His Needs...Her Needs: A Buying Perspective

So I've put a couple in my car and out we go to look at houses. At house #1 the wife spends most of her time looking at the master suite, kitchen, and bathrooms while the husband investigates the garage & the shed out back. Stereotypical, I know. But what are the things we learn from gender needs and preferences in the purchase of a home? Here's a few:

• Don't overgeneralize right away. Just because he's a guy doesn't mean he needs or wants the garagemahal. Interview the clients thoroughly to discover their lifestyle first, and what kind of home they're looking to purchase.
• Ask questions when looking. You can go general ("What are your impressions?") or specific ("What's your thoughts on the kitchen layout as it matches what we discussed?"). Either way, the more feedback you receive, the better.
• Find out who's the dominant buyer. If you're working w/ someone who's single--may be not much of a problem:) However, in family structures, sometimes even a grandmother or eldest child may be the one who casts the swing vote. It'll save a lot of time & effort cutting to the chase & better servicing your clients.
• Sometimes a spade is a spade. Women are indeed concerned with the "feel" of a home while guys want to know when the furnace was last serviced. Women like large closets and cozy fireplaces, and guys appreciate a well-built shop. There's nothing wrong with "man land" and the "girlee zone". Each individual needs to feel like their personal space is accomodated effectively.

Certainly, you have others. The challenge though, is to bring clarity to the situation. The ultimate goal is a place that feels like home. With all of the choices out there, it's imperative that Realtors are as efficient and attentive as possible.