PLEASE DON'T TAKE OFFENSE IF I ASK YOU PERSONAL QUESTIONS

Good for you Paula.  If you're not going to protect yourself, no one else will.  There's nothing wrong with being cautious when dealing with total strangers.  You don't want to become a statistic.  You don't need to be dealing with anyone that is offended anyway. 

I know one of my first questions for my people is are you current on your payments. I mean if we are getting to the point of listing this is a have to know! With so many people behind on bills there should be no shame even if you are. The important thing is to price it competitively if you need to unload it fast and market it aggressively. You have to know first though!

Agents used to be the ones that "qualified" buyers in the olden days.  I remember my first broker giving me a mortgage calculator by Texas Instruments . . . LOL.  We had to talk about their ability to purchase.  That was when you wrote up the offer and THEN tried to get financing for it. 

Hi Pula, who would want to work with clients that are evasive, especially after you explain why...They certainly cannot be committed and/or serious.

Paula, I taught martial arts for years and taught rape prevention classes.  You have EVERY right to ask questions to find out if they are a serious buyer and to protect yourself. 
Living close to the Ohio border it was big news in our office when a Realtor was raped and killed in a vacant house and another was raped, both in Ohio.  My office manager asked me to do a class on basic self defense.  So anyone that gets pissy with you when you ask your question should be discarded.

Hi Paula,

It seems like you need more comments! :)

No commission is ever worth the risk of rape, robbery or murder.

Good post

Phil

Paula, I absolutely agree, safety is a huge concern, we are meeting total strangers after all. Always meet in the office! Secondly without asking some pertinent questions you'll never know if this person is going to buy a house or has some free time and wants to get some decorating ideas!!!!

Here's a good one...I got a request for information about home sales in my area via my website on Monday. I sent the information over and I got a reply asking could I find out much Mr and Mrs Smith had paid for their house back in May!

So I asked why, from this lady in Maryland, get this, "Oh I'm just being nosy!!!!"

Paula, great post.  I know what you mean about contacts getting evasive with any questions and that old feeling on the hairs on the back of my neck.  Somethings up!

Always better to be safe than sorry. Perhaps asking them permission to ask them some questions that will ensure everyone's expectations are level set from the get-go would lessen some of the more negative reactions you get from some folks. But that being said, anyone who causes you to see red flags and/or feel uncomfortable should be avoided - instincts more often than not are spot on!

Paula i have a standard list of question i rattle off when someone new calls as well. If they can not answer the basic questions of are you working with another agent, have you been pre-quailified, if so with who. The poetential buler loses credibility quickly

I ask all kinds of questions to get to know the client, understand their motivation, and get to know them so I can understand more about their needs and wants.  Sometimes what they say isn't always what they mean.  Plus, I have to like you to work with you.  If they're not someone I want to work with - off they go.

Paula, you are right to ask questions. If they are evasive, its a red flag and time to move on.

Congrats on the feature. So true that you have to protect yourself. If someone cant take the time to tell you about themselves, then they will probably string along for a while and ultimately not buy a home. Or, like you said, they may be dangerous.

Thank you Paula, There have been a number of REALTORS in the San Antonio area attacked and would have protected themselves had they just asked some questions. I'd love to know the questions you ask. By the way, prescription without diagnosis is malpractice in the medical world.

Hi Paula, So very well said.  Once they get defensive or evasive it is a red flag and you should trust your gut !!!

Questions are so important. You don't want to put yourself in a dangerous situation. You don't want to waste your time. Make that first phone call count! Great post :)

Paula, I usually begin the conversation with a blanket statement: "In order for me to better assist you, I'll need to ask some personal questions. Please understand that this is something I do with all my clients." Most of the time, that does the trick.

I remember getting a call once from a buyer for one of my million dollar listings. She was offended when I asked if she'd already met with a lender to be pre-approved. I diffused the situation by saying, "How would you feel if this was your home? Wouldn't you want your REALTOR to make sure everyone who was looking at it had already been pre-approved?" She was fine after that.

It's the nature of our business. We have to ask questions to better serve our clients and protect ourselves.

Hi Paula,

Congrats on the feature!

Nice job explaining the importance of asking questions.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Paula wonderful post for a feature.  We have every right to ask questions and the more evasive that the respnses are, the more suspicious we should be.  Safety First is the first rule of real estate.