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Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda. . . .

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Gateway Holding and Referral Company

How many times have you said, "I wish I would have . . . . ."  Or "I should have  . . . ."  It happens to me all the time.  It seems I always think of these things later and sometimes it's too late. 

Case in point:  This morning I was at the office answering phones.  A nice gentlemen called and wanted to make an appointment to see a house in the neighborhood. 

Me:  I was in this house just yesterday and it's really nice.  I'd be happy to show it to you.  Have you been working with another real estate agent?

He:  Well . . .(pause) kind of. 

Me:  So do you have an agent already?

He:  Well, we've been working with XXXX.  He's got our house listed for sale.

Silence.

Me:  Is he also helping you look for a home to buy?

He:  Well, yeah, we definitely plan to use him when we buy our new home.

Me:  Would you like me to call your agent to set an appointment for him to show you the home?

He:  Well . . .see. . .we've kind of been running him ragged looking at homes.  So we thought we would give him a break.  That's why we called you.  But if you think we should call him . . .

Me:  Yes, that would be best.

It was a very pleasant conversation.  But after hanging up, another agent who overheard the conversation said, "Can you believe some people!  They didn't want to bother their agent, but they had no problem wanting you to waste your time!" 

I assured her this wasn't at all how I was feeling.  It wasn't that I minded showing him the home, knowing that he already had another agent.  In fact, I wish I would have explained to him that while most buyers feel bad about running their agents all over God's green earth, most agents would never want their buyer to call another agent to look at houses.  I would for sure appreciate another agent steering my client right back to me.  And then I should have told him that if in fact his agent was tired of showing him houses, I would gladly accept a new client!  (o.k. I don't know if I actually could have said that)

 

Posted by

Stacie Colclasure

Real advice. Real answers. It's Real Estate simplified. Helping buyers and sellers negotiate and manage their real estate transaction successfully.  

For real estate help in the Bethalto, Wood River, Alton, Godfrey, Edwardsville areas email Stacie at stacie@mybethaltohome.com

Olga Diaz
COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON - Pullman, WA
Potter, Mng Broker, CRS, ASP, ePRO, ABR

There have been times that I wished I would have terminated a client relationship and could have have done it sooner and should have done it at the beginning....liked your post!  Olga

Apr 01, 2009 11:30 AM
Stacie Colclasure
Gateway Holding and Referral Company - Bethalto, IL
Realtor, Bethalto, IL

Olga - Thankfully, those clients are rare.  I've been really lucky I guess.  Btw, I like your tag line ;)   

Apr 01, 2009 12:31 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Stacie:  Had a similar call one afternoon and actually did tell the buyer that if he were my buyer, I'd be really upset if he didn't call me.  Why?  Because eventually some smooth talking gal like myself would charm him away from me. 

Apr 01, 2009 01:31 PM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

It doesn't sound as if his agent felt the need to explain agency to him...LOL...you did the right thing. 

Apr 02, 2009 12:18 AM
Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn
Sell with Soul - Pensacola Beach, FL
Author of Sell with Soul

Chris Ann - I love that line!!

Apr 02, 2009 12:43 AM
Stacie Colclasure
Gateway Holding and Referral Company - Bethalto, IL
Realtor, Bethalto, IL

Chris Ann - I know a few agents who would have smooth talked him away from his agent and not felt bad about it at all!

Susan - I think educating your customer / client is sooo important!

Erica - It wouldn't have bothered me to show them the house anyway.  After all, if I'm representing the seller, my main objective is to find a buyer for the house.  What concerns me is the fact that there are a lot of buyers and sellers who have not been educated about agency representation.

Apr 03, 2009 04:33 AM
Ryan Shaughnessy
PREA Signature Realty - www.preasignaturerealty.com - Saint Louis, MO
Broker/Attorney - Your Lafayette Square Real Estate Partner

Stacie - I will show my listings to anyone who calls.  However, when I am acting as a buyer's agent, we cut to the chase - preapproval from lender, review meeting (housing requirements, neighborhoods, price, range, etc.), signed agency agreement, then showing homes.  I tend to agree with the other agent in the office.  They don't want to inconvenience their agent, but your time isn't important.  As an industry, we allow this bad behavior to happen in part because a large percentage of agents are willing to allow their time to be wasted.

May 11, 2009 09:38 AM
Stacie Colclasure
Gateway Holding and Referral Company - Bethalto, IL
Realtor, Bethalto, IL

Ryan - I agree.  Especially if it's my listing, I will show it.  After all, the seller has hired me to sell their home.  However, the home this gentleman called about was not my listing, not even a listing from our office!  And he made it clear that if he liked the home enough to write an offer he would use his agent.  So I put the ball back in his court. 

May 12, 2009 02:32 PM