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Sorry, we`re Realtors not a Chauffeur service!

Yesterday at 4:00 PM we received a call from a women who is from New York. She was in town over the weekend and is leaving back for New York today. She wanted someone to drive her around for two hours to show her as she put it "All The Bargains" in Hollywood,Florida. I asked her a few questions and decided she was really seeking a Chauffeur to drive her around to see the sights of the city.

In today`s market you have to "Qualify the Buyers" more than ever before.

The conversation is as follows:

Traveler: I`m in town until tomorrow. I want to view Condo`s in Hollywood. I`m curious to see what all the fuse is about when it comes to "Housing Bargains". I`m staying in "The Hard Rock".

Me: Well, there are plenty of "Great Buys" in Hollywood right now. What exactly are we looking for?

Traveler: I really don`t know. I just want someone to drive me around for a few hours. I want to "Kill Some Time", i`m really not looking to buy!

Me: OH! So you want me to pick you up at your hotel and drive you around so you can "Kill some time", is that it?

Traveler: That`s about it! I may one day come back to buy. Right now I want to go into a few buildings and just look around.

Me: I`m very sorry, I just don`t have the time to chauffeur you around so you can be entertained.

Traveler: Isn`t that what Realtors do?

I had to laugh when she said that. It`s her belief part of our job as Realtors are to be Chauffeurs.

I don`t know about you or how you would react,but I`m not going to pick up a person in a hotel and show them the sights of the city on a Sunday afternoon.

It`s always fun to listen to what people think our profession is about.

Back to the Traveler.

When I told her I wouldn`t be able to drive her around she was upset. Apparently, she had it all mapped out!

She wanted someone to drive her around Hollywood,than drop her off at a Restaurant in downtown Hollywood, so she could meet her family and friends.

It was our opinion she really needed to hire a Taxi Cab.

Posted by Scott Daniels Florida Real Estate 2.0. Agents Earn 100% Commission. on 12/10/2007 10:00 AM

Comments (134)

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134 Comments on Sorry, we`re Realtors not a Chauffeur service!

DEC

2007

Wow. Although I've suspected that of "potential clients" before, I've never heard it verbalized that way.

Have a great day!

Scott - Great post and good for you for not giving in. I wonder if she found someone to entertain her for the day.

Sam,

She had me laughing! She just wanted to see the sights. I guess she felt Realtors work for Free.:)

Joseph,

As long as it wasn`t me. I was very happy!

I just pop down to the Kangaroo, tell them I need a free tank of gas, and a selection of free cold drinks and free snacks for my rider, and then I give the complimentary 1/2 day Realtor Tour.

Right......

Scott, next time give them the number of a few good limo companies. Can't believe she had the gall to actually say this to you!

You have given me a great idea to be able to go sightseeing when we go to San Francisco in the summer.

BB,

Why bother? See was at the Hard Rock playing the slots I`d venture to say.Probably out of cash! :)

Mike,

I`ve been there and done that! OYE.

Gita,

I`m positive there are a few of us out there who have experienced this type of Traveler..LMAO...

It's that time of the year again... I always say, they come down here and get drunk on palm trees and try to turn us into a tour guide. I'm a listing agent for the next few years unless there is serious screening going on.

Scott you should have told her the way you work is that you will come pick her up and have her talk to a mortgage professional at your office. If she is not ready to write an offer today she can find transportation back on her own.

The nerve! I'd have taken her out - for $2.50 a mile! HA

James,

Good point! I was too busy watching the Pats to continue the conversation.

Chris,

Makes sense. They come down expecting us to "Stop everything" so we have the pleasure of driving them around.When I was a rookie i got burnt doing things like that.

I guess we all learn, the hard way!

Scott, when folks are that obvious it's easy to side step them. It's when they really pose as actual buyers that qualifying becomes difficult. Here, lady -- here's a bus token. I'll leave you off at the next corner.

Andrew,

I may start carrying around tokens. "I just want to view the sights" she was dead serious.

Nancy,

You need to buy a meter..LMAO...

I got the sane call for Weston but from another state....I will only drive around for 1 hour and no snacks included:)

Neal,

You gave me an idea. Next time I`ll be more prepared with Brown Bag Lunch.

No cabs at the Hard Rock I guess.:)

This post is bringing back memories for me.

I used to work at Sun Spa Hollywood-by-the-Sea in my early 20's (is that still there?) and at Corky's Restaurant in North Miami Beach (not there any more - I wonder if Seymour Paley is still around?) in my late teens. Grandma lived at the Roney Plaza on Miami Beach. I'm very familiar with "the season" and the quirks that folks have that live in Florida part time. I used to love that time of year in Fla and be afraid of it at the same time.

Scott - a meter on YOUR car might make you a few extra bucks this time of year. I'd try to stay away from the airport, though. LMAO too

Nancy,

Seymour is still around! He owns Roasters and Toasters. Corkys was sold and now out of business. Small world.

The Roney Pub was a great place for dinner and drinks.

I guess you remember the Doral,The Famous,The Ambers,Villa Deli,Forge,Playboy Club,Monty`s, Joe`s,Christine Lee`s,Shorty`s,Cye`s River House,David Swartz East Coast Fisheries,HerbBets and the many other great places that were once part of Miami.

You can`t believe how much change has occurred since the 80`s. It`s not the same.

I miss those days.

Scott, Maybe you should have said, "I'll be happy to pick you up. Will that be cash or charge? My fee is $200 per hour." I wonder what she would have said?

Dan,

I`m sure she continued calling from her hotel room attempting to contact any Realtor who would be her Chauffeur.

People like this can never be insulted...

Wow!! The good news is she was honest with you about what she was looking for. She didn't pretend to be a serious Buyer and get your hopes up.

Even in a Buyers market, I will NEVER meet a new potential Client and drive them around. The ONLY way I show people homes is after a Buyer consultation to learn more about their goals, objectives, and motivation. Once that is established, I put them on the phone with local lender to get pre-approved. Then, and then, will I put them in my car.

The most valuable resource we have is time. It cannot be wasted.

Good response. I see it frequently....at three bucks a gallon and with a hope of a future sale some agents do the taxi job because they see it as theor job. I am with you!

Gary,

So true!It`s a harsh reality of whats tranpired in our industry.

Rick,

Unless they`re here for more than oneday to view properties, I make it a habit to pass. The odds or slim and none their ready to buy.

Good job, Scott...you are correct, we are not taxi services! Thanks for the post.

I enjoy reading your blogs. This one is choice. I have a hard time understanding people some times

Sounds like realtors are not the only ones that need to sit in on an Ethics class.................

Scott - At least you were able to nip it in the bud. Most realtors would not have and would have been driving her around. Good job of sniffing it out!

You could have a sideline business! Tour guide for real estate. Just think.... start charging by the mile, sell snacks, talk endlessly about the value of the sights. They'll flock in from miles around and you'll be booked every day. You'll be rich!

Nah.

I agree with Rick - When I was a rookie so many years ago I used to drop everything and meet people like this - but time is an excellent teacher. I never meet with a buyer to "tour the town" until I sit down with them, find out their wants and needs and get them qualified by a lender -for money & credit!

I'm sure she found someone else to give her the "tour" - there's always a rookie out there somewhere who hasn't yet learned their lesson!

Scott - These are the type of people that can just flat out wear you down. They have absolutley no respect for peoples time. You did the right thing.

Scott, I'm guessing that this is the last time this person will be up front about their intentions. I feel for the driver that accepted this call!

Not to mention the security risks involved with putting a complete stranger in your car or being alone at properties.

I learned my lesson with something like this in my first year as an agent. Now, I meet with every client to explain the real estate process, how I work and to learn more about them before I ever take them out and about. If anyone balks at an initial 1-2 hour meeting(time based on buying experience) to go over things, then I pass on them.

Ewww.... I had a "client" who announced (after the third time out) that we can put lunches we have with clients as a business expense. I think they think we're paid by money growing off of trees....therefore the reason to waste our time, gas and wear and tear on our cars. Harumph.

Scott - We get this in Alaska ALL summer long. Especially cruise ship visitors. Since we are only about 30,000 people and we get over a million visitors per year, this is almost a daily call during the summer. Believe it or not, we get a lot of REALTORS® too that just want to "exchange cards" so they can call it a business trip! Those are even more frustrating than the calls from John Q Public. However, I will admit the agents usually try to set it up a few days ahead of time.

Not only do they think we are chauffer's, they think we get paid too! I am surprised at how many times I tell people that we don't get paid until closing! Geeezzz!

Scott,

That is to funny! The sad thing is some Realtors/Agent would have drove her around.

When ever anyone says to me that they want to go "look" for property, I always ask them to meet me at the office. If they say that they don't have a car down here, it is a good tip that they just want to sight see. That prompts me to ask more questions about what they are looking for, when they plan on buying, if they need to sell their home first, etc. If they aren't answering with buying cues, I come up with a reason to NOT drive them around. For example: Unfortunately I am showing property on the other side of town right now, meeting me at the office would really help me out. (if they are really interested they will figure out a way to come to the office). Or I say something like, I really need to find out exactly what you are looking for so that I can do some market research and find the best deals in this area. I would hate to take you to places that are overpriced.

Again, if they are interested they will be receptive.

Scott, she probably found a "taxi driver" on her next call to a real estate office. Someone else wasted their time and we wonder why the public thinks the way they do. Pre-qualify, pre-qualify, pre-qualify!!!

It is a good thing that she was honest about her intentions. The nerve of some people though. This is why it is so important to have that first meeting to qualify them. Good post.

Way to qualify! I had a Realtor yell at me last week because my broker sent them some leads and she felt like she was just "opening doors". Well, are they prequalified with a lender, can they prove that, what is their timeline, what exactly are they looking for, are they willing to sign a buyer's agency agreement etc? The other line was speechless. This is someone who has been in biz for years and years and years.

Be thankful she actually told you what she wanted - most of them are sneaky and you don't realize what they are doing until they get in the car.

Scott ~ I wonder if she found someone to "chauffeur" her around town. Although there are many wonderful people who appreciate the value of the services we offer, there are far too many who think we just drive fancy cars, go show a house or two, and collect big bucks. So, why wouldn't we have time to chauffeur them around? After all, we could not possibly have anything else to do! Thanks for posting.

SD-

You are too much(of all the best things of course)... putting on the Tour Guide Hat...tell her to go visit Walt Disney World cuz that is NOT what I do for a living!

I do suggest my driver(JP Morgan Limo-239-980-LIMO)if they need that service, and actually for our Tour of Homes from the BIA we do use the tour bus or limo-depending on the size of the groups, but it's for groups that plan to BUY!

Wonder how she'd have felt if you told her about the "retainer fee's"?

You almost wonder if these people THINK about what they are saying...glad you explained it to her!

Ok - that was funny!! I am always amazed at how some of the public views our profession! I am sure she also thought that you are paid by the hour and that your expenses are all covered!!

Wow - that is unbelievable! Good for you not doing it!

GOOD FOR YOU !!!!!

Very good, some of these people are so rude and have some sense of entitlement. I dislike these sorts.

Great post..... I glad you took a stand and that didn't give in..... I wonder if she found someone to take her around..... I'm sure that since you didn't give in..... She can look back at the experience and think about what she did.......

Scott, I hope you don't mind... but I got fired up and will be doing a post on my blog about this same kind of thing. Thanks for the inspiration!

what a wonderful funny story to share, How many agents do the same thing driving looky loos around

Your lucky she was honest enought to tell you the truth, she could have said she is interested in buying now, then what?

Great for not giving in, but I have to agree with everyone else...You shoudl have charged her!

Scott, WOW!! I would not have done it either. You really do need to qualify buyers. Not only is the price of gas crazy but I do have a family as well.

More proof as to how uneducated the public is about our profession. She probably thought it was one of your paid duties...not!

Those New Yorkers are so pushy, aren't they? LOL

What's sad is that her friends and family weren't "available" to entertain her and she had to call a complete stranger.

Wow Scott ..at least she was honest???? LOL! Not too many buyers would admit it.

That is unbelievable. One of the things that annoys me most is when people don't take our profession seriously. I guess you could have told her your hourly rate was 10K!

Scott,

I would have had no problem taking her out. My fee is $300 per hour, is she is willing to pay for the time she can have it.

At least she was up front with you! You know she called the next realtor and got a little more saavy form her phone experience with you...haha! I had some "buyers" who really wanted to see a home, had not been qualified or even spoken with a lender. They could not understand why I would not take an hour or more out of the day to show them the home. The women explained that if they liked the home and wanted to buy it they would then seek out a lender. I offered for them to meet at my office and discuss the process. That turned out to be too much, they never did meet or return my phone call...SHUCKS!

I've read many of the response above ... and agree with some or all of them. If a buyer isn't willing to come into my office first, sit down and discuss their real estate goals and objectives, then I'm going to pass on trying to help them - no exception except one - which is - if I have an up call on one of my listings, I'm often willing to meet them at the listing and show them the house - but only the listing. I'll ask of course if they have representation, and if they do I'll suggest that they call their real estate professional and have them show them the house. If they don't have representation, I'll discuss that with them too. Fortunately I've never had a problem meeting someone at one of my listings. Then again, I dont' think that I've ever sold one of my listing right then and there. Occassionally, I'll be able to engage a buyer and start working with them. In defense of the average consumer - they just don't know how we work, and it's our responsiblity to explain to them how we do work and educate the consumer.

Wow,

I haven't heard of anything like that one. Good for you for setting her straight.

Heather

Great post Scott. Unfortunately, this is happening a LOT around my area but with another twist.

We are about 45 minutes from the Dallas/Ft.Worth metro-plex and get calls from time to time from someone giving a criteria for what they are looking for but are unfamiliar with the area. The first questions out of my mouth is, "Are you working with a Realtor?" Most of the time I hear, "NO". Sometimes I get, "We've talked to a couple, but we haven't gone looking with anyone else."

GREAT, make the appointments, spend the day looking at properties all over the county, they find one! I ask if they are ready to write the offer. Response, "Yes, but with our agent in the metro-plex!" Excuse me? Short version, their agent has told them that he/she doesn't know the area well enough, NOR do they have the time to drive that far for the day. Go find an agent in the area that knows the area, look at properties and when you find what you are looking for, I'll write the offer!

I didn't really believe it the first time I heard this, UNTIL their agent confirmed it. It wasn't even my listing, so for the day, I made a great big ZERO! I now have a very different first conversation with the people coming from out of my area. If I DO get a call from someone that sounds "wishy-washy", I then tell them that my retainer fee for the day will be $200, non-refundable unless they buy a property through me. No takers yet.

I just don't have the time, money or energy to drive sight-seers/tire kickers around.

Boy, now that took nerve. I'm glad you made it clear that we are not in the transportation business.

LOL....Scott, that is awesome.

but you know their are Realtors who would have driven her around town (and probably paid for her lunch) the industry does it to itself. Loved the post

Boy, you mean us Northern Californian's are not the only ones who don't have buyers sign a buyer/broker agreement? Really, that is really going to determine how serious the buyer is and how loyal they are going to be to you. Anytime we get hoodwinked by a buyer, I really can't blame them. We should have pushed the contract first! But why don't we? Welcome to my World! Diana

Hi Scott,

This ranks right up there with "my Realtor is busy, I need you to show me some properties until they are available again...". Sometimes the idea of a refundable service charge doesn't sound that bad...

Kudos,

Duke

I'm with some of the other posters, I would have done it for a nice flat fee as long as I didn't have other things to do.

Good story, thanks for sharing.

Hi Scott,

Oh that is rich! We've had similar calls but that one should get the prize for the most gall! Perfect example of how to better qualify or ways to waste time for the Realtor who has nothing better to do with their time. Yikes!

That reminds me of a story from my first year in Real Estate. I had been working on a FSBO and one day the owners called me and told me they would like to look at a home and wondered if I could pick them up for the showing. I was happy, they were obviously thinking of me as the agent they would choose if they decided to list since I was the one they called to view a home. I picked them up,(and their ratty little dog)and off we went to see the home. They spent all of two minutes running through it. After we piled back into my car, they asked if I would mind dropping them off at the car repair where their car was ready to be picked up, it just happened to be near the home they looked at. I soon realized that the whole thing had been a ploy to get a ride to their car. Sneaky.

Hey Scott- Im going to be down in Hollywood FL next month. We will be going out to some of the clubs in the area and will need someone to drive as we will be drinking. We really could use your chauffeur services for the night out.

Okay, she says she "may one day come back to buy". I'd ask her, "if you do come back, why would you want to work with an agent who's foolish enough to say 'yes' to this stupid request?"

Wow, I can't believe she was that frank about killing time! Maybe you should have said you were killing time with your family!

Great post! I've had some of these before - similar, but not quite as blatant as the one you had to deal with! Good for you that you told her about taxis! (that's what you did, right?)

Hey, at least she was honest....lol

The last time I got one of those calls, I asked them if they planned to pay by cash or credit card.

They didn't understand.

"Unless you are a buyer under contract with us, we charge $25 an hour for tours."

They got off the phone quickly. Of course, I was just messing with his head.

We don't charge for tours, but we don't play taxi driver either.

Sometimes I feel like a chauffeur, maybe I should get a limo?

Do I get to wear a hat? I've got the sliding glass window in my car. Oh wait that is a sunroof with an ejection seat underneath :-)

Scott,

That made me laugh at loud. At least she was honest with you. I feel like some folks are not serious and just want to browse and waste time.

lmao!!! somebody gave this woman the impression that she could get a free ride.. has she looked at gas prices recently? at least she was honest..i bit naive to think someone would drive her around for nothing...lol

I had a friend that was a realtor that said after driving someone around he asked when they were going to buy. They seemed confused and said we arnt interested in buying we just wanted to learn about the city.

The difference between you and me is I wouldn't have been on the phone that long - I would have suggested we sit down wnd discuss her requirements so I could pick the best "good deals". No sit, no tour, Karen www.e-virginiarealestate.com

truly amazing. Thanks for sticking up for our profession!!

Good for you, it would never have occurred to me that people did that, but we aren't in a tourist location. I like the retainer idea..

Scott, I think I would have had to refer her to my competition:)

Scott,

Beautiful! I like the suggestion above about charging by the hour unless they are under contract! I may have to use that one.

I would have liked to have added that I would do it, but they would have to send me a pre-qualification first.

I did have a guy from New York last year that I swear, just wanted a little tour of our island. After 3 or 4 properties, when I finally caught on he wasn't really serious about looking, I started having fun. I could see he was getting car sick, so I started using back streets and many ways to get around that even made me queasy. He couldn't wait to get out of the car!

I really hate having my time wasted.

It's amazing how some people's minds work. I would never waste anyones time.

Cash...

This is the one of the reasons we don't work with Buyer's.

For us, being as close as we are to Mickey is not in our favor.

It would shock you how many calls we get from vacationers that just want someone to drive them around on the last day of their vacation.

Good luck with that :)

TLW...ROAR!

You are correct, we are not taxi services! The sad thing is some Realtors/Agent would have drove her around.

Just another example of how consumers just don't have a clue how hard we work and just how much we do. Funny post.

Ha Ha Ha!! Don't you love it!!

It's just unbelievable the perception that some people have of Realtors. It looks like we still have a ways to go to change this perception! I am working hard on my end to do just that!

Wow! If ignorance is bliss, then this is one happy woman!

I can't beleive that. I have never had that happen to me . . .yet.

Does that mean you won't drive me around town...I have some time to kill...??

Just kidding!

I love those people, some do not value our time and will feel free to waste it as if it was their own. Good job on setting her straight.

Take care!

RJH

Dear Scott,

Ditto... I don't take customers around to see properties unless they are preapproved and tell me what they are looking for. I AM NOT A TOUR GUIDE. I invited them to go to open houses if they are just curious. With time and the price of gasoline at a premium, I've learned to walk away from business that isn't serious. It's too bad it has to be that way for me, but I've learned as a rookie that unless I know the customer really well and he/she is a friend, I won't waste time being a chauffeur. This is a business....

Have a great holiday!

Scott Haigh

You were right to tell her you were not going to do that.It seems to separate people out when you ask them to be pre-qualified with a lender and you ask them to sign a buyer broker. The flakes run away. The serious ones stay.

This is a good example of why we should take retainers up front, to be applied toward purchase IF they buy!

WOW! Actually told you they were not really looking to buy? jeez....

You've spurred me to tell this TALE and in doing so got it off my chest....so to speak. I only wish I'd had the you-know-whats to say it to her in person. Thanks for the courage. Patsy

Sounds like another case of "WHEEL ESTATE" business to me.

I get closer and closer to thinking there should be a retainer with buyers. Just like an attorney. When they buy, it is credited back to them. I might have to actually start thinking about how to spin it...

DEC

2007

Scott- Good for you! I am sure I would have done the same thing! The real deal though is WHY? Why did this person think that Realtors are just chauffeurs? I think too often there are too many of us Realtors who would have done the exact opposite of what you did. Whether they know it or not they damage our image as professionals. Poeple don't do crazy things like that to doctors, attorneys, CPA's etc etc. but they seem to think they can do it to us(Realtors) because many of us won't stand up and treat this like a real business or maybe don't know how to. Thanks for sticking up for you and for the rest of us!

-Joey

Well that is a pretty brassy lady. She must think very little of our profession.

When I get inquires like this...I tell them that I require that my buyers get prequalified before we look at homes. In most cases they either say okay at which point I can determine motivation or they get ticked off and go away. I have two little boys...I would rather spend time with them than some stranger and blow gas at $3+ a gallon. :-)

You mean when I visit Florida, I have to pay for a cab or rent a car? Next you will expect me to get pre-approved before showing me property. LOL

Actually, I kind of with Lane on this one (Sometimes we can agree Lane) I don't know how this can be done, but putting buyers on retainers may indeed be part of the business plan in the end. Too many have come to expect way too much up-front work for free. They also feel perfectly free to flit from agent to agent. I try to shore this up with an EBA, but that doesn't help if they don't buy and my broker would have to agree to go after them should they work with someone else. Once I start putting in significant time, I need to know that there IS a deal at the end of the pipeline. It would give the time wasters pause. They wouldn't go out so readily if they knew there was a fee. How it would work is not so simple. For a consumer to swallow the fee - they would have to have fewer options open to them that were free - or they would just all go there.

"Wheel Estate" LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! THAT needs to be a T-Shirt

I'm not in a tourist area such as Hollywood, FL so I can't speak from experience but I am sure in those areas there are more supposive potential buyers who have made calls/appointments with agents but have not been as blunt/honest as this caller. I love how you responded to her Scott it's a call I'm sure you wish you could have recorded.

I recently experienced a 'qualified buyer' who after 3 months of emails, phone calls, 1 offer that did not go together and many more showings I realized this buyer did not get it and probably would not buy. And with gas prices ranging from $3.19-3.40/gal I couldn't spend another dime on this now past client.

Thanks for sharing Scott and Happy Holidays!

Hello Scott!

I hate to see other Real Estate Agents going through something like this. It is nice to know that we are not letting "buyer's" like this one take advantage of us. I hope the "newbie's" in the business qualify, qualify, qualify. If we are all doing the same thing...the consumer will learn.

Thanks for sharing!

Hello All:

Yes, I agree with most of the comments. I live in sunny San Diego, Ca and we get tourist all the time that want to be given a tour of the area. I do not entertain any buyers with out a buyers brokers agreement and getting a retainer fee up front, which is build into the buyers brokers agreement. If they are not happy so be it, I explain that I render a vital professional service, and I would not expect my CPA or Attorney to provides services without being paid. I think it is a perception issue. I know that I have lost many tire kickers and looky loo's. The ones that I have retained are serious. I found the ABR course to be very helpful.

I learned that in some states that it is mandatory that a buyers brokers agreement be signed before a Realtor renders his/her services.

That's great... I'm surprised she didnt' ask if you would throw in a free lunch with the excursion.

It's so hard when your clients are from out-of-town. I think we all get so many leads from the internet, and many of these folks are "tire kickers". It's so hard to weed out the real ones! 95% of my buyers are from out of the area. Sometimes, the ones that don't seem serious actually turn out to be real buyers. With so many different presonalities out there, it's hard to read all of them.

The problem with people like Scott's woman is that if she did decide to consider the area, she would have absolutely NO loyalty to him for spending time to show her around.

Susan Krancer, Liz Moore & Associates, Williamsburg, VA

i can't belive the berve of some people. i personally hate driving people in my car. i prefer to have them follow. they get a feel of the layout. can talk among themselves after each showing.

I just got this email from a potential client I have been talking with. We had an appointment in a few weeks to go "see the countryside"

"I just want to be more clear on everything before I have you cart me
around town showing me property. I hope I have given you enough notice as
not to mess up your schedule during the busy Holliday season. "

I thanked them for not only the notice but for being upfront and considering MY best interest! When I saw the title of you post I had to share this portion of the email.

Scott,

At least she told you! Most buyers want to do recon before they buy, especially if they are out of towners. It makes it difficult to decide, do I take a chance and hope we maintain a great connection through 9 months, or not go on the appointment at all!

If you have ever heard of a Realtor from Alberta Canada named Marylin Jennings, in her seminars she tells of a lady who called realtors to show her one particular house, just so she could get free taxi service to her sisters who lived around the corner from the listing. She got away with it 2 or three times before the listing agent caught on and warned everyone.

Scott - loved the post. Didn't realize people were actually that crazy everywhere else. I make it a point not to show someone a house until I've had them in my office first, as it sounds like you and others have. I don't mind anymore explaining to folks that I am not a 501C-3 organization.

Rusty Salsbury - West Monroe, LA

Interesting to read about your experience on the opposite coast! We just listed a house and the tenant was adamant about not having people come in without her there because they might be "casing the joint." I explained that anyone coming through would be with a Realtor and that Realtor would have determined that the individual was really a qualified potential buyer and she just laughed. She said that she has lots of friends for Realtors and they are all so desparate for business that they will take out anyone, anytime, anywhere. I told her that those friends wouldn't be in business very long if that's there attitude! In this market, I think it's even more important to make sure that we do a thorough needs analysis and focus our efforts on the people we can help rather than chauferring around people who are simply bored (or "casing the joint"...)

LOL, we do have strange phone calls, don't we. I wonder if she found some sucker ( aaaa Realtor ) to do it.

Here is my solution: Purchase a GPS device for $139 at Circuit City. Program it with houses, and sites to see. Let Lookers come to the office and pick one up. They leave a deposit of $150 on a credit card, totally refundable or their wedding ring or watch. They can take their time looking around. If they are serious and find something they are interested in, THEN you take them around. Just not sure about the ring deposit - if that would work or not. Laughing in Connecticut.

DEC

2007

What a great side business for some when business is slow. Real estate vehicle/cab driver!

Good thing that you figured it out- I once had a "buyer" who said that she wanted to see a property, when I called to confirm, she asked for a ride. I thought that was a problem- but I strive to do right by my clients and so I picked her up from her apartment. When we got to the property she said that it is out of her price range and had the gall to ask for a ride to work. I took her back to her apartment. Unfortunately, there are many people in this area that have little regard for a person's time.

Wow, this made me recall one of my first calls, something similar only lake homes. Luckly for me, one of the first thing my broker told me was she did not allow her agents to meet with new customers any where but the office. As soon as I told them we needed to meet in my office first they were not interested as they had no way to get to my office, without calling a cab, they didn't want to waste their money if they were not really going to buy. I didn't say it but I though but you will gladly waste my money and time. We never did see them in the office.

DEC

2007

Unbelievable. I can't stand having people in my car so I try to avoid it at all costs.

DEC

2007

It pays to ask questions. After all, time is money. The call that really got to me was the one where the prospective buyer wanted me to show her properties because her agent was busy. What a slap in the face. The audacity of some people.

JAN

2008

Yours was a no-brainer, since she offered to spill the beans. They usually pretend to be qualified.

I never go anywhere without: 1. An in-office meeting, so I can assess their needs and see IF I want to work with them. 2. Qualification by my lender - or conference by phone with theirs. 3. They sign a 6 months EXCLUSIVE Right To Buy with me.

REAL Buyers will gladly comply. FAKE ones will fade out with each step of this procedure...

I've NEVER regreted losing a potential buyer because of my modus operandi. The only times I did regret it, is when I deviated from it, and lost valuable time.

In this business TIME IS OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET!

FEB

2008

Asking prequalifing questions is really important. When I worked residential brokerage, I would ask buyers, "If we find a home for you today, are you ready to write an offer today?" Don't say another word and wait. Their response would tell me if they were serious potential buyers or just tire kickers looking to be entertained on a Sunday afternoon.

I also totally agree with the three points made above: 1. An in-office meeting; 2. Qualification by my lender; and 3. Exculsive Buyer Broker Agreement. If buyers disagree with anyone of these three items, you will just end up spinning your wheels (literally).

JUN

2008

Funny post,

I wish more people reconized the time and effort involved in Real Estate.

JUL

2008

One time, I challenged a lazy part time mortgage loan officer about not getting back with me on the status of a loan he was working on (I was the listing agent, he was helping a buyer and another part time agent). He hollared at me that we (Realtors) are nothing but glorified tour guides and get off his butt!! I eventually directed the part time agent to work with my full time loan officer and we did close the deal... There is more to the story but it probably would make for a great blog!!

Thanks for sharing your story!

SEP

2008

Scott, Good for you. She definitely was looking for a tour guide and you just happened to be the lucky name she drew from the phone book. Smart of you not to take her. Better luck in the future to you.

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