League City Blog

Don't Forget the School Zones!

Don't Forget the School Zones!

With summer right around the corner, here is something to keep in mind....school zones. Since my area (League City, Texas) has a large commuter population, proximity of a home to the freeway is a major concern for a lot of buyers. Many buyers will painstakingly time their commute from perspective homes in order to see how long it will take them to get to and from work. During summer, a major cause of traffic congestion is missing from the roads around my neighborhood....school zones. Make sure buyers who are looking at homes in the summer consider the effect that school zones will have on their commute. For example, between some area neighborhoods and the freeway (roughly 3 miles), there are as many as five school zones. During the summer, you can fly to the freeway, but during the school year, the commute can be as much as twenty minutes longer. Pointing this out to your buyers will save them the agony of closing in June only to realize their commute is double what they expected come August--they will be sure to thank you.  Or, clue them in to the back road short cuts.

Obviously, this concern is only applicable to people who commute to the freeway during school zone times, but to those who are affected, it can be a big deal. Warning them about the issue will show them your knowledge of the area, your expertise in finding the perfect home, as well as your genuine concern for their future happiness.

 

© 2004 - 2011 Brian Worrell Team, Realtors in League City, TX - 281-948-7042. All Rights Reserved. LeagueCityBlog.com.  Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors.

1 comment • League City, TX - Worrell Team, REALTOR, GRI, CNE • March 24 2010 09:38PM

Euro Kidding Me?!?!

Brian Worrell Team

I was recently working with a client moving from Europe and looking for a home in the League City area.  (He was mainly interested in newer neighborhoods like Westover Park, Mar Bella, and Magnolia Creek.)  We went to see a newly constructed home and were looking around the kitchen, when my buyer asked, “Do these cabinets stay?”  He was referring to the built in kitchen cabinets, and for a minute I was taken aback by his questions.  When I told him “Of course,” he then went on to tell me that many homeowners in Europe take their kitchen cabinets with them when they leave, and the buyer has to bring his own or buy new ones.

I had never even considered the possibility that kitchen cabinets would not be fixtures that are sold along with the home, but then again, I’ve never sold a home in Europe.  This experience taught me several valuable lessons.  First, I always need to keep an open mind…things that I have taken for granted as being true (like cabinets being included with a new home), might not always be true.  People who get stuck in traditional ways of thinking often have a tendency to overlook things that are out of the ordinary.  Top real estate professionals should never overlook things…even those that are not typical.

I also realized that it is always important to remember that our clients—especially first-time home buyers—do not have the same base of knowledge as we do.  Experts in any field often forget that their clients may know nothing about the field.  When a client asks a question that seems like it has an obvious answer, it is always important to patiently answer his or her question without seeming arrogant.

The final lesson relates to dealing with clients who are moving from other countries.  While I often spend extra time with first-time homebuyers, I now realize that the same attention needs to be given to homeowners who have only purchased homes in other countries where standards and procedures may be much different.  By listening to your clients carefully, you can highlight the differences between the system in your area and the one they are used to, and you might learn something along the way too.

 

© 2004 - 2011 Brian Worrell Team, Realtors in League City, TX - 281-948-7042. All Rights Reserved. LeagueCityBlog.com.  Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors.

8 comments • League City, TX - Worrell Team, REALTOR, GRI, CNE • March 24 2010 03:44PM