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Real Or Fake Agent?

By
Real Estate Agent with Realty Executives Tri County, Bellingham MA

 

Let me tell you a story on real and fake agents. About a year ago, I was out scouting properties for an elderly client of mine. A sweet woman who needed to downsize but wanted to stay an independent homeowner. She lived in a spacious Victorian home. Her needs had become more of a “ranch” kind or better yet, a “condo” style. She loved to plant flowers, talk with neighbors and take walks around the neighborhood. However due to her knees not being what they used to be, she kindly asked me to begin doing the work for her.

 

So there I went and previewed many properties. One afternoon as I was driving by an “Open House” sign, I thought: This one looks perfect! I went in. The listing agent greeted me happily. I introduced myself as what I am: a real estate agent. I told her my client’s story and the reason why I was “shopping” for her. What follows is very real. No kidding. The listing agent took a good look at me after taking my business card and said: “I have never seen you around “my” town. You are obviously new.” I recognized the fact that I had been in the business for a relatively short time but that I have been around “this” town for many years. She “strongly” recommended (read: strrrrrrrongly) that I take my client next time instead of shopping for her. I did not bother repeating the reason why I was doing what I was doing. I left the condo as she was asking me about the reasons why my client would want to live in her town. You read this right: Why choose her town?

 

Around the same time, my office was expending rapidly. My broker was (and still is) taking pride in welcoming new (or newer agents) and showing them the ropes of the real estate business. Each new agent was matched with one that had a few years behind them. Like a “fairy real estate mother” sort of thing. To this day, I will tell you that our “old timers” are always (and I mean always) happy and prompt to answer all questions asked. One of them will ask me every week: “How are things for you? Is there anything you need?” One time I apologized for having some of the same names on our mutual spheres, she replied: “This town is big enough for all of us”. THIS town. Not her town. Not my town. Our town.

 

You see, there is a difference between real and fake real estate agents. Real agents have an ethic. They have respect for the profession and their peers. Potential clients know who has been in the business for too long and who is in the business to stay and make dreams come true. Your peers know that too. You cannot hide who you are. Take a side: Real or Fake? Who do you want to represent you?

 

Posted by

Lydie Ouellet Dickinson, Realtor  Bellingham, Mass 

 www.Lydieshomes.com                                                                       

Realty Executives Tri-County  508-265-2117                 

Bilingual French-English

Comments (12)

Carolyn Roland- In Delaware and S. Chester County PA
Independent architectural histor'n - Wilmington, DE
Carolyn Roland, GRI, CRS

That was very rude of her. She should have been welcoming to you if she thought you were new (even if you were not).

As they say, what goes around comes around!

Jan 17, 2012 08:24 AM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

Interesting. I thought you were headed somewhere different with this post. I like the line, "this town is big enough for all of us." I feel the same way and have often said that myself.

Jan 17, 2012 08:24 AM
Lydie Ouellet Dickinson
Realty Executives Tri County, Bellingham MA - Bellingham, MA
Realtor

Jill, the way I feel is all can have a license but not every agents should. About the "town big enough..." sounds like a John Wayne movie to me but how cute! : )

Carolyn,  I agree. One might think that exposure is a great thing! Rude indeed.

Jan 17, 2012 08:30 AM
Carlotta Remong
Berkshire Hathaway HS N.E. Prime Properties - Newport, RI

Lydie it takes all kinds...and unfortunately you have people who are arrogant in every occupation who think they know it all. And as you witnessed most times they end up inserting their foot in their own mouth.

Jan 17, 2012 08:38 AM
Peggy Hughes/pha logistix, inc.
pha logistix inc - San Francisco, CA
SF NYC LA

Lydie... this is a great post and and it is so true that there is more than enough work to go around.... for EVERYONE. Seems to me that her territorial outburst was masking her lack of self-confidence.

Jan 17, 2012 08:45 AM
Lydie Ouellet Dickinson
Realty Executives Tri County, Bellingham MA - Bellingham, MA
Realtor

Carlotta, it takes all kind indeed.

Peggy, you know I never thought of it ... '"The lack of self-confidence". Now I feel sorry for that agent.

Jan 17, 2012 09:08 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Hi Lydie....ditto to what Peggy said.....

Jan 17, 2012 09:12 AM
Lydie Ouellet Dickinson
Realty Executives Tri County, Bellingham MA - Bellingham, MA
Realtor

Thank you Barbara. But how desperate is that to be so territorial and how bad is it it for the agent's clients? When I think about how much time we put in into advertising a listing. So having an agent drop by is like a gift from heaven!... I don't know.

That agent was fake. Simple. By the way, it was no one from your office. Always nice people there ; )

Jan 17, 2012 09:20 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

wow....there are all kinds in this and every business! At least it sounds as if you are working in a fantastic office where people function like a family, helping each other! That is what makes ActiveRain so special, that same mentality! IT WORKS! The 'my town' mentality repels people away.............

Jan 17, 2012 09:45 AM
The Elise Bickel Team
ReMax Select Realty - Pittsburgh, PA
Leasing, Property Management and Sales

I would say that I can't believe this...but I can. I know agents like that. I always encourage competition but what most agents don't remember is that 80%+ of the time when we close a deal we work with another agent. If nothing else, building relationships with other agents helps sell your properties quicker and makes the overall experience more enjoyable!

Jan 17, 2012 10:25 AM
Richard Iarossi
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD
Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Lydie,

When I first started a little over a decade ago, several agents in the office "reminded" me that certain neighborhoods belonged to them. What they didn't take into account was the internet...I did.

Rich

Jan 17, 2012 10:29 AM
Lydie Ouellet Dickinson
Realty Executives Tri County, Bellingham MA - Bellingham, MA
Realtor

Barbara-Jo, isn't that the truth... seen it this week right here! ; )

To the Weber Team... I couldn't say it better myself. From the same or different office, we all end up working together towards the same goal!

Richard, and that gives you quite a lot of real estate! Good for you for seen outside of the box. I think that if someone is not willing to grow, they might as well pack their bags and call it quit. Our profession is one of growing and be willing to learn everyday.

Jan 18, 2012 01:01 AM