In reading Leanne's post earlier, I got to thinking about the proverbial blind pig.

In our industry, this correlates to new agents.  Green agents.  Rookie agents.  Lazy agents.  Part time agents.  Undedicated agents.

You get the picture.

Blind pig isn't necessarily a derogatory term-it's a phase we all go through in becoming established professionals.  Some folks come out of this phase to root for truffles and others are quite content to wander along seeking the occasional acorn.

But when you're a listing agent, you have to work for the blind pigs.  Make their lives easy!  Why, you say?  Because they might somehow have discovered the one person who will buy that synthetic stucco octagonal shaped house you can't seem to unload!(with all apologies, this is not my listing but is the absolute strangest floorplan currently on the market, IMHO).

     *Provide the most accurate and complete MLS listing you can-dig up every possible piece of information and get it on the MLS listing.  The blind pigs often need this info and don't know where to find it.

     *Provide accurate driving directions.  You want them to find the house to show it, yes?

     *Provide copies of surveys, disclosures, HOA information, etc, inside your in-house brochures.  Let them leave the house with everything they need to go back to the office and write up an offer.

     *Have easy showing instructions-talk to your sellers about NOT leaving alarms armed, about removing pets, about not requiring 24 hour notice.

     *Suggest closing attorneys if they have never had a closing, or if they don't know anyone.  Don't push them-just give them a list.  This benefits your side if you can get them to use a vendor that you trust-and also makes that blind pig look good to their client.

     *Remind them to schedule inspections, appraisals, surveys, closing.  Blind pigs often don't know all of the intricate steps involved in getting from showing to closing.

I often talk about raising the bar in our profession, and part of that task is taking the blind pigs in hand and helping them to shepherd transactions.  Do I end up working both sides of the deal most of the time?  Sadly, yes.  But do most of my contracts get to closing?  Happily, yes.  And that blind pig?  A fan of mine for life.  If they have a choice of what inventory to show, do they pick mine first?  Hopefully so.  Blind pigs have loyalty!