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Hawaii Home Buyer | Why They Think They Can Negotiate OUR Commission

By Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Real Estate Agent with Liberty Homes RS-#62825

June 21, 2009 04:51 PM

What a great Open House today! About 45 people running through and no time to sit down. No potty break and a good thing I brought my water bottle (which, incidentally, I forgot in the seller's fridge) otherwise I would have shriveled away (yeah, right)

A good turnout and soooo many nice people coming to this great Hampton Court Townhouse listing of Randy Prothero's (he got lucky snagging me today J) Now, there will always be someone to put a damper on a good party or for this matter, an Open House.

I know many of you have heard the same reasons why they don't need a Buyer's Agent to represent them and look out for their best interests for their home buying purchase.

There isn't much for you to do for a buyer like me. You mean I make a living doing nothing?
The buyer's agent only makes a couple of calls and orders a home inspection. So, you can do a better job? Let's just call the plumber in when you have chest pains.
They'd rather deal with the seller themselves. The seller has a Listing Agreement signed and saying that all negotiating is done through the seller's agent. You do not deal with the seller.
They can get a better deal, dealing directly with the seller. Let me explain about the listing agreement again. Let me explain the whole process. No? You don't want to hear?
They can negotiate the commission if they don't have an agent.... Hey....WAIT A DOGGONE MINUTE! (I really doubt that buyer would like me telling him that I could do his job better.....and that I deserve some of his paycheck)

...........And what would you answer?

I know what I would have liked to answer but didn't go there.

It'd be nice if some folks would step into another's shoes.

I tried to educate but you can't help people who can do it better.

Did I let that ruin my Open House? Nah. There were too many Happy Dad's running around on Father's Day. I continued to pass out my little homemade baggies full of popcorn mixed with macadamia nut puff balls.

Let's hope they get a good doctor.

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Allison Stewart

St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL

St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904

My grandfather used to say..."You can't reason with ignorance"-

Jun 22, 2009 12:53 AM

Irene Tron

Valparaiso, IN

There's not convincing them, is there? Congratulations on the great turn-out for the open house. 45 people is simply amazing!

Jun 22, 2009 01:12 AM

Chip Jefferson

Gibbs Realty and Auction Company - Columbia, SC

LOL I am so glad to be back in AR after my vacation. Putting this down for a week was tough. Im glad things are the same.

Jun 22, 2009 02:10 AM

Terry Miller

Miller Homes Group - Tyler, TX

Miller Homes Group and Tyler Apartment Locator

They have a fool for a client, if they represent themselves. Good for my seller though.

Jun 22, 2009 02:19 AM

Jim Valentine

RE/MAX Realty Affiliates - Gardnerville, NV

I've had a few people contact me on my listings looking to work only with the listing agent. I've never closed one. When someone calls me on my listing I tell them I can show them everything and ask them what they are looking for. I used to concentrate on selling them what they asked for, but with this approach I can tell if they are real buyers, or not. If they don't respect you as an agent the escrow will be most interesting. There are different reasons for their attitude - some are looking for a deal while others are simply putting up a protective barrier. Be the professional you are and you will either convert them to be your customer, or you won't and they'll fade away ... either way is okay.

Jun 22, 2009 02:21 AM

Marilyn Harrell

Better Homes and Acres - Beaverton, MI

Wixom Lake - Beaverton MI

NO ONE REALLY NEEDS A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN EITHER! Any dummy can do it up!

Jun 22, 2009 05:35 AM

Laura Cerrano

Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY

Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Sally, I just discussed this with a client--the importance of being represented by a buyer's agent. They called the listing agent anyway.....and lost out (when she told me why it seemed to be neglectful on the part of the real estate agent). I can only advise which doesn't mean people will listen.

Jun 22, 2009 09:30 AM

Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089

Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI

Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Your open house sounded very lively - I hope you got to meet some serious buyers who won't be just wasting your time. Mine was really slow yesterday, but you never know.....

Jun 22, 2009 09:51 AM

George Souto

George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT

Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Sally, 45 people??? That is a huge turn out!!!

If I was in Hawaii you would not have to worry about having ice cold water, because I would have stoped by with one of my Open House "Survival Kit"".

Jun 22, 2009 01:46 PM

Greg Nino

RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX

Houston, Texas

Only a FOOL represents themselves Sally... and I'm glad you were able to get rid of the cheese balls or whatever you were talking about! ;)

Jun 22, 2009 02:14 PM

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Leolinda: Ah...but they just have to keep me 'entertained' for a few...and when I saw it was useless I was polite and excused myself to meet others.

Katerina: they kept asking 'doesn't our company do this?' At first I tried to tell them the significance of having their own agent, the seller already has a listing agreement signed with our brokerage /agent and finally....NO.

Vanna: I let it go...they weren't there for anything but asking for a 'kickback'. Not in our lifetime.

Steve: Ha! The puff balls were made by 'Bale' ...they have restaurants all over.

Jun 22, 2009 04:51 PM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Sally,

Blogging lets out the frustration without killing harming the client. Way to go!

Mike in Tucson

Jun 22, 2009 05:19 PM

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Jim: Oh, I did that after listening for a few minutes.

Ann: No kidding. It is frustrating sometimes. That's the key i believe Ann...the REAL people who want a Realtor® for a REAL House :)

Paddy: Agreed! That was like saying a bunch of degrading things and they don't even know. I really don't think they would appreciate if I told them that I could do their job so why do they have one :)

Jun 22, 2009 05:53 PM

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Dennis: Grr....I'm sure they went on to harass others ...for sure.

Cynthia: That was the biggie that crossed my mind and nicely put them in the direction of the door.

Barb: Funny.....these people were adamant that the commission would be cut....didn't matter about negotiating on price or credit....they wanted to negotiate the commission. That really was rude.

Judy: I agree...it was a weird situation.

Neal: Because that's here...where I am..and you're there where you are. :)

Jun 22, 2009 05:57 PM

Lisa Hill

Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Beach Real Estate

Wow! You had an incredible turnout! I've never had an open house with that many people... wait. How long were you there? And I had to deal with some incredibly ignorant, obnoxious buyers last weekend. I have a very sick, elderly lady's house listed, and these buyers did absolutely everything we told them not to do, including harrass my seller! Then they had the audacity to complain to my manager when my seller declined to give them a counter-offer on their ridiculous offer. That's all just the tip of the iceberg. I'll blog it eventually. I just haven't had the energy to recall and blog the whole thing.

Jun 22, 2009 08:02 PM

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Allison: Your grandfather was smart.

Irene: Nope....

Laura: Welcome back?

Terry: I beg to differ. May not be a smooth transaction with people who believe they can negotiate an agreement already in place.

Jim: I'm with you on that one...who knows if they would continue to closing.

Marilyn: No doubt these would have been everything.

Jun 23, 2009 04:35 AM

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Carole: No kidding. Can't help people who don't want it. They have to learn the hard way sometimes...and that would mean losing the house they love.

Georgina: It sure was. Met a couple.

George: I think I'd wait for George and give him a bag of popcorn w/mac nut puff balls :)

Greg: We and everyone else in our industry knows that...just like I'd confer with a person who did another job ... take for instance my cousin. A building inspector for many years. I always ask questions and don't assume I know everything. Cheese balls. Sounds like a rib. Talk to my husband about that one :)

Mike: I try to blog with an understanding that it may help others understand and step into our shoes...lest we not step into theirs.

Lisa: This one was outstanding. Granted a couple neighbors came by but the bunches that came through on Father's Day was amazing! Like I said earlier...sometimes they have to learn the hard way.

Folks: The whole thing about this was rude people walking into an Open House and talking about the commission and how we split it and they could negotiate straight with a seller (skip the seller's agent and buyer's agent) and save money because we don't really do anything. That was the kicker. People like this assume that we are ripping off, have no taxes to pay, that all expenses/time come out of our pocket, and don't do anything when in factt we DO work hard for our clients. It was like they wanted to intimidate me and do it in front of other people walking in.

Believe me...when that happens ...be kind and see them out quickly lest that negative attitude jump on the others coming in.

Jun 23, 2009 04:47 AM

Jeff Dowler, CRS

eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA

The Southern California Relocation Dude

Sally - it was quite the Open House, for a number of reasons. The word must have gotten around about those goodies. I enjoy the educational aspect of these events as well as the feedback I often get about the buyers' impressions of the market, the hone itself adn the buying process. Lots of different opinions, but that the nature of our business, including how people feel about agents and their value-add. To me the biggest issue in not working with your own repressentative is the liability, and not having someone look out for your interests.

Jeff

Jun 24, 2009 02:40 AM

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Jeff: Those are the biggest issues. But during the course of my giving them this piece of info I was interrupted with.... "but I want to know if your company...." That was pretty bad. I had to just say NO and move on. Like I said in my post...they believe they did not need an agent and that we do not do anything. That was after I let them know that they will have their own representative who looks out for their best interests.

Jun 24, 2009 04:20 AM

Dave White

VA LOAN HERO-ALOHA LENDING SERVICES - Kapolei, HI

VA Loan Hero

Aloha Sally,

I have visited your branch a few times but do not believe we have been introduced. I can feel your pain as I have been working in the the lending Industry for just over 10 years now and specialize in Military VA Loans. Sometimes there are higher ranks that clients turn to for information about the loan process. I have never understood this as it would be like me turning to another loan officer and asking " how do I fire this missile"

On another note the Realtor-Loan officer relationship can be a delicate one. upon arriving in Hawaii in Jan 2006 I soon learned not to many Banks, Credit unions and loan officers had or have a good understanding of how the VA Loan works. I'm sure you have met a few that are solid and you can go to. I was wondering how i can get on your list of "go to" Brokers that can get the job done. I can provide a list of several references from both Hawaii and Chicago. I would offer we meet in the near future to see if we can develop a good working relationship. Mahalo

Dave White The ' VA Loan Hero"

Jun 24, 2009 12:18 PM