I was a first time buyer, with a price range, a general location and a list of many smaller priorities by rank; a list, with which, I walked into Peter's office.
From that moment on I felt sure I was in good hands. Peter tried to hear my needs but also get a whole big picture of my knowledge, reasons for moving/buying, reasons guiding my location and price range, and my personal needs/wants behind my relatively long list of additional priorities (ie flooring, neighborhood, building type, floor level, east/west orientation of windows etc.).
After our initial meeting, I left the office with a lot of literature to help educate myself about the process (in further detail than Peter and I discussed--though he was willing to patiently listen to any questions, concerns etc. and provide me with extensive oral reassurance and explanations while I was there). Furthermore, Peter immediately got to work putting together a search with all my criteria so I could begin looking at houses/condos as they became available or sold to get a comparison, and provided me with various modes of contact so I virtually never found myself wanting to move on something or verify something without a link to him for his advice before going forward.
As I became ready to view properties, Peter was more than happy to accompany me as often as I wanted and he could, and virtually never declined to accompany me if I was asking him to. He also helped me find ways to visit more open houses without him as I became more familiar with the structures available in my price range so I could compare specific pros/cons of locations and building types (further defining and restricting my search engine to give me exactly the prpperties and only the properties that I would even want to consider buying).
We had regular check-ins to discuss my changing circumstances, my financial preparation and my desired purchase date. Peter was always eager to advise me if he thought I was making decisions without full knowledge of potential considerations that might be important to me, and was fully prepared to adjust my criteria so that my engine matches continued to improve. In terms of a timeline, Peter helped me understand market phases and prepare for the best course of action if and when I was ready to buy.
I was literally one month away from purchasing a specific condo when family issues required that I completely drop my plan until some future and undetermined date. Despite my own disappointment, I felt terrible about having used so much of Peter's time and resources without being able to follow through and knew he wouldn't make a profit if there was no purchase.
Peter not only expressed his understanding and compassion for my disappointment but also focused on reminding me that this is still not over, and I am simply much more prepared for when I DO BUY in the future. He did not seem at all disappointed (though as I said I KNEW HE WOULDN'T earn a comission despite putting in months of time and work to help me). He merely stayed positive about our continuing relationship, which I have no doubt will continue, as soon as I am able to make moving my priority again.
I have absolutely the best impression of Peter as a professional and a person who cares about his clients' needs and their lives outside of real estate, ensuring that he never lets his own needs as an Agent supersede the needs of his client or overshadow the experience of the individual he is working with.
Many salespeople do not maintain the positive and altruistic approach to building a reputation as one of the best in their field, but Peter rises above the call of duty. In this day and age where the economy is not as bad as it was but not as strong either, Peter brings back an ethical approach to selling that is critical to rebuilding an economy with trust between sellers and buyers, which in turn rebuilds faith in the stability of real estate as an honest and worthwhile investment under the right circumstances for each individual prospective buyer.
Bravo, Peter, you have certainly given me the best introduction to the business of buying a home I could have had and certainly earned my lifetime loyalty.
Good luck to you and your many future lucky clients.
Nora read more