I read a featured blog the other day written by an agent who was regretting not insisting on a buyer agency agreement and was subsequently ditched by the buyers she was working with. She was disappointed, and in her blog, reconfirmed her commitment to always get that agreement in place before investing much time in a new buyer client.
Fair enough. I disagree with the agent's conclusion that the solution to being ditched by a buyer is a written contract, but that's okay. To each his own.
But one of the many comments on the blog caught my eye. It was something about how now that we're in a new decade; it's a perfect time to set new priorities. In this case, the commenter meant that he or she intended to be even more committed to getting those agreements signed before working "for free."
Again, fair enough.
But it occurs to me (yep, here comes a soapbox) that it would do us and our industry far more good if we set our priorities a little higher. If we set them based on what the customer wants and needs, rather than on what we want and need. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about looking out for #1, but when you put your customers first, my experience has been that Your Favorite Real Estate Agent benefits right alongside!
So... how about instead of making it a higher priority to be more diligent about contractually obligating your buyers to you... you commit to making yourself indispensable to your buyers so that no contract is necessary?
How about instead of making it a higher priority to more efficiently beat the streets looking for more and more and more and more listings... you commit to figuring out how to sell the listings you already have?
If we shift our industry's priorities away from the face in the mirror and focus them on the consumer we're licensed, hired and well-paid to serve, I promise you we'll all benefit. Our buyers will buy and our listings will sell, so we'll attend more closings and see more repeats & referrals.
It really might be that simple!
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