You know what I hear some Sacramento real estate agents say about buyers? If mama ain't happy, nobody is happy -- meaning it's generally mama who keeps peace in the family. Because if you make mama happy, she'll make everybody else around her happy. And if you don't, she'll make everybody else miserable. So, if mama wants to buy a home, a particular home, maybe a home in Land Park, ya'll better sit up and pay attention.
Except it doesn't always work this way. Sometimes it's daddy who better be kept happy. It's rare that we have a compromise between the two extremes because a balance of power is not always equal.
Around my house, I know who rules. Without exception. It's the cats. Many homes in Land Park are occupied by cats. And right now all 3 of them are sound asleep in the family room, near me and my computer. Among them, Pia is the top cat, although she is the youngest and the only female. Pica is on the left. He's a chocolate-silver marbled ocicat. Pia, on the right, is a cinnamon-spotted ocicat. She doesn't care that Pica wants to sleep by himself on the condo. She is sitting practically on top of him.
If Pia and Pica were looking to buy a condo, Pia would go along with whatever Pica chose. She would not make the initial decision herself, but she would seal the deal. Home buyers aren't that different. But a smart Land Park agent will allow the natural order of relationships -- whatever that balance of power between the parties may be -- to dictate. Without judgment.
Photo: Elizabeth Weintraub
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Certified HAFA Specialist
My Sacramento Real Estate Listings
Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout the four-county Sacramento area. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate. DRE License # 00697006.
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Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice. It could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.
Elizabeth, you bring up a good point. It's important that we figure out who the ultimate decision maker will be when working with multiple buyers. It's best to give equal attention and really watch and listen. The lead person will certainly become apparent.
Equal attention to all is my pholosophy, then I'm always right on target.
Beautfiul cats, Elizabeth. Now I know what breed my Mom's cat is. We've been wondering. She's got the same markings and face shape as your two, only she's silver and black.
Hey Karen: I find that sometimes the decision maker is not always apparent -- not without asking questions, anyway.
Hi Marjorie: One of the biggest mistakes agents sometimes make is to ignore one of the parties and to concentrate solely on the decision maker. Agents who employ that practice can discover the role of the decision maker will switch.
Hi Chris Ann: There are different types of ocicats. But only the ones with spots can be shown at a cat show, but I think the marbled variety are very beautiful. The fur is different, too. Pica's fur is soft and velvety. Pia's fur is a cross between straw and hay. They are 1/3 Somali, 1/3 American shorthair and 1/3 Siamese. You can see the Siamese in Pica's face. He has a sheep-head face.
I try to make sure whatever home is found works for everyone in the decision making process. It's important not to show bias because when the buying decision finally comes, you never know who will ultimately be enabling or diabling the decision.
Elizabeth, Your cats are beautiful. No doubt they rule the house. “No judgment” is the name of the game. To each their own.Our job is to advise and guide ... not judge!
OMG Ocicats! I used to raise the beauties. My little chocolate point female was the first female champion in the Soutwest Region in the 80's. She was the sweetest little kitty ever and lived to 15. Her little friend Jasper ( a pound rescue) missed her terribly when she passed away so we ended up with another rescue to keep him company. They are still trying to figure out who is top cat but your photo brought back memories of a houseful of Ocicats. I think at the high point we had 12.
Love your photo - and I can totally relate to pets having a "voice" in home buying decisions, given that we moved twice with one of the prime considerations being a "safe" location for the animals! Your serious point about determining who the decision maker truly is brings back memories of one couple I worked with where the husband kept saying that whatever she wanted was what they would buy - and then proceeded to pick to shreds every house she liked. Her face began to fall and her distress was really hard to watch as it became abundantly clear to both she & I that he didn't mean it at all. Yuck!
First off, Elizabeth, I need to tell you I love that fine print disclaimer at the bottom of your post, "If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice. It could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.". . .Hilarious!
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! Your cats look as content as they can be! I'm certain either of them would be happy with a house or a condo. . .As long as you were there with them:-)
There is a top dog (or cat) in a every home - always good to know who it is!
Elizabeth - you are SO right. I just closed a deal where I dealt with the husband all through the process until the very end. He called me and asked me to talk to his wife ... evidently in the background she was the one that was calling the shots. Who knew!!
So funny. I had friends over for lunch and cards this afternoon. I sold them a house 11 years ago. The bought the house their dog "marked" Sadly they lost him a couple of years ago, but I'm ever so thankful the dog liked that house.
And we have a top cat among the 6 four leggers living in our home currently too.
Elizabeth - I could probably say the same about my dogs, love the pic, beautiful kitties.
Good post that makes a great point Elizabeth. When working with clients it's important to accurately assess who is in control as they will a) usually require the most attention b) make the final decision
This is a skill some agents naturally have and one that can be learned (the hard way sometimes) through experience. BTW, what's an ocicat? Never heard of that but they're adorable!
Often in this process (and other family decisions) there is one spouse would makes the motions...sets the agenda....but it's the other who finally must be satisfied.
You are right, unless you are careful, focusing on the initiator may put you out of sorts with the finalizer.
Cute post. In my experience, the woman is nearly always the driver-- and it pays to make sure you're in touch with that 'better half' when soliciting a listing or solidifying a relationship with a buying couple!