Finding the Right House Can Take a While. For One Buyer, the Process Spanned ‘91 Homes in Total.’

When I started in real estate, I worked as an assistant to a top producer. He took me on a showing with new clients and felt that based on my rapport with them, I was ready to take them out on my own going forward. He also probably realized it was going to take a lot of work and a lot of driving around. The clients were first-time buyers who were very particular about their budget. They would look at a house that was totally trashed, but at a good price, knowing they would need to paint and do floors, etc., and they would also look at things that were more expensive but move-in ready. We would go out several days a week and see an average of five houses each time. This went on for months until I finally got them in contract. I saved every printed listing from our showings and counted them up—there were 91 homes in total. At least my mentor let me keep most of the commission.

Denise Beserock, real-estate agent, Re/Max Premier Realty, Wildwood, Fla.

In April 2022, the market was so competitive that houses were selling before my clients could even see them. In fact, in one case, a house went under contract while my buyers and I were still there touring it! So, we had to race to see any houses that came on the market. We actually toured 31 different homes, but I also sent them over 250 homes to view online. That’s a lot of correspondence when you are researching and sharing homes and then discussing each one with your clients. The volume was just insane. They were looking for a single-family home with three or four bedrooms and were considering five different towns. We ping-ponged all over Central Florida looking for that perfect home. The problem was that as soon as I would send them a listing, in the time it took for them to discuss it and get back to me, the home would already be pending. They ultimately were able to buy because I had heard of a deal that had just fallen through. We immediately went to look at it, and I submitted their offer from my laptop while sitting in the car outside the home.

Jed Lewin, associate real-estate broker, The Agency, New York City

I worked with very lovely, very particular buyers who were looking for a gracious Classic Six on the Upper West Side for over a year and a half. In that time, we saw nearly 50 apartments in over 40 buildings, made six offers and lost two bidding wars, including one in which we were the winning bid in a ‘best and final’ negotiation with an offer $100,000 over the asking price, but the seller still fielded a subsequent offer of $150,000 over ours and then reneged on our deal. My clients were frustrated after they lost that apartment, but it actually turned out to be lucky for them. They had previously fallen in love with an apartment that was pulled off the market, but which they felt was the ideal home for them. Ultimately, an identical apartment came on the market in the same building they loved, but three floors up. I reached out to them immediately. It was a fabulous two-bedroom listed for $2.25 million—and it was their dream home. We negotiated and got a great discount, and they ended up paying less than they would have for the apartment they originally fell in love with.