First time home buyers are becoming more fugal in their approach to buying a home. Over the past 2 weeks, I have had the pleasure of working with 2 young buyers whom were looking to purchase their first home here on
Staten Island. By no means does constitute an official survey or poll. However, I always proceed with a casual discussion (informal interview) with all potential buyers about their decision to purchase a home.

 During this informal discussion the key for me is being an active listener, by continuing dialog about the clients needs. I can begin to understand the dynamics of their decision making process, and select the appropriate homes for them. However, my interaction it is not limited to just finding out what homes their interested in. There are several components to that initial meeting that shed some light on overall consumer sentiment. Additionally, my discussion will touch on several personal views in reference to the local economy, commuting, and overall economic concerns. Others will focus on the buyer’s motivation to begin a search at a particular time. There are other questions of course, however it’s a way I can assess issues and concerns about general buying habits, and make personal adjustments. I have done this by paper survey past, but reconsidered due to the informal nature of having someone fill in blanks on a sheet of paper. Having being in Staten Island real estate for a number of years, has given me the experience to prepare in advance so knowing the questions to ask become second nature. After meeting my clients, I just jot notes in a small binder and I am better able to quantify the data.

Through this process I am able to make adjustment on marketing, presentation and overall business strategy and ultimately better customer service.