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If You're in Contract, Don't Ask Another Agent for Advice

By
Real Estate Agent with Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker DRE #00697006

fantasy gift shop in bora boraIt makes no difference if a potential seller or buyer calls me locally or from out-of-state. My answer is always the same. And I get a ton of calls and emails from people wanting advice. That's because they can easily find me on the internet. If you're on the internet, you must be fair game and willing to give away free advice, they figure. Nobody would ever dream of calling a professional in another service industry to ask for free advice, but they do it to real estate agents all the time. Where do they think our paychecks come from? Does money simply drop down from the skies and rain upon us agents?

Read more on my personal blog today If You Are Not a Weintraub Client.

Photo by Elizabeth Weintraub: a gift shop in Bora Bora, which was probably sued by the owners to the right to use Fantasy Island

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Elizabeth Weintraub is co-partner of Weintraub & Wallace Team of Top Producing Realtors, an author, home buying expert at The Balance, a Land Park resident, and a veteran real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown, Carmichael and East Sacramento, as well as tract homes in Elk Grove, Natomas, Roseville and Lincoln. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put our combined 80 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at RE/MAX Gold. DRE License # 00697006.

Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of RE/MAX Gold. Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice; it could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.

Comments(9)

Tim Lorenz
TIM LORENZ - Elite Home Sales Team - Mission Viejo, CA
949 874-2247

I wish you well on the sale of the area.  I'm sure you are the correct one to call in Sacramento. 

Jan 10, 2013 01:38 AM
Brian Rayl
Home Value Leads - Highland Park, TX
Active Agent and Co-founder Of Home Value Leads

Having a good internet presence does have its drawbacks! 

Elizabeth, might I suggest you make a couple of changes to your blog? Check out one of my recent articles

Jan 10, 2013 01:43 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Hey Brian: I would make those changes if I could but my HTML is way too complicated. It is not a simple link like you have shown in your examples, and I have no idea where to insert the no follow. But thanks for the suggestion. I also get a lot of leads from Zillow. I rank at or close to the top.

Jan 10, 2013 02:02 AM
Antonio M. Cardenas Broker Associate
RE eBroker Group - San Leandro, CA. - San Leandro, CA
"The Realtors In Motion"

I once received a phone call about a blog I wrote 3 years ago regarding RETDs, the transaction had closed and the individual wanted to understand a few things about his closing papers, apparently he did not have  a good relationship with his agent, and all he wanted was a clarification of some basic documents. I did help him out, and then he called back a few days later and wanted to know if I knew of an agent in XXX city to recommend, he was an investor and wanted my advise. The result? a very nice referral fee when he bought another property. It does pay sometimes to help, I hope it happens again.

Antonio

Jan 10, 2013 02:48 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I've got nothing against helping people, Antonio. It's when they are under contract that it presents a conflict. After closing, there is no agency relationship anymore and they can talk to any agent they want. I've had people call and ask completely unrelated to real estate questions, and I will help them. But if they want real estate advice, they better not be in contract.

Jan 10, 2013 02:58 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Yeah...offering advice to someone who clearly has an agent is definitely not something we should do.  I am just like you.  If you have an agent, call THEM.  If you don't, and you live in Virignia, I'll help.  If you don't, and live in another state, let me find someone who can help you.  There is nothing worse than agents who think they are helping when they a) offer advice to someone else's client or b) offer advice to someone in a state where they are not licensed.  

Jan 10, 2013 04:03 AM
Bud & Beth McKinney
RE/MAX UNITED - Cary, NC
Cary/Raleigh/Apex NC - The Team That Cares, RE/MAX United

That must be quite annoying. If you hou have an agent you should consult them. But Antonio is right, sometimes it does pay to help.

Jan 10, 2013 05:07 AM
Lanise Warrior-Johnson
Real Estate Brokers Services, Inc. - Compton, CA
Real Estate Specialist

Congratulations on your ranking! That is awesome, and if they are under contact, or have signed an agency agreement they need to defer to their agent. 

Jan 10, 2013 12:38 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Yep Elizabeth we haven't had any rain (checks) lately and the cupboard is getting bare.  It is reported to have clouds this weekend maybe it will rain a few buck my way.  Got to go get the barrel.  :~)

Jan 10, 2013 06:27 PM