🏡 From “I Hate Realtors” to Homeowner in 2 Months: Randy’s Story

Some deals stick with you for the smooth process, others for the people. This one was both. Randy came into my world in a pretty typical way — he reached out directly to our brokerage to schedule a showing on one of our office listings. At the time, he wasn’t working with a realtor and, in fact, made it very clear that he hated realtors. (His words, not mine.)

I found his honesty to be hilarious and also refreshing. He explained that he’d spent five years searching on his own, reaching out to listing agents and trying to land a home without representation. It hadn’t worked out — and as it turns out, that was exactly the problem.

During our first conversation, I was candid: if he wanted to actually get an offer accepted, maybe he needed someone in his corner advocating for him, building rapport with listing agents, and helping him move fast when the right house came along. Something clicked that day.

🏠 The Search

Randy was looking for a 3 bed, 2 bath home under $500,000. His ideal location was in or around Somerset — close enough for his girlfriend’s commute, but still near family in Woodbridge. He’s handy and creative, so a fixer-upper was on the table, though he wasn’t opposed to something move-in ready either.

One month after that first showing, we found the one. It was a well-built home with great bones. It needed some aesthetic updates, but nothing major. Tucked away on a quiet cul-de-sac, outside of a flood zone, it was actually better situated than the first home we saw — and offered the perfect amount of space for him.

⚡ Acting Fast & Winning the Offer

The house hit the market, and I reached out to the listing agent right away. The sellers (a group of siblings) were in the process of prepping their parents’ home, so it wasn’t even fully ready to show yet. But persistence matters in real estate — I followed up consistently, and we got in as soon as it was ready. After three weeks of follow up, we were the very first showing.

That early access gave us a huge advantage. Randy fell in love with the house, we moved fast, and we were able to lock it down before the listing even had interior photos online.

From there, the negotiations and inspection were smooth. Thanks to our trusted inspector and attorney — and we negotiated a fair credit that worked well for both sides. It was one of those rare deals where everything just clicked.

🧰 Closing Day & What’s Next

Closing day was all smiles. Randy was over the moon, and it was such a rewarding full-circle moment. This was a guy who started our journey telling me he hated realtors… and ended it by texting another agent, “I have a great realtor already, no thanks!”

He has big plans for this house — ripping up the carpet, painting, opening up the kitchen, transforming the backyard into a little sanctuary, and even installing a stained glass window in the living room. It’s going to be his home in every sense.

✨ My Takeaway

This deal is a reminder that the right guidance can completely change the home-buying experience. Randy spent five years searching on his own without success. Within two months of working together, he had the keys to a home he truly loves.

Moral of the story? Don’t hate realtors. 😉 Some of us don’t suck.

📩 Thinking About Buying?

If you’ve been searching on your own — or feel stuck in your home-buying journey — let’s change that. I’ll help you strategize, move quickly, and advocate for you every step of the way.

👉 Let’s chat: carly@ellenrosenbaum.com