Honesty is the Best Policy

Your buyer certainly was able to think and reason when those outrageous statements were made - good for him and good for your position on honesty is the best policy.  I absolutely agree that you must be honest.  You are proving that it works.  Best of luck.

Good morning,

You are right honesty is the best policy. Clients know when your overselling your abilities to the impossible!

Honesty is always the best policy.  Even when you lose someone because of it they will remember you turned them over to someone who could help them better.

That guy must have been the "best Realtor ever!!" -- ugh. Glad you won over the buyer. Best wishes!!

Amen!  I try to stay in my little corner of LV but it is impossible these days.  I do rely on referral partners to refer buyers out that do specialize in certain corners!

Oh please...no one is  "an expert in every inch and corner."  And anyone who falls for that, gets what they deserve!

You can be an expert in every inch of your city - if you know the right realtor to refer your buyers to when they want to go out of the area that you know.  You're now showing what an "expert" you are.

Great post, and wishing you continued success.

Many agents make that claim in my market as well.  And it's just not possible that in the Atlanta MSA which consists of something like 13 counties, that you can be an expert in all of them.  There are neighborhoods & areas right in the county that I live in that are a 45 minute drive from my home!

It's impossible to be an expert of every inch and corner of just about any MLS.  We all have our strengths and we should cater to them, not downplay them by overgeneralizing.  Congrats to your buyers.

It's interesting to see so many "I'm #1!" claims in real estate.  Sometimes I'll see these same ads side-by-side in the newspaper (yes, still read the paper) and wonder what clients must think when they see them.  Honesty is always the best policy - put your best foot forward, do what you know you can do, and keep expectations on target.  It would be pretty easy to trip up in a city the size of Philly if someone were to ask a simple question such as which elementary school would be the one for any given property.  Something that a neighborhood expert should know off the top of one's head - but might be tricky so someone who is an 'expert' for the whole city.

So true... it's hard to remember what you said to who, and why when being less than honest,  it will always come out that you were NOT truthful-- and WHAM.. you've lost a client. 

Never lie.  YOu may not know everything, but be the person that knows how to find things out.

Always be honest about what you know and what you don't know.  Never fudge an answer, never make things up.  If you are not a short sale expert it does not mean that you cannot do a short sale...ask for a co-list, or help from someone in your company who has experience.  Ditto on representing multi-million dollar estate clients - specialty marketing if ever there was one.      If you have never marketed a major estate, co-list with someone who has.  Your clients will thank you for your integrity and honesty.

Honesty in all things will help you keep your stories straight :) Good for you!

I do not know every square inch of the area I live in.  What I tell my buyer clients is that I am very good at representing my clients and that I may not know the area they are interested in quite as well as someone who lives there, but that I am a quick study and with everything that is available to me online, I will do the best job I can for them.

I agree!  And if you don't know the answer, tell them you'll find the answer!

Honesty is the only policy, you sleep better and never have to look over your sholder.

Ty

We should stay those principles

Glad you had customers who could see through a phony!