did  have them on a drip campaign.

I would continue to email this buyer, it doesn't cost anything.

Good luck.

I would continue to send her listing to her email, and tell her to drive by the ones that look attractive to her. When she sees on that looks good on paper, get her in the car to view it with your eyes to see if it would meet her needs.

Cindy - take clues from her feedback and evaluate her objections. Sounds like she's not seeing the "right" situation and doesn't want to settle [yet]. Six weeks is not a long timeframe and you truly might be able to help this woman.

My investment of time and energy with a client like that would be indirect proporation to their motivation.

You cannot judge a book by its cover - simply put. She does not have the experience to even come close to doing that like a realtor might.  I can discount certain floorplans because I know all the models in my area, a buyer rarely can do this.

I've had people do this & say stuff without having significant first hand knowledge of the house itself. I've also had an older couple discount a subdivision because 'SOME DAY' we might have to make a left hand turn & there is always too much traffic. Really?

Ask her why she is making excuses for not seeing them in person?

It's common to want to find a home in a certain time span and school choice is often a reason as well as being within the school district of choice. There must be some other reason that you are not comfortable with this buyer. If she's looking outside of the parameters for a home in a certain area it's up to you to let her know. Without more information we are all guessing the core of the issue. Good luck and hope you find the prefect home for your buyer.

 Cindy Davis - some questions to you

Did you see the pre-qualification letter?

Did you ask her for meeting a lender and get a pre-approval letter and she agreed to it?

Did you meet her to understand the 'wants and needs'?

Did you get an assurance from her that she is NOT working with any other agent and exclusively working with you only?

Did you have buyer's agency agreement signed from her?

If the answer to any of these question is 'no' or 'may be', try to convert that answer to 'yes' or you are wasting your time for sure!

That's why I love my IDX, it lets buyers choose homes in their budget and not me trying to pick them out for them. Sometimes they move budget, sometimes they move location if they see nothing they like 

I think you should follow your gut too.  Although the other question is how much time is this person actually taking since she isn't seeing anything with you - just keep her warm on the back burner and she may buy eventually - then it is like found money - I have one of those coming up next week. I never thought she would buy

I can also be the type to make a decision like the one you described.  When you send her something that fits it will also click.

Sending listings to my clients doesn't affect my time; they are automatic.  I would prefer a buyer who does not waste my time going to homes they would never consider purchasing.  She certainly knows her timeline.  Perhaps the discussion is if she wants to see rentals, in case you can not meet her timeline?  She can then continue to look, but take a little more time?

Sounds like a case of wishful thinking, however, it could be done if she had a pre-approval and finds her dream home within the week. Since you have yet to show her anything the only cost has been the time to talk and send a couple of emails it seems. I'd say that's a small price to go just a little bit further. 

A face to face meeting to explain the market conditions may be in order. On the other hand, she may be making the correct decisions if none of the available properties meet her requirements.

1. Explain the time frame to close a purchase is about 3 weeks, she now has x number to find something. 2. rather than looking up properties and sending to her (your time) switch her to using Home Scouting. Call me I'll give you access. Then once a week monitor how often she is looking without putting your hours into the relationship. Get her on some automatic drip campaign to keep in contact. Don't fire her just reorganize how you spend your time.

As long as it is internet search you only have 6 weeks to put up with her.

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Same here wanting a home for her 2 daughters outside a ocean side universisty within 4 blocks. Wife disappeared I call her out of town husband who did not know she stopped working with me. I thought they went w/ another agent no they never got a place but will not be up front with agents. 

I wasted a few hours.... That is OK

Have you verified her ability to purchase?  If you haven't already done so, speak with the lender and see if she can actually buy something.

If she can, it doesn't really hurt you to continue to send listings.  She may be the type who will jump on the one that strikes her fancy.

If she was running you around town, I'd be inclined to let her go.

I don't see anything wrong with the 6 weeks part...I do see something wrong with the " well, I will just rent then..."

I would want to know what she has looked at prior to you and I am willing to bet she has either been checking out the market for some time and can't find what she wants...or she has decided to buy a home on an impulse that she had last week.

If you are just sending her properties and not driving her around, I would want to ask her more questions...like what is she looking for that she does not see?

Eve

How much time is it taking if your not showing the homes to her?

I'd send her listings and follow up but not give it much more thought than that. My guess is she will rent again.  6 weeks is not hardly enough time to fulfill this process.

Dear Cindy,

Buyers with narrow parameters are easy to please. Once she finds, what she likes, she will meet you. Better to deal with picky folks, than ones who cannot make up their minds.

I would set her up on auitomatic email and tell her to call you when she sees something of interest.  Yes- keep working it but allow her to reach out to you when she sees something!

Not much time required.  While it's not a committed relationship, she is in the market.

I'd stick with her.