This summer I decided to try to improve my tennis game by hiring an instructor to help me work on my serve. Prior to offering any coaching, he asked me to show him what my current serve was like. So, I did.
After a few demonstrations he looked at me and said, "Really, your serve is good enough." Well, it didn't take long for me to look for another instructor, someone who would be as dissatisfied with the status quo as I am.
It also made me think about the fact that I am glad I don't feel that way about my business. Working with home buyers requires, not only a great deal of dedication but also a healthy level of dissatisfaction until every detail is taken care of.
Some people think that a buyer broker simply shows houses to their clients until the client decides on the right one, the offer is written up and we eventually attend a closing and get a commission check for our attendance. In fact, there is really so much more involved in doing the job correctly.
A thorough buyer broker
- points out possible flaws in the property or neighborhood
- does research on the adjacent properties
- looks in the town records for any prior additions and building permits
- gets utility costs from the current owner
- determines whether or not the home is in flood zone or near wetlands
- prepares a comparable market analysis to determine an appropriate offer price
- negotiates the offer to get the best price and terms for the buyer
- protects the buyers' confidential information at all times
- puts the buyers' needs before their own
- sets up and attends a thorough home inspection
- renegotiates following the home inspection
- helps the buyer find the right mortgage lender
- suggests a competent real estate attorney
- reminds the buyers of their mortgage contingency date
- keeps on top of every contingency date
- goes back to the property with the buyer to take measurements, if necessary
- conducts a thorough final walk-through of home
- follows up every detail necessary to get the transaction to a successful closing
Doing an average job will often get an agent to a closing table, but to receive referrals, repeat business and to build a business for life, it's crucial to maintain a degree of dissatisfaction until everything has been done to best serve a client.
As a home buyer, when you are purchasing your most important investment, you deserve a much higher level of service than just - good enough.
Copyright 2009 - Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner, The Buyers' Counsel - (508) 881-6230
Your Excusive Buyer Broker for Massachusetts Since 1992
MLS Property Search With No Registration Required
Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick, Newton, Northborough, Framingham, Shrewsbury, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough
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This is something that I have been after NAR to supply to home buyers about what it is we actually do for them.