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Unfaithful Buyers!

By
Real Estate Agent with Jack Lingo REALTORS

Today's market is hard enough and then to have buyers who take up your time expect you drop everything and run when they call only to have them buy something from another agent in the same development you showed them several (4 or more) units.  I did not however show them the particular unit they are purchasing.  I know upon 1st meeting you should ALWAYS get Agency signed,  however, this particular morning I was on my to the office for Phone duty. It was early Sunday morning and my phone started to ring, I rearranged my morning skipped breakfast and headed out the door to meet the eager buyers who couldn't wait to see the Condo's where they had been driving around for the better part of the morning.  I meet them and show them 3 of my 4 listings and then proceeded to show them a unit that the builder still had available since they are all on sentri now they are easy to show.  I did not however, show the other 2 units the builder had (since they were the same unti just with different kitchens) The buyers thanked me (their words) they had seen enough and needed to get on the road, they gave me their email asked me to send them other listings so they could come back the following weekend. I bid them a good day and we went our separate ways.  I sent several emails to them over the week and never received a response.  I did however, find out that they had been out on Saturday before our meeting with yet another agent in our other office.  So we chaulked it up to buyers unaware.  The bottom line here is buyers are not faithful.  Its sad because I love my job however, when something like this happens it leaves a sour taste in your mouth with both the agent now getting both sides of the commission and the unfaithful buyer that is lying through their teeth. 

Lesson learned. 

Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation
Katie - Nice blog!  I still get a "kick in the pants" every now and then that reminds me of the basics.  'Had a case myself this month that served as a reminder about getting that agency agreement signed Day One.  "No good deed goes unpunished" - It may or may not be doing THEM a favor to postpone the employment agreement between us (because that's what it really is), but it's not doing ourselves any favor.
Jul 30, 2007 11:08 PM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!
It sounds like they just did not understand the commission process since they went out with another agent from your office, most likely they do not realize that one agent in the office has nothing to do with another one. I always explain the " how I get paid" . Then I do not have any problems. If I feel they are not understanding I have them sign a buyer broker agreement. If they refuse, I refer them to another agent and if they pan out I will still get the referral fee. Yes, Lesson learned, great post because it happens more than you know. Katerina
Jul 31, 2007 11:36 AM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate
It happens to the best of us. But once, after receving a lead through my web site and fully explaining the entire process, as well as how I would be working for them, and eventually be getting paid, a year later when they were finally ready to buy (after keeping in constant contact), they bought through someone else. I sent them a long, detailed e-mail telling them exactly how I felt about the situation. They responded by saying we (Realtors) should just understand that this is part of the business and accept it. I was seeing red by that time so I never responded again.
Nov 30, 2007 03:08 PM
Katie Landon Lewes
Jack Lingo REALTORS - Lewes, DE
REALTORS

Katerina Unfornately for me they understood the process they were just determined to cut me out.  I am not sure why. It happens (not to me often).

Lisa I would have seen red as well.  People can be so mean I don't think the world really understands how we work. 

Have a great day! 

Lesson Learn!

Dec 01, 2007 05:37 AM