What do you want to know?

Posted on August 29, 2006 by Jim Duncan

I have been working in the real estate world for just over five years and have been around it since I was a wee child (both of my parents are Realtors). I have moved five or six times locally in seven years, but I have never directly asked myself or my clients this question -

What do you want to know about the area that will either help you move or help you decide to move here?

- Schools
- Crime Rates
- Employment
- Grocery Stores
- Public Transport
- Recycling
- What is there to do?
- What have you been looking for online that you just cannot find?

A general, all-encompassing question that usually elicits the responses above is this – “What, if anything, do you want or need to be “close to?”"

Listening is my best weapon which I use to discern my clients’ wants and needs. I just need to be sure I am asking the right questions.

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About Jim Duncan

A Charlottesville Realtor who tries to stay on the bleeding/cutting/functional edge of technology and real estate trends. I have been selling real estate for the past 10 years, lived in C'Ville for twenty+ and am married to one of few Charlottesville natives left.
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  • Brett

    I couldn’t agree more. Especially with an expanding inventory it’s important to really understand what a client values most in a new home. In turn, this allows us to utilize our time with the client(s) in the most efficient way. Some questions I include are:

    Location: Is there one particular area you like or are there other factors such as distance to work/shopping, close to the city or in the county?

    Size: How many bedrooms/bathrooms do you need? Do you need an office? Do you like to entertain? Do you need a lot of storage? Do you need a yard? (Fence?) Do you have any pets or other special needs?

    Style: Detached? Attached (townhome)? Condo? Stories? Architecture?

    Amenities: Garage? Pool? Fitness center? Exterior maintenance covered?