I have to be extremely factual here. From June 15 through Labor Day, I turn down offers to sit with a Realtor,or a Loan Officer, at Sunday afternoon Open Houses. That period of time has traditonally been when I play weekend golf, and I will generally chooses a round of golf with family or friends over the Open House every time.
No so, the rest of the year. I like attending Open Houses and I have found ways to make myself useful when I do. Whether I am present at the request of a Realtor or a Loan Officer, I believe my sole function is to be a purveyor of information. A potential Buyer will ask me what is the legal effect of signing an Offer to Purchase. I explain that the person who is at risk is the Seller; that person has taken his or her home off the market when the Offer is signed, and agrees to sell the house to the Buyer. The Buyer's risk is minimal; the loss of his or her binder. That doesn't mean that the Offer should not be carefully crafted; it just means that the Buyer has less at stake.
Levenger offers over-size business cards which are gridded. I put out a supply of these cards, with my Cell phone and email address on them next to the Listing Sheets. People often pick these up and draw floor diagrams on them and put them in their breast pocket or purse. Not infrequently, they will call me post-closing with further questions or even to retain my services. That is surely one of my intended results, but I would attend the Open Houses as a business favor whether I got any follow through or not.
I suppose my thoughts on this are my thoughts on most relationships. Givers gain!!! If I give my time, on a Sunday afternoon, I have given a little bit of myself. just as importantly, I have an opportunity to get to know a person with whom I have already established some kind of relationship al little bit better. Sometimes, something memorable or funny takes place at an Open House, and this is a topic of discuss for the person affected and me for months to come. Sometimes, there is an accepted Offer, and i was there when it happened. In my mind, Open Houses for Lawyers are a trul "win-win". Let me know if you think otherwise.
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