Clarks Summit Pa - Buyers Tour Homes With The Agent Who Will Write Your Offer
In this day and age many buyers want access to information and homes IMMEDIATELY. They are so accustomed to instant gratification that bending the rules seems to justify their quest for satisfaction.
In real estate we have very specific responsibilities as agents. We ALL represent the seller UNTIL a buyer formally selects us to represent their interests exclusively. That's known as a BUYERS AGENT.
Buyers think nothing of calling a listing agent or another agent in the same office and telling a little white lie to get access to a home on THEIR schedule. What the buyer fails to realize is they are talking to the SELLERS agent.
Many times buyers are using part time agents to represent them, a friend or a relative. Rather than bother the agent they intend to use for the contract, they call upon active full time agent to run them around. It is highly possible that tactic could backfire when it comes time to have the friend or part time agent write the contract.
Fellow Realtor Debe Maxwell wrote an interesting article on the possible ramifications a buyer could inadvertently face should they deceive a seller agent.
Recently I had a buyer phone me who had already decided which community he wanted to reside. He phoned me to show him a listing in that community; it wasn’t my listing but, one that he had found on my website so, he presumed it was my listing. He refused my offer to view other properties in the area. He also confirmed that he is not working with a real estate agent and that he had already spoken with Joe Lender and had a pre-approval letter in-hand.
Sounds like the perfect buyer candidate, right?
So I referred him to one of our agents who specializes in this particular area. This agent took time out of an already jam-packed day, to show this gorgeous high-end property to the perspective buyer. I knew this agent would land him because of the wealth of knowledge this agent possesses about that particular area.
I set the showing up for the agent and ‘introduced’ the two (buyer and agent) and felt confident that, based upon the buyer’s preferences, this was the perfect home for he and his family.
Shortly after showing time, I received a call from the agent telling me that the buyer loved the home but, that he was going to be using HIS agent! When my agent suggested that the buyer had confirmed with both of us the previous day that he was not working with an agent, he stated, “I’m so sorry. I told a little white lie! I didn’t want to ‘bother’ my agent to have to show me homes.”
Really? So, your agent is going to make TENS of thousands of dollars on a transaction with you when you do ultimately purchase a home but, you don’t think that he or she should have to actually WORK for it?
Writing an Offer and orchestrating Due Diligence is only HALF of what we do! You think that YOUR agent shouldn’t be bothered but, it’s okay to bother mine, who will not get a DIME out of your transaction?
We are NOT professional door-openers! We represent our buyers to the fullest extent including any and all fiduciary duties. Because you were basically representing yourself in the viewing of this home, ANYTHING that you said to my agent about this property, can and will be shared with the SELLER as my agent is legally representing the SELLER, not you.
So, if you suggested in passing that you believe that the list price is fair and you revealed that you qualify for more than the list price to my agent, that information, going straight to the SELLER, does not benefit you at all when you present an Offer on that particular home. Anything that you disclosed, inadvertently or not, can and will be used against you by not simply phoning YOUR agent who is representing YOUR best interests!
The same goes for every other agent that you ‘used’ to show you homes that wasn’t your own. Your agent represents YOU. Why on EARTH would you choose NOT to use YOUR AGENT to represent YOU?
The next time you want to view a property, protect your wallet and call YOUR agent. Believe me, they’re adequately compensated and they are there to represent your best interests, not the sellers.
(THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)
Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310
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