Realtor or Matchmaker?

Short answer? Both.

Let me explain: It’s a comparison that’s been made before, and has a habit of popping up at this time of year. With Valentine’s Day approaching, many people are focused on their “matches” – whether that means celebrating the one they’re in or searching for the right person to begin a match.

My job as a REALTOR® is to match buyers and sellers—to marry them, if you will. Sellers come to me for my expertise in listing and marketing homes. This includes everything from choosing an appropriate list price to utilizing professionals for staging and photography (see The PEP Method for more information). Through effective advertising, the goal is to attract motivated buyers to schedule a tour to view the home in person.

With buyers, I first spend time learning what they are looking for in a new home. I compile their needs and preferences to set up a tailored home search. The buyers decide which of the homes have caught their interest, and then we schedule in person tours. Buyers often tour many properties until they find the right one for them.

My goal is always to find the “perfect fit,” which is why I can think of myself as both a Realtor and Matchmaker.

In order to do my job better, I am always on the lookout for new buyers to match my sellers, and vice versa. Sometimes there are many more buyers out there than there are homes for sale, making it more difficult for buyers to find their perfect match. With inventory so low, the demand for sellers is much higher, and often the time between listing their home and accepting an offer is shortened. Of course the opposite can and does happen. When there are more sellers than buyers, homes are more likely to sit on the market for longer periods of time.

Both of these situations affect the perceived value of a home. But my job as a Realtor and Matchmaker is to advise you how best to navigate the market conditions to find your perfect match!