What will it take to get all the dormant buyers to surface and get serious about buying a home?

The purpose of this post is to get real estate agents and potential buyers to talk to communicate about what it will take to smash the ice off of this cold buyers market and thaw out all those potential buyers.

During our recent ice storm I observed that if one did not clear the ice and snow from the sidewalks on a regular basis the water just continue to accumulate and freeze layer upon layer. Even a little thawing during the day made the next days ice thicker and more treacherous after the nights hard freeze.

I wonder if the buyers out there aren't like the accumulating ice. Every time there is a little encouraging news (rates are a little lower, more homes are on the market, the federal government promises to do something) the buyers thaw just a little. However there is always a bunch of negative news on the economy that seems to make the ice on the buyer thinken just a little bit.

Is there something we as realtors can do to help this ice begin to thaw permanently or are we at the mercy of our federal governments policies.

I hate to be one who waits around for government policy to change hoping for something that will cause the big thaw.

I have always had more faith in the action of hardworking individuals than our government. So fellow realtors what can we do to help melt the icey climate that is affecting our buyers?

Here are two suggestions.

Do everything possible to honor the buyers we currently have. Begin to build a reputation of treating buyers like royalty. I still hear comments about buyers that show a certain hesitant attitude from many realtors. That is generally our own fault. Too many times we do not get our buyers qualified and we waste our time and theirs. Those who are qualified should be treated like the very precious people they are.

Write on our blogs and leave information wherever possible to help move up buyers understand THIS IS THE OPPORTUNE TIME. Selling and buying in a down market makes sense when you are moving to a more expensive home. We need to shout this from the roof tops!

What else can we do? Please if you have any suggestions share them with all of us Activerain readers.

Thanks, Paul