Are You A Measuring Buyer
June 30, 2008
Post Tags: cerebral-jello , measuring-devices , measuring-tapes
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To measure or not to measure that is the question
Since we work with lots of clients, many of them buyers, we find there are two types of buyers when it comes to buying a home. Those that measure everything and those that measure nothing. There are a few that measure a little, but not enough of them to call them a group.
Those that measure nothing
I am of this group. I don’t carry a tape measure with me when I’m looking to buy a new home. I just look and pretty much know if it will work or not. Maybe it comes from years spent in my woodworking shop.
Most measuring has to do with furniture. If it requires getting rid of something and buying a new piece of furniture so be it. I do make sure everything will go through the doors. Since I only buy single story homes I don’t have to consider if things can make it up stairs and around corners. I think that about sums it up for most of us that don’t measure.
Those that measure
Those that measure often will almost have a completed floor plan with distances, sizes, openings, and angles all plotted. I knew of one person that loved a house but the big screen wouldn’t fit in one place. As they were about to leave I asked “Could you buy a new TV?” “Yeah, I suppose we could, we really love the house.”
If you are a measurer, it is fine. But do yourself and the sellers as well as your agent a favor. Measure the rooms and stuff you are concerned about at home. Write these measurements down in a notebook and bring them with you. It will save a lot of time.
If you are a measurer, please don’t bother measuring a home that is not on your final selection list. If it isn’t in consideration then put the tape measure away and please step toward the door. : )
Having those measurements of things you know you won’t do without will make measuring go faster and easier. Bring your tape measure with you if you are a measurer. There is nothing sadder than to see one who measures without anything to measure with. (they tend to start stepping off rooms with giant steps or toe to heel with their shoes, either is not accurate enough for a true measurer any more than a stick will do for a bat.
Therefore, if you want to measure up as one who measures then remember to measure your “stuff” and bring those measurements along with you. Bring those measuring devices and measuring tapes, but save yourself some time and only pull them out for the homes on your final list. It really helps keep the cerebral jello to a minimum.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:44 am
I bring this electronic thingy ma jog that measures stuff and give it to my clients. They have a lot of fun with it. It seems to make them happy. I can look at a room, look at the measurements in the MLS and know if they are correct. Life isn’t so simple for my typical client, often engineers, software developers, accounts etc. They all like to measure twice and buy once.