I love working with my first time home buyers. There is nothing like walking newbies through the process of buying their first home start to finish.  With my new clients, we set out this past weekend with a list of 15 homes in hand to check out. Their criteria is:

• Under $300k
• Reasonable commute to Intel
• No remodeling needed
• Hopefully 3 car garage, but not a deal breaker if not
• Tigard, Aloha, Hillsboro, Beaverton are the target areas–Cooper & Sexton Mtn areas specifically.

With each seller competing for similar buyers, we were stymied at the fact that out of 13 homes we went into—only 1 had an updated kitchen. And by ‘updated kitchen’ I don’t mean granite tiles on 1980’s old oak cabinets, or tossing in stainless steel appliances with dark, 1970’s decor…  There was not one home with updated bathrooms and many of them had original carpeting that was really worn. 

All it takes for any buyer is 1 home. In this market—with so many homes not updated, it is not hard to be a standout–.  As I tell my sellers and my buyers, this market is best house at best price…..and buyers are educated and savvy. They spend hours at 2am on line checking out what their options are.  Sellers must be equally savvy and realize that if their home is priced right and is the best on the market—it will sell—simply because in comparison buyers will see that it’s the best and snap it up. We’re not talking genius here.

Instead, the competition that we experienced….was for title of ‘which house is worse’….not good.  We’re heading out again this weekend…and we have a deadline to be in contract–my clients are pre-approved, motivated and ready. All it’s going to take is one seller’s home that is ready to go—and they’ll have themselves a happy buyer.

Yesterday, I was out scouring in SE Portland–looking at homes in the $450-$650k range in preparation for an open house I’m holding today on SE Ivon.  A little pink  number was next on my list out of 18 to look at for the afternoon. I was a little skeptical walking up–it needed a paint job desperately. I was more concerned when I realized that the ‘vacant’ house had someone and their car, in the driveway. My thoughts ran the gamut of “oh dear. It’s vacant, I didn’t have any owner to call and check in with.  She is not expecting me.  I’m friendly looking to a stranger right? What if I scare her?”. 

As I walked up to this petite, older, very traditionally dressed Chinese woman, it was quickly apparent that my lack of Chinese and her lack of English was going to be our common bond.  I held out my business card as if a peace offering and she gestured toward the front door.  Permission granted.

As I walked in, I noted her shoes removed before entering in and pointed to my shoes with a thumbs up and a hopeful look on my face–to which she smile and nodded. Okay good. Shoes stay on.

I looked through the house, we sign-languaged to each other about the hall door that wouldn’t open–which I realized was locked from the inside of the living room.  We laughed out loud as it dawned on me.  Still no comprende verbally but total ‘I get it’ at the same time.

As I was looking through the kitchen, she motioned me towards the basement…on the way I looked out back and understood why she was here. Her home was vacant and on the market, but her zucchini still needed her.  I ooohhhed and ahhhhed over her garden to which there is no need for translation.  Her grin spread wide across her face and I’m not kidding you—her garden was her love language. She just lit up. 

We went downstairs to look at the basement (for the most part, I hate basements) and l look at them because I ‘have’ to. But for the record. I don’t like them. Yeup, smelled like a basement, looked like a basement…. And then I let out a shriek of delight—-discovering the coolest all wood (now a days they are all stainless steel) refrigerator/freezer door that led to the canning room.  I love canning. What is it about putting up preserves that just tickles me? I don’t know. I could can 100 pounds of peaches just because it is fun..but I digress!

My Chinese guide came over and nodded in appreciation with me at the behemoth old wooden door that acted as protector for all things preserved.  She then clucked her tongue and motioned me over to the other side of the room.  Something else to show me.  Almost as if “ha! If you think that is cool?–check this out”! I obediently followed.  An old bedroom door was leaning against the wall.  She deftly moved it out of the way along with several other items.  Then she turned towards me to make sure I was watching her—and almost gleefully and again, without words, pointed to her prize.  It was a wall safe–empty–but installed into the wall, with a key that turned and locked.  This darling woman was so tickled to show me her secret hiding place—we grinned together…both of us understanding how cool it was. 

How fascinating that for 15 minutes, my life paths crosses this woman’s path–we do not speak each others language and we humanly are able to appreciate the same things without saying a word. 

I waved good bye to the garden and zucchini’s to which she laughed….walked through the house with this sweet woman and faced her as I prepared to leave.  Wanting to honor her and at the same time, not get into a bow-ing match—slightly bowed my body towards her, gave her a broad smile and waved goodbye.  No communication but body language and hand signals.  No words but oohhhs and ahhhhs.  And perfect mutual appreciation of home, garden, and basement secrets…Homes and people who love them do not need words.