Home : Blogs : Pinecrest | Palmetto Bay | Maggie Dokic, SFR : Real Estate in Pinecrest, Coral Gables & Beyond

Mr. Homebuyer, Here's Why I Didn't Send That One

Like most agents in the Miami real estate market, I have quite a number of buyers I am working with. Several months ago I started making sure that I always meet with each one before we start working together to make sure they understand the process. We also make sure they're qualified and that we're a good "fit" for one another.

Even so, I occasionally end up with the very eager buyer who thinks he can help me out by riding around his preferred neighborhoods and call me with addresses to look up for him.

Inevitably, there is always a reason why I haven't sent him this particular home to review online. It's not because I missed it. I want to sell him a house as much as he wants to buy one. Really!

If you are working with a real estate agent who is looking for homes for you, here is a list of possible reasons a home may not be suitable for you and won't make it to the emails we send you:

The property is priced over your range - in every neighborhood there are homes priced well above what their market value is. Homes priced over your maximum don't get sent to you. If your max is $450K, a house that is listed at $575K is not going to be sent to you for review.
The property is not listed - this includes homes you may see that look vacant and may even have a lockbox on the door. A foreclosure can take a long time to prepare to list. The listing agent will get it listed as soon as it is possible to do so. Sometimes it has issues with the title that need to be cleared up. If it is not in the MLS and there is a lockbox on the door, there is no way to know who is going to have it listed. We simply have to wait until it is. The good news is that the automatic search that is set up for you will pick it up immediately once it's listed. Lucky you.
The property is a short sale that has not been approved - and you specifically let me know that you don't want to waste your time on unapproved short sales. Only approved short sales are being sent your way.
The property needs extensive repairs - and you are buying with an FHA loan. Yes, there is an FHA loan that takes repairs into account. It's called an FHA 203K loan. But if you're approved for $100K FHA, the house is listed for $100K and needs $25K in repairs, there's no point in looking at that house. You are not qualified for $125K (the amount of the loan including the repairs). So this particular house will be filtered out by your agent when she reviews homes to show you.
The seller has specified CASH offers only - Sellers usually do this because of the condition. This is usually seen with bank-owned homes. It's not that they want to arbitrarily exclude a huge portion of buyers. They're just being realistic when they say that the house won't qualify for financing. It may need repairs well beyond the limit on an FHA 203K. Or the seller may simply want a quick sale due to the horrible conditions of the house. If it's priced incredibly low, there's always a reason.
The house is pending sale - this means the seller has accepted an offer. The sign will stay in front of the house until the property closes. But they have changed the status to Pending Sale in the MLS and they are no longer looking for offers on this one.

The above is not meant to be an exhaustive list. There may very well be other reasons why a home isn't sent to you for your review.

But please do know that I am working really hard to find you one that you can call home.

Maggie Dokic, SFR is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Florida selling residential real estate in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Gables by the Sea, High Pines, the Redland and other select areas of SW Miami-Dade County.

Maggie has earned her SFR certification to be able to better serve the needs of her customers in today's non-traditional real estate market. SFR is a Short Sale, Foreclosure Resource Specialist. Designees have been trained to understand the highly specialized options available to Sellers facing short sales & foreclosures and Buyers looking to buy them.

For more information on our local real estate market, or to see or sell a home in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables or the Redland, visit my Miami Real Estate blog or contact me at Maggie (at) TheBlogThatAteMiami (dot) com.

The opinions expressed herein, are those of the author, and not necessarily of Keller Williams Realty.

None of this information is to be deemed legal or financial advice. Please contact your attorney or accountant for same.

Posted by Pinecrest | Palmetto Bay | Maggie Dokic, SFR on 01/25/2010 02:58 PM

Comments (120)

miami homebuyers, miami home search

Originally posted at: Miami Dade Real Estate Scoop: Mr. Homebuyer, Here's Why I Didn't Send That One

Generate short URL

This post has been included in Florida Real Estate News Miami-Dade County, FL Real Estate News Miami, FL Real Estate News

120 Comments on Mr. Homebuyer, Here's Why I Didn't Send That One

JAN

2010

Maggie, very good points to explain to your buyers about all the houses they think they are missing out on!

About the only thing less productive is buyer wanting to call on every sign they see while we're on tour.

I take a comprehensive list from the MLS showing EVERYTHING and status, Active, Under Contract, Back-up, etc.

They soon learn.

Great blog - so much goes into selecting the right house for a buyer and they aren't always aware...

Yes I too have experienced these kinds of buyers. It can get a little annoying and to a degree one could be forgiven for thinking he does not trust you to do your job. On the other hand he sounds like a hot buyer, so I would forgive him!

Hi Maggie, you must be talking about my buyers (lol). It takes them awhile, but then they get it. Good posts! Thanks for sharing....

Well written, Maggie! I can SO relate to everything you said. Let's not forget the ones that search the MLS all night and have a list waiting in your inbox when you get up the next morning. Great post!

Oh, it's so frustrating when they do this... however, I actually like it when they do so I can reply back with the reasons why they didn't get it, so they can start trusting my system and me a little more.

Great Blog! This happens so often. I think the quote above that you want them to buy a house about as much as they want to buy one is key.

You know when they give you their "list" and then don't trust you to use their "list" to give them ALL the available homes that fit their list and price range it gets really frustrating. I find more times than not with my buyers it's not they are driving around finding, but sitting at their computer all night and finding new listings for me to rule out for one reason or another.

I usually find that after a few "explanations" have been given and each conversation ends with "Shall we revisit the search parameters we have set up for you?" they figure out that I can be trusted to stay within the bounds of what will not waste their time or mine. Excellent post...maybe it will help some folks to understand the big picture!

I think we all have experienced this at one point or another and it is part of the game. I think you handled it well

Good points! Already reblogged this! It is usually under contract or extensive repairs on one of the items on your list!

Buyers are such as little piece of heaven. I have had two buyers recently tell me that if they cannot find a home in the neighborhood that they like they are not going to buy. The neighborhood that both buyers want is good $100,000 over what they can afford and the list of homes that I have given them to look at does not meet with their expectations. Sigh.

I believe most buyers do this! They always think they are helping you out by doing/driving/searching all possible areas for a home the Realtor may have missed.

Maggie, I can understand the over eager buyer and it's wonderful to let them know you didn't miss the home. I think sometimes they get so excitied and need to check in to make sure :) Then again I have to wonder if some people DO happen to miss a home for sale.......

Or, they only want to see homes with 4 bedrooms and they keep calling you with homes that only have less than 4. Or, they want a pool but the ones they call about don't have a pool. I run into this all the time.

Wonderful list, and as you said, not all inclusive. Don't know how buyers can think that we "miss" a house that would be perfect for them, but it often happens. Mostly it's because it's priced WAY over their budget.

You make good points. If only all the buyers out there would see this!

I have this problem with people picking out houses on the internet too. The biggest thing is that many websites don't indicate a listing is a short sale and there is no way the people can deal with the months involved in waiting to find out if you can actually by the house. Oh, yes - foreclosures that you know have mold in the basement or some other non-financeable issue. Or, for relocating buyers, that it's in an area that they have made very clear doesn't work for them - driving distance to work is over an hour and they don't want more than a 20 minute drive, too far to activities, etc.. Or you know the house and there are features about the lot or the house that they have said are not acceptable to them. A lot of down time on my part responding on each one of these dreamhomes they find.

Good points!

Maybe they are like that because they feel they need to be in control somehow.

They just don't understand the filtering process they hired us to do! Like others have said..after a while they'll get it. It's a learning curve for them.

It makes you all the more valuable to them when they realize why you did NOT pick out that house for them.

Maggie, an excellent summation. Certainly we have all been there before. Some learn the hard way by running all over creation looking at property that is nowhere near what the client is looking for.

Too funny! i just had a conversation with a buyer..."why didn't you tell me about that one?"...just a few minutes ago. I know the price looks good, but it's only a quarter share of the property. That would make it kinda tough to live there, dontcha think???

Maggie, have you been taking my calls? :-)

Great post!

Great post Maggie, especially in southeast FL. They see a lockbox and want to see it. Like you said it can be PS, CS, smaller/larger than what they want, more way more $$$, for rent, short sale, or too many repairs, etc. This should be given to all buyers/renters.

Great list. I get frustrated when buyers also want to call on every sign when we are out looking. If it didn't show up in my search, or I didn't print it, there was a good reason- probably one you mentioned!

On the other hand... this can be a learning opportunity for me as an agent to learn more about what they really want. You know - that gap between our heads and our heart...

In my rural market, the perfect fit may not always fit a standard list. So I do allow for some degree of "meandering" in our search together. At least in the beginning.

Wonderful list and I am going to reblog it for my area! It's sometimes difficult to explain all this to buyers and hopefully some will read and understand.

i like waht Lenn said... I hate it when the buyer wants me to call on every sign she sees as we drive around

Maggie - I bet you have that pre-printed for emailing out, don't you?

Hi Maggie,

I totally agree with post #9. They can remember that we want them to find a viable home just as much as they do. And not just because it is the only way we will ever get paid for working with them!

A lot of these clients are just really excited. I can't blame them! If they have not been bitten by the excitement bug, though, it is a little harder to figure.

I have several buyers like that here in Watertown WI. they know what they want and they think that because the internet lets them see "everything" they can find their own home. but time ans time again, the one they buy was one they passed up online because they did not like the picture.

keep plugging away.

Same thing with agents using r dot c and they are sold or gone. Frustrating.

We send them everything active, not holding anything back, unless it is something under contract.

Don't forget the "hey that home only has 2 bedrooms, and you wanted 4 bedrooms"

Maggie - It definitely creates more work for us, but I prefer they call me so I can tell them why it hasn't been sent to them as opposed to them calling other agents.

So true, so true! I have to re-blog this in hopes that some of my buyers will happen upon it!

The reason many buyers do all these things is probably nothing personal.

They have the impression they must find their own home out there. They probably got that impression from working with an agent that was not as dependable as you or from a friend or family member that has worked with such an agent or from reading aout such experiences - on-line or elsewhere.

Coming to that impression is, unfortunately, an incredibly easy thing to do.

Just smile and show them you are the exception to what they think is the rule.

How true Maggie!

I have MLS on my mobile and it has cut down questions and phone calls when I can check a home while with clients on the road.

The question is usually one such as: "Why did you not show us this home?", or "I want to see this one." I pull my car over and fire up the BlackBerry to find the listing.

My usual response is: "You are looking for a 4 bedroom and this is a 2 bedroom." Or, "Your price range is $400,000 and this home is asking $600,000."

Love it, sounds like everyone has these experiences. Oh Well patience, perseverence and a good hold on ones tongue usually works.

Maggie,

You have described (in great detail) what we try our best to do for our buyer clients. Sometimes they get it, and other times we have to explain why "that" property is not in their email. 99.99% of the time if it isn't in their email, there is a specific reason.

Great post!

Judy

I always wonder why buyers still don't believe when you say that you have given and showed them everything.

Great post. I find that after a while, they start to trust me and not looking so much on their own.

Maggie - good points to share with a buyer. I have experienced the same thing when driving someone around a neighborhood.

Excellent! Who hasn't had a call or email from someone asking us about a property we did not recommend to our clients? From now on, I think I'll send them a link to your blog post when that happens.

Maggie

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, they are right on target.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Oh yes. My favorite is the "foreclosure buyer" who can't understand why every vacant house with a dead lawn isn't available!

Maggie all good reasons, but explain to me again why sending someone a listing that is a cash offer only and they can only do a 100% loan is a bad idea :) :) :)

Maggie,

I sooooo can't stand these type of phone calls. So much of our time is weeding through the stack when they think we didn't look at them!

Love the post!

Maggie you have done an excellent job with this post. Not only is it informative but it looks great too. This is worthy of a re-blog for my local market. Thanks.

Great post,

The only thing more frustrating is buyers finding old listings all over the internet that sold 2 years ago!

Great post - don't you love the buyers who think that you are holding out on them! You know where the perfect house is but you just aren't telling them!!!

Good information, sellers always wonder about this.

I think anyone would be curious and act that way. I like Lenn's idea of having everything with you while touring. I too make sure there's a good fit. I'm here to help people buy or sell real estate and I like to be sure that's the same objective of the person I'm helping.

Thank you thank you for posting this!

I cringe when I hear realtors criticized for this.

I love the idea of pointing out that you want them to buy a home as much as they do. It puts things in perspective.

You've also given a great list of reasons for not sending them a particular listing.

JAN

2010

There you go! What a good list! If they don't trust us to send them homes that will work, how can they trust us to do any other part of our job? It all starts with trust!

Some thing with the homes that don't have PENDING through their For Sale sign. We drive to see a house up the street, and there's another home they just have to know about. I didn't sent it because it's either out of your price range or pending! GEEZ. Good blog, I can relate!!

This is a tough one-- here there are soooooooo many houses on the market and they see signs that are not homes compatible with the criteria they said they wanted -- but they will call and e-mail and are sure they must be missing something ------ soooooo many houses.

Very fine post, and excellently presented points. We are the R.E. agents. They--the buyers--are not. Your post is one that makes a fine email, or handout for prospective clients. Educate them up front, and save the wear and tear on both. I have a client who called on a piece of land, only to have me tell her it was under contract. "Why didn't you send it to me?" Because it went under contract AFTER the price was dropped $25,000. Plus there are development costs for septic, digging a well, connecting to power, etc., etc. Doesn't leave you much money for a house. Land fell out of contract because buyers were worried about how to take care of a septic system. My client said the costs to develop made it too expensive. But I do like how you laid out several scenarios of why a certain property might not be sent to them.

A gold star. What a nice thing to wake up to. Thank you Moderator (with a capital M).

Thanks to each of you for your comments and your re-blogs. Some of the comments made me chuckle. (George!) Others made me think. Thank you all for sharing your experiences.

I do realize that it usually boils down to someone who is super-excited and really wants to make sure no stone is left unturned. And as some of you stated, after working with me for a bit, they realize that I can be trusted to look over everything with a fine-toothed comb. I really do take the time to turn over every proverbial stone and make sure it's not a match.

Very well written and good information. I'm working with a buyer and he sent a request to me (not to the realtor) to look at a property that wasn't even in the area (completely different county) that he wanted to look at immediately. I forwarded it to the agent so we will see.

Great points, Maggie. I have a buyer who insists on having me look up properties for them which either don't fit their needs or are priced out of their range, because instead of relying on me to send them the information from the MLS (which I do), they're looking up properties on every tom, dick, and harry real estate website. How aggravating!

Maggie,

I actually appreciate such questions from my buyers because it gives me a chance to show what real value I bring to the table. Usually after a round or two, the buyers have full confidence in my screening on their behalf.

Your buyer should appreciate the thought you put into your selections. I was just sent some homes to see by a client that were out of the price range we spoke of- I brought this up and we agreed to keep it in the price range but they retained the right to add the odd wildcard.

I had to deal with this yesterday. Eager buyer I've been working with a while. As I'm pulling away from their appt. they saw another house -- that is $50k out of their price range. They're flagging me down to get inside that one. It's out of their price range PLUS it is pending. They want to see it anyway, to compare. Nope. Sorry, it's pending and no showings. Then they call me a half hour later, driving around, with a list of other houses I didn't show them... same thing. All are either pending, withdrawn or over their budget.

I absolutely love this post! May I re-blog, pretty please!!!

I also love when the buyers cruise neighborhoods way out of their price range and call you to check a price and are astonished that the house is way too expensive for them...."Oh those sellers must be nuts that's way too much for that house."

Maggie,

I recently lost a buyer because I didn't show her short sale listings that didn't meet her search criteria. Oh, so true!

I agree with all your points as I have had several people that do the same thing. How many have called or emailed saying you never sent me this property. Why not? And they sometimes say so in an accusatory tone. When I ask them your top price range is $200K is that correct? They say yes. I tell them well that home is 4,200 square foot is on Tampa Bay and is waterfront and priced at $800K, they say no wonder we liked that home so much. I let them know I will send any properties that meet their criteria.

Unfortunately, I have found that many of these people do not trust us as they had an agent that only sent them properties that paid a certain commission. If it was less than 3% or something like that, then they did not send it.

Great Post. I get these all the time... and then I take them out to the houses... and they always say "well, you were right!"...

But they usually do it again a few more times before they find the perfect house.

one quick solution is to e-mail ALL the listings in their price range, and ask do you want them all, or shall I spend the time to weed out the ones you won't be interested in or won't work (financing issues, condition, short sale, etc, for what ever the reason) Do they have any idea the time involved? NO. After one time of receiveing hundreds of listings as opposed to the 10-20+/- we spend the time finding that might work for them (out of those hundreds) they learn to appreciate the time involved.

I do think in 1998 or 1997 I had one buyer that found a home he actually bought, that I purposely ignored since it was 2 bedroom, and he had insisted on 3. It did turn out to work fine, it was a rambler with a walk up attic that he easily converted to 2 more bedrooms for about $15,000. Added dormers, and the ceiling height was fine. Only time I can think of the buyer found the house first!

Very good points. I will make sure and discuss this topic at length with the Buyers I am meeting with tonight

Thanks

Very good points. I will make sure and discuss this topic at length with the Buyers I am meeting with tonight

Thanks

Maggie, you wrote a great post -- we all identify with your points, and hopefully potential buyers will read it and have a better understanding of what a Realtor does behind the scenes to help their clients find a home.

It's all about setting expectations and explaining how you work. I've had buyers that get upset because I want to accompany them on all showings. Their old realtor used to give them the lock box codes. Try to explain that one without disparaging the other agent!

What I really like is the ones that AFTER you tell them the 10 reasons this house isn't on their list want to see it anyway! Great Post!

I think most buyers are truly unaware that the MLS and our sites lists everything in the system - especially if they haven't purchased in a decade. Inevitably, it's either a property that's pending, too big, too small, or missing a critical feature.

Amen! We need to publish this in all the papers and every blog! Thanks and I may just re-blogg too!

Great post. I let my clients know what to expect while looking. I also let them know the internet and homes magazines are usually out of date. I will give them the most updated information. Still a few will call me when they see something in the magazine etc. I even had one call on the properties she found. Funny thing most were under contract/sold or not in her price range. I really do think most are trying to help and they are excited but some days I just want to say "inhale honey and let me work for you"

This is great! We are seeing quite a few equity sellers coming back into the market, they are reasonably priced but not fire-sale price. So my buyers will often wonder why we are not seeing the house next door, and I need to explain to them that they are equity sellers and are priced sometimes $50-100,000 higher than the short sale we are seeing.

Nice blog post! I'll be adding the information to my Buyer Book!

I have that same buyer. Funny thing is, this last weekend, THEY found an REO that actually WAS for sale and not listed in the MLS. Turns out the listing agent was holding an open house on this "pocket listing" attempting to get both sides of the commission before putting the listing in the MLS. They made an offer on it the very next day! We'll see how it turns out but if they are successful in purchasing this house prior to it getting in the MLS they will have succesfully bypassed alot of competition. Implementing this strategy may have cost more gas and time than they could ever save on the home but, if that's how they want to spend it, more power to 'em!!

A lot of buyers don't understand that their is normally a delay between MLS and an agent's website, so we see "pending" and they see "Active." Even worse is when the seller's agent hasn't changed the status to pending for several days. In my initial buyer meetings I try to nip it in the bud by letting them know that what is showing on other websites may not always be accurate, including what we see on MLS.

If the property in question is on my buyer's short list, I call the seller's agent to see if it is still available and whether they are working any offers.

Hi Maggie, Thanks for this well written post. Many buyers want to gety involved in the search or just get a feel for the street a listing is located on.

Thanks! It seems we have all had this experience. I have great FHA buyers right now, but I'm sure they sometimes think I am making up excuses for why this or that house will not work for them! I feel like I'm telling them only 5 - 10% of what they find is really fully active and financable for them. I really liked how you presented this information. Great job!

Excellent post and advice, why wouldn't you send them the house? Why wouldn't you try and sell them something? Why do they find all the 'special' homes supposedly and you can't? Why do they keep looking for things or at things that you don't send them?

For some reason the buyer doesn't believe you? And again, why wouldn't you try and sell them a home?

This is why we will always have agents. The internet may have empowered people but it also flooded them with a lot of crap.

Great blog. Thanks for sharing it with us.

take care

Constantine

I like your blog Maggie - you are right there are reasons why you can't send some of these listings you people - they need to know why....

Good post! Working with a buyer is all about trust. And it is a process to build trust. The annoying calls are something you can use to build that trust. Think of it this way, they are calling you and not the name on the sign.

Many buyers who are eager do this...my experience is they are the ones typically closest to buying so I welcome the nonsense and patiently handle the calls and suggested properties and use it as a tool to demonstrate my personal knowledge of my area and inventory.

Yeah....every once in awhile we get those that want to "help". :)

Great list... but as some have said before, these types of buyers are often highly motivated, so it pays to keep them going... but manageing expectations, a thing that should be well accomplished by your list, is the best route to take...

I think it can be a waste of time and gas to drive around unless you haven't seen the neighborhoods yet. But yes, when you're showing property and they say what about that one! It can be annoying. I always say it must have been filtered out by price or size or could be pending. Lake Arrowhead doesn't allow for sale signs, so people can't drive around up here and call on signs.

I always meet with buyers (as much as possible) before delving in too deep ... an educated buyer, is a happier buyer. Communication is key.

Hi Maggie...I've been a Realtor for almost 24 years now and I must admit, if I were in the market, I'd be riding around the neighborhood looking too. In fact I did that a few years ago in Williamsburg, VA (out of my market) and found a FSBO. Bought it (home for family member).

Kate

At least there are some buyers that you don't have to drag out. It can be frustrating and annoying, but at least they hired a professional to help with the search.

Maggie - Great Blog! I have had similar experience with buyers... mostly the first time buyer. In some cases it has been a situation where the property is a short sale and the listed price is ridiculously low to try to stir up interest and competition. The buyers wonders why you didn's show them this one because to them it seems to be a great buy in their price range. I usually review comps for the neighborhood with them, and then I also explain it as an "Ebay" scenario - low opening bid, but there is probably a "reserve" that has to be met. That seems to help them understand the "short sale dance".

As a buyer's agent in Orlando this happens with almost every buyer, first timer or not. They also search the internet all the time. I just love their excitement and it usually rubs off on me. It just takes a few times of them finding a house that isn't right for them before they realize that I am working hard for them. I am almost certian that I have missed a house or two along the way though. Great post!

Wendy Patton

Keller Williams Advantage Reatly

Maggie,

Great points you make here! And in my area we have what is called Leasehold properties. The National websites like Home.com, Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com do not allow the distinction when imputting the list price. Disclosing that fact is required in our local MLS and it makes a huge difference. Leasehold properties are typically worth much less than Fee Simple ones because the land is not included. It has to be "rented out" sometimes for a substantial monthly fee (up to $2000 in some cases!!!) and for a limited time. The owner is in essence just a tenant of the landowner.

It's only natural for them to ask. And even though it takes a few minutes, a quick answer is a huge relief.

It is so true, we have to waste a lot of time with them because they are doing their own searches, thinking we are missing something, or whatever. There is always a reason why we have not sent it to them and it is an educational process to show them why. But, once we get things figured out, they will be our best buyers.

I couldn't ahve written a better post myself! I always tell clients that if I don't email the house to them it does not fit thier criteria... plain adn simple- if you ahve to have a dining room and you ahve made that point several times- why would you want to go look at a house without a dining room???

JAN

2010

I also love when a Buyer comes in with a BOOKLET that is 3-4 months OUT-OF-DATE and requests that I INVESTIGATE each property that they circles and give them an update! And they don't beleive that our MLS system is totally updated (and, hopefully, accurate!)LOL!

Ah how true. And even worse are all the calls we get from buyers who are working with other agents. Their agent is probably tired of hearing from them so they cal direct to another agent to get the info.

I read a majority of the responses and many agree with you, Maggie. I, on the other hand, cannot disagree more. Several Realtors commented that those calls are an excellent tool learn what your buyer wants and works with them; to those Realtors my hat off to you - I would want to work with you if I was in your market. I am going to be blunt and probably a little harsh in my response due to past experiences.

When you are a buyer's agent, you represent and work for your buyer. Simple as that. If you do not want to handle their inquiries, either hire an assistant, provide horrible customer service or change industries.

I had my eye on a property in pre-foreclosure. I went to the auction with the intent to purchase the house. Unfortunately the bank's opening bid was higher than I was willing to pay. The bank bought the property back.

I called a Realtor I had been working with and told her the address and said the moment this house hits the market as an REO I want to make an offer.

Once month I contacted her about the property, and she informed me each time it was not listed yet. One day I was in the area, so I drove by the property.

To my surprise, there was a Realtor For Sale sign in the yard. I instantly called another Realtor, and she pulled up the listing. She informed me the property had been in the MLS for two months and it was actually the on the market for the second time, because the first time the buyer's financing fell through.

Needless to say I never used or referred the former Realtor again. The latter Realtor met me at the property, showed it to me, filled out the contract and took her commission when I purchased the home.

The home in question is my favorite rental, and I almost missed it because of a Realtor.

Before you judge your clients too harshly, remember - they are your clients, so earn their business.

Aaron

Aaron, in the state of Florida, where I practice, real estate licensees are not single agents. We do not represent the buyer or the seller. We are transaction brokers as dictated by our state law.

Even so, I still wish to serve my customer the best way I know how and am capable of.

My post was not a derogatory blast on buyers. I don't even see a hint of negativity in it. Do you? It was an explanatory one. I find myself explaining these things repeatedly so I figured I'd write it out and make use of the results, hence the post.

At every point of any transaction, my goal is to serve my customer first. It is precisely because of the type of experience you speak of, that I consult with my customers and foster the relationships I have with all of them. They are not merely a transaction to me, but a relationship to be nurtured.

I must be doing something right. Eighty percent of my business comes to me by way of referrals from satisfied customers and people who know me.

Everyone else, thank you for your comments. I haven't read them all yet. I'm actually on my way out to meet with a buyer so I can show him a house. How apropos!

JAN

2010

How about the buyers who have paid someone on line to send them a list of REO properties. Since they just got the list they KNOW it is all true. But when you investigate, you find that some of those houses were sold a year or so earlier. The same is sometimes true for listings they find on line.

I have to agree with Aaron - while the Realtors here on Active Rain are the kind who keep their buyers informed, there are plenty of others like the one who failed to call him. They may be dumb, and they may be causing themselves financial harm, but the buyer who relies on them still misses out.

The problem is, until you prove yourself, your buyer has no way to know that he can trust you to keep him informed of every possibility.

Marte, you're absolutely right. It's sad that as an industry we have a very poor reputation in the eyes of the consumer. I can only speak for myself and I extend sincere efforts to overcome that reputation that precedes us when working with someone who's never heard of me. Those that are referred to me already know that I work a little differently.

Maggie, thanks for spelling out this list. It is highly amusing to me to see this in written form. I try to be patient with buyers who seem to make it their mission to find any listing that I possibly have not sent them, because I want them to keep calling ME, not the number on the signs that they drive by.

Remember when the Buyers brought in the magazines with houses circled? LOL

JAN

2010

Hi Maggie! I just stopped by to say hello. It has been a while...a while too long!

Boomer

I learned long ago that buyers are always more interested in the house next door to the one I am showing them that they are to the one I am showing. send him two lists, one with his criteria and another with most everything in the neighborhood he is looking in. he well spend hours looking at them and he will be secure in the knowledge that he did not miss out on anything wonderful when he buys one of the homes on your list. :) Womderful to see you hard at it Maggie. :)

JAN

2010

Sometimes I can use a little help. I recognize they are looking just for themselves and I am looking for lots of Buyers! If they find it first and bring me along, that's ok too.

Lynn, yes! A call from a customer is always a welcomed call. =)

Gary & April, Those magazines are funny. Their turnaround time is so long that the homes are usually sold by the time they print them. I explain to my customers that those magazines are not meant to sell those homes. They're meant to bring the agent more buyers.

Boomer! I know it has. I'm saweee. =( On the bright side, I'm doing great.

Teresa! Thanks so much for stopping by. The Boardman Family's in the house. =)

Beverly, that's absolutely true and I try to keep that top of mind always.

JAN

2010

Great post that I'll be re-blogging.

It is frustrating for us to have to keep looking up addresses for Buyers that do not meet their needs, for all the reasons you stated and more!

So often they send listings from aggregate websites that do not police their listings. What the client sends us is Canceled, Contingent and Off The Market listings.

We do our job and continue to educate them on why we are they are receiving the best listings. Joy

FEB

2010

This post was very helpful for the overly eager buyers that we all encounter from time to time.

FEB

2010

Joy & Sybil, thanks for your comments. And thanks for reblogging Joy.

My list doesn't include very valid reasons that have been mentioned in the comments. Those out of date websites are some of the worst offenders.

FEB

2010

That's a good list Maggie. I've learned to roll with it. Not once has a buyer bought a home that matched the original criteria they gave me.

FEB

2010

A few more reasons. : It does not have the number of bedrooms and baths that you need, not the school system requested, does not have a basement, it is a rancher and you want a tri-level, it does not have central heat or air, it has mold, asbestos, termites, elevated radon, a collapsed well, a failed septic, standing water on the property,a wet basement, Federal Pacific electric, and is next to a toxic waste dump!

FEB

2010

Wayne, I feel for you. Thankfully, my experience has been much different. I think 70 percent of my buyers end up buying what they started looking for.

Margaret, chuckle, chuckle. What's up with Federal Pacific?

FEB

2010

I use to send everything and explain why they aren't a fit for the first few times and then I begin to drop them off the list (making note that I didn't send another 4 because they were pending or whatever). They soon get the hint.

But, hey, they are hungry and ready so...

Leave a response…

Name:

Email:
(optional)

Comment:

What does the graphic say?

Pinecrest | Palmetto Bay | Maggie Dokic, SFR

Miami, FL

More about me…

Keller Williams Realty Premier Properties

Address: 11420 N. Kendall Drive, Suite #207, Miami, FL, 33176

Office Phone: (786) 433-2954

Cell Phone: 30581HOUSE

Email Me

Miami, FL (33157) Current Weather

Get great free widgets at Widgetbox

Listings

Links

Archives

Find FL real estate agents and Miami real estate on ActiveRain.

Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.