Buying or even renting a property, especially in a foreign place, is a big commitment. In many ways, it’s a lot like being in a serious relationship. Your new home is a place where you will spend a lot of time. It should be a place you look forward to seeing at the end of day; in a location that you feel comfortable in and is generally reflective of your personality. So when choosing a home, you shouldn’t settle for anything less than something you genuinely love.
It’s not always easy though to find that special somewhere though, so sometimes it’s helpful to call in a professional to help you. Whether you’re looking to rent a condo or buy a house in Thailand you deserve more than just a real estate agent. You deserve a matchmaker.
Agents V “Real Estate Matchmakers”
“Matchmaker” is a term that the team at Thailand-Property.com uses to describe a certain type of real estate agent. It’s reserved for those agents who really take the time and care to find out what the fundamental values and needs are of a client, and then uses that information to figure out what kind of property they might immediately feel a spark with.
An example of a “real estate matchmaker” who is currently working with Thailand-Property.com is Angela Margaritelli, the founder and agent for Luxury Lifestyle Estate, one of Thailand’s most exclusive real estate companies. She says that sitting down with a client and having a genuine person-to-person conversation is always the start of each property search.
There are many things Margaritelli says she likes to find out certain things about a person before showing them a property, which has helped her develop a track record of needing to show only a few properties to her clients before they see something they love. This is a helpful method, especially for expatriates who may not have a great idea about what location they want or how much they’ll need to spend to get something they love.
Taking a cue from Angela, we’ve put together some key pointers that you should make your own agent aware of before you start your search.
Here’s What to Tell Your Agent:
1) What the non-negotiables are: Start with this first to avoid wasting time for both parties. If you know there’s no way you’ll spend more than a certain amount, or will not even consider certain areas, articulate this clearly at the beginning of your conversation.
2) What your last property was like: This is important because if you loved your last property, your agent can help you find something with similar positive qualities. Similarly, if you are moving because of something you don’t like you can ask the agent to exclude any properties with that feature.
3) What your lifestyle is like: Your lifestyle will greatly affect where you will want to live, but for expatriates who are not familiar with their new city this can mean dealing with a lot of trial and error. For example, if you are a homebody, enjoy peace and quiet or privacy; you will most likely not appreciate living in a neighborhood filled with lively bars and clubs. This type of area might be perfect for a particular kind of person though. Tell your agent that you need certain lifestyle elements out of your new property and he or she can eliminate the areas that don’t fit.
4) What your hobbies and interests are: Real estate agents generally know the cities they have properties in very well. If you say that you are interested in a particular thing, he or she might be able to recommend certain areas. If you love running, a building near a park might suit you, or if you love art maybe somewhere close to the city’s galleries would pique your interest.
5) What your family dynamics are: This can be majorly important for some expatriates looking to buy or rent a property. If the kids tend to fight, a house with bedrooms on different levels could be the perfect solution. If a couple has someone who needs a separate space for an office or whatever else, the agent should consider that when thinking of properties to show.
Whether your agent has a “matchmaking” attitude or not, if you share these details with him or her at the beginning of your conversation you are more likely to find the property of your dreams without having to look at dozens of properties that just don’t click with you.
What’s most important to you when choosing a place to live?
