HIGH EXPECTATIONS
It's funny as you get on in years, the things that you would roll your eyes about when younger start making sense. Have you ever caught yourself sounding like your mother? Something many of us swore would never happen right?
I have four very great kids, healthy, happy and yes deprived. Some of their friends have every known electronic, toy or gadget known to exist. The latest, greatest and newest. They wear the latest, greatest and newest. We are way behind in our neighborhood. Why just last year we purchased a play station! No we don't have a Wi!
Just like the kids in our neighborhood, the real estate landscape around my area became inundated with every bell and whistle a homeowner could want. Unchecked refinancing, low interest rates and inflated property values fueled this consumption to excess. Hummers and spanking new RVs became visible on every block for a time. Boats, new pool construction and loft room addtitions were the rage. You couldn't pay a contractor enough to answer your calls, show up for appointments on time or treat you semi respectfully on a job.
So I have a friend who is a buyer's agent. She has allowed me to tag along with her as an "assistant" when showing homes to clients. I felt this would be another education in seeing what buyer's expectations are out there, especially now in this market. What an education!
High expectations they are, even for first time home buyers. In an era of HGTV and FLN, many people absolutely believe a house is a dump unless it has certain amenities that were once considered high end. Hardwoods, granite, fancy moldings and high end appliances. Yes they want it all. They want it all and now they want if for nothing...because they can.
The cycle of a buyer's market and a seller's market has always been a given. But now it has become an especially vicious buyer's market in my opinion.
In Staging this has created many high expectations also. Recommending ROI improvements and advice on correcting "design" flaws are a large part of Staging Consultations. It isn't just about presenting a pleasing livable space, it has to WOW the folks. The wowier the better.
What ever happened to the the good old buyer that was looking for maintained, clean, spacious and in a good school district? Big yard not good enough, must have BBQ from heaven and rock pool.
This may sound like a rant longing for the good ole days but it's not really. What it is is a lament on how spoiled, superficial and materialistic we are and why things are headed down the economic roads they are.
I don't mean we shouldn't want better things or more things but it's like people now view it as a right, a given and they are being cheated or deprived if they don't get what they want right now. Like children.
So I am back where I started this. With my children. My kids have offered to sell their play station and other stuff if mommy and daddy don't have money to pay for their house. Everyday they walk past houses in our neighborhood, houses where their friends lived, that have bank owned notices in the windows.
Maybe just maybe we can teach them that there is a better form of high expectations; human kindness, empathy and responsiblility.
AccentPositives provides effective and economical Home Staging consultations on site and online. We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire area of Southern California. Call 951 833 8529.
