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Dear Potential Buyer --- we don’t jump to show property when you ask

By Pacita Dimacali

Real Estate Agent with Alain Pinel BRE 01367196

July 23, 2013 03:22 PM

Dear Potential Buyer --- here’s why we don’t jump when you ask us to see property, until and unless we know more about you

I received an email from someone who found me online. There was no name or phone number, just an email address. He/she asked about a property, and I responded with relevant information.

When he/she emailed back and wanted to see the property, I asked the usual questions.

Are you working with an agent? And if not...
What is your name, number or best number to reach you?
Are you preapproved, if so, by whom? --- And that's another topic. See:

Dear Home Buyer, here's why we ask if you're preapproved for loan
Can we meet at my office so that we can discuss your requirements -- perhaps there are other properties that are also suitable?
When is a good time to meet (I wasn’t going to drop everything, jump in my car and meet this person)

When this person didn’t respond back, I chalked it up as as a looky-loo. If this were a legitimate inquiry from a potential buyer, then he/she should not hesitate to provide the answers.

Dear Potential Buyer --- here’s why we don’t jump when you ask us to see property, until and unless we know more about you

Besides wanting to know if you’re a legitimate and qualified buyer, we also want to make sure we are not putting ourselves at risk by being careless and taking our safety for granted.

What could possibly go wrong?

See Realtor Safety Report 2011.

There are certainly enough examples of realtors who were injured, assaulted, and even killed on the job.

What would you do if someone you’ve never met, called you to ask you to show them property without your knowing anything about him/her?

Be safe. Be careful. There are dangers in the real estate profession.

Dear Home Buyer, here's why we ask if you're preapproved for loan

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Ralph Gorgoglione

Metro Life Homes - Palm Springs, CA

California and Hawaii Real Estate (310) 497-9407

I agree. With all the shocking news these days, realtors would be wise to hold safety in high regard.

Jul 24, 2013 09:24 AM

Brenda Mullen

RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX

Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

I agree that safety can be compromised, but my time is valuable as well. No time to just jump up and show a property...need to know if you are a serioius buyer first!

Jul 24, 2013 10:47 AM

Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO

Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

This happens far too often. Why? B/c the 'buyer' has no skin in the game as they say! Then they act insulted and you hear remarks such as 'you don't want my business'. Buyers think we only work with one person at a time. They have no idea how time consuming this business is...

Jul 24, 2013 10:50 AM

Kathy Stoltman

Ventura, CA

RETIRED

So many reasons why we do not to show homes to just anyone as you so well stated in this post.

Jul 24, 2013 11:00 AM

Brian DeYoung

also affiliated with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Heritage Realty - Ithaca, NY

The Realtor with personal investment background

Preapproval is key. safety is also a factor. when a buyer comes into the office first people see them. this is good for the agent and good for he homwoners.

Jul 24, 2013 11:48 AM

Jimmy Faulkner

Florida. Homes Realty & Mortgage - Wantagh, NY

The Best Of St. Augustine

Our time as Realtors is very important and can not be thrown away at every whim. We are paid for our knowledge so respect that and come and see me.

Jul 24, 2013 11:49 AM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Chad and Sandy -- when I wrote this blog, I was thinking of the person who emailed with the request to see a property, but woudn't give any more information. And frankly, in my gut, I had an uneasy feeling.

Carol --- unfortunately, some people do think all we do is sit in front of the computer and waiting for the phone to ring.

Sally and David --- as I get older, the more wary I become....and safety is paramount.

Robert --- some people don't stop to think that we may already have other appointments. If they have ever tried to book a plumber and how long they had to wait.

Brien --- you're absolutely right. Clients who come to the office, in a professional setting, will appreciate professional service.

Jul 24, 2013 12:48 PM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Nina --- as long as buyers don't feel insulted why we can't meet with them right away, I will always try to explain the process. But once they give me attidude, I just say buh-bye...

Chris and Dick --- it only takes an incident with one whacko to put your life in extreme danger.

Kathy -- that's how I feel. I've had online inquiries, and those who took time to meet with me are the ones I've had the good fortune of serving and closing escrow.

Wallace -- I totally empathize. You probably have multiple such inquiries. These folks never think that we may need appoitments.

Rebecca --- the public in general doesn't understand how we operate and the risks we take. So it's up to us to educate them and hope they are not insulted. But if they are, then they are not people we should deal with.

Jul 24, 2013 12:54 PM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Fernando --- I was reading the articles about realtors who lost their lives, were injured, etc... and in many of these cases, the realtors took unnecessary risks.

Rob -- I was lucky enough to have mentors who stopped/discouraged me from being a pop tart.

Gay -- I think we've all had our share of demanding and unreasonable potential clients.

Adam --- and sometimes, even after explaining reasons, folks try to lay the gult trip on us, that we don't want their business, etc. I say move on!

Richie --- if people are serious about making one of the biggest investments in their lives, then they should be serious about what it takes to get it done.

Jul 24, 2013 12:59 PM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Tom --- thanks...if not to save time, then probably to save a life (ours)

Gene -- thanks for such a profound way you validated our position

Graig -- excellent analogy. I will have to remember that.

Sharon -- glad to see so many people think the same. And hopefully, we will get our message across to potential clients.

Tammie -- it's a good thing you trusted your gut. Be safe....

Jul 24, 2013 01:15 PM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Cindy -- I didn't know about the "pop tart" description until now. I never wanted to be known as a tart, and definitely not as a pop tart :)

Kathleen -- time and safety, you save on one, you save on the other.

Erick --- too many things can go wrong if we don't follow certain procedures. Seasoned agents have learned along the way, and hopefully newbies will heed our warning.

Cassandra --- read that Realtor Safety Report 2011. Very sobering statistics.

Lynda --- there are safety precautions to take. Keep reading info on what to do. Learn from others. Heed your 6th sense, your gut. Be safe, be careful.

Jul 24, 2013 01:29 PM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Debra --- I also look in LinkedIn and Facebook. When I had a vacancy in my duplex, I read all the applications and tried to find them on social media. interesting information. What is posted online can create a lasting impression.

Roger --- glad you found this useful.

Norma --- you're right. It takes mutual respect to make a relationship work. Including between realtors and clients.

Allen --- thanks. Glad to have helped in some small way.

Harry -- we all have known people with champagne tastes on beer budgets. But if they want to look, they can go during open houses.

Jul 24, 2013 01:34 PM

Lloyd Binen

Certified Realty Services - Saratoga, CA

Silicon Valley Realtor since 1976; 408-373-4411

Good for you, Pacita. When enough agents take the same approach the public will get trained to not expect us to meet them at the house.

Jul 24, 2013 01:36 PM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

It's amazing to me how the public thinks we operate. I got an email from a buyer the other day wanting me to find the home of their dreams in my neighborhood, because I was the go-to neighborhood expert. Awesome. The next line of their email was the red flag, "Since we have our current Bristow home under contract, we are ready to buy." I emailed them back and said I would be happy to assist if they didn't already have an agent. No response. What? Did they think I'd just pitch in and help them for nothing?

Jul 24, 2013 01:37 PM

Sidney Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula

Realty Works Temecula - Temecula, CA

Realty Works Temecula

Good reminder Pacita, no agent should meet someone at a house they don't know or have pre-approved!

Jul 24, 2013 03:01 PM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Morgan ---- thanks for sharing your thoughts and validating how we value our time and personal safety

Gerard--- just trying to work professionally and keep our standards high.

Than -- that's true...the inquiries we get are so general, so we can't possibly know what they're looking for without more information on their requirements and preferences

Carla -- I certainly wouldn't want to be the victim of that 1%. Best that we are prepared and careful 100% of the time.

Bill -- lost of time-wasters and scammers out there. We need to always be on our toes.

Trish --- Men aren't exempt from being victimized, but women are most definitely at most risk.

Jul 24, 2013 03:15 PM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Anthony --- thanks. Setting expectations is critical. If we demonstrate from the beginning how professional and thorough we are, the higher the quality of our clientele.

Gene --- we have enough to do. So prequalifying potential clients is extremelly important not just to save time, but to be safe as well.

Gary --- yes, people do think that's all we do....wait for that phone to ring LOL

Bryan --- our voice mail greeting should clearly state that when we're busy, we're likely on the phone or showing property. That should show them we have other clients who made appointments :)

Debby --- I don't provide taxi service. If they want to tour around, I can tell them were to go....

Jul 24, 2013 03:20 PM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Jason --- yes, I hope people will realize we have schedules, and that we value time we spend with clients.

Beth --- we certainly need to educate our clients and to set expectations. I had a client who breezed unannounced into town and expected that I'd take her around even though I told her I had several commitments already, and that I can squeeze in some time, but not as much as what she wanted.

Ralph -- safety first!

Brenda -- seems like we're all singing the same song :)

Mary -- if people know they have to make an appointment to get a plumber to come, why would they think we operate differently?

Jul 24, 2013 03:25 PM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Kathy -- let's spread the word so that the general public will have a better appreciation for what we do, and how we work.

Brian -- definitely one of the first questions we ask --- do they have an agent, and are they preapproved. Their answers will determine what comes next.

Jimmy --- respect for our time, for our profession. Absolutely!

Lloyd --- I learned my lessons, and thankfully early enough before I get into any kind of trouble. A sale is not worth my life.

Chris Ann -- I got a call from someone who wanted to see houses. When asked if she has an agent, she said she does but her agent is very busy and she didn't want to bother her. Ahh...so she thinks it was all right to bother me?

Jane --- we have to reinforce that potential buyers should prepare to meet with an agent by having a preapproval letter and meeting the agent at the office first.

Jul 24, 2013 03:30 PM

Jennifer Fivelsdal

JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY

Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Pacita these are the reason why we won't jump at a phone call. We need answers to some important questions before showing properties.

Jul 26, 2013 11:17 AM

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