Heart and Soul

“Heart and soul.” The somewhat popular song from the 1980s went immediately to my mind when I started getting ready today and recapped my weekend as a “newbie” in real estate. Thoughts flowed through my head of what I could do different, what happened, and how I could improve as a realtor.

I gained my very first buyers this weekend who wanted to see a beautiful home in a very desirable and popular neighborhood. I quickly put together a contract ahead of time just in case they wanted to make an offer on the home. The home appeared out of nowhere on the market and I knew by looking at it that it would not last very long. Sure enough they fell in love with it after seeing it, and we placed a fair offer that in “normal” circumstances and in a “normal” housing market would make a seller very happy. I had a broker assist me in writing up the offer, so I felt pretty confident submitting the contract to the listing agent. 

Well, we lost out. We didn’t “win.” Ugh! So disappointing! I wanted a miracle to happen for my first sale, I guess. I forgot to consider that a low inventory of homes and too many buyers constantly keeps the bidding wars going. I didn’t expect that! Are people really buying in February? Really? I simply kept my focus on that contract anyways expecting to “win.” Little did I know. It just bites! I picked an amazing time to become a realtor, right? Ha! Ha!

That brings me to what I want to discuss. Sellers. When you pick a buyer for your home from multiple offers (never been in that situation myself) are you guys just looking at money only? I get that sometimes you don’t have a choice. You are pressed for time (been there), or you just completed amazing renovations! However, what about the “heart and soul” of the house?

My husband and I want to sell our house in a few years too. We would LOVE to downsize, because we are getting older and our kids live on their own now. Plus, we want to keep an RV nearby to go camping in. We love camping! Anyhow, our family has lived in our current house for almost 12 years. Wow! In 12 years a LOT happened. Our kids became teenagers, we homeschooled them, they started working, dating, a family dog passed away (I won’t say where we buried him), kids moved back in after they moved out due to a pandemic, we had meals together, holiday gatherings, shared in laughing, crying, and all of the other memories made in a home we call ours. We invested in this home financially and psychologically! 

After watching the Disney movie “Encanto” I related to it so much. Casa Madrigal! A home IS the lifeblood of a family. The two are almost one, “heart and soul.” Homes connect with families and leaves legacies. Homes should create stability and rest for families, and encourage growth and change one day. Most families live in their homes for years, so not only are they a financial investment but a psychological one as well.

Therefore, think as a seller, who do you want living in your home next? The buyer who flashes the most money, or the buyer who will honestly love on it, care for it, and really appreciate it as much as you did? Which buyer will connect with it “heart and soul?” Again, sometimes life happens and we don’t have a choice, but my husband and I will have a choice, and when we sell, we will try to consider who will live in our “Keller Casa” next. I personally am hoping for a young family with lots of little kids who will fill it with as much love, joy, and happiness as we did. I hope everyone can afford to do the same.