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Dont Forget To Ask...

By
Real Estate Agent with Carmody and Associates LLC

  As a 3 month old agent fresh in the business....floor duty and an opportunity to serve a potential prospect is exciting and you jump quickly in hopes of sealing a relationship....

   You receive a call and the customer on the other end of the phone sounds all together excited about a home and its recent price reduction.  In their excitement and disbelief of the possibilities of seeing the home on such short notice, you go out of your way to tell them...ABSOLUTELY....I can show you this home today..

   When I think about the conversation early into the phone call, the one comment that flew right over my head was...we had seen this house before, but it was out of our price range....I probably assumed that they had only viewed the home on a web search, not allowing room to think that maybe an agent had already shown the house and was representing them as well.....

  In my rush and anticipation, I drove 15 miles one way...(I know that isnt that far, BUT....) and while the prospect was excited about the price reduction......that's when it came out.....

  I will have to get with my agent and let them know........Well I knew then, I wasnt their agent  nor was the listing agent because I had already spoken with him......so where did that leave me...???  Certainly not their buyer representative.... Now I know that there are a lot of questions that I could have probably pursued with this individual but trying to remain above board and allowing Real Estate Ethics to remain in play, I basically backed off and just shut up...

  I should have been on my toes from the very beginning and asked... ARE YOU WORKING WITH ANOTHER AGENT???   IS ANOTHER AGENT REPRESENTING YOU??? HAVE YOU SIGNED A BUYERS REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT WITH ANYONE???   I dont know, but half way through the home, this individual told me that their agent could not show them this home and told them to call my agency and see if someone could show it...???  Maybe they were told to contact the listing agent which would have been a more likely thing to have done rather than just pull a straw from the hat and waste someone elses gas and time....

 So if your new or youve been at it for a while.....dont forget to ask a buyer or a seller....Are you currently being represented by another agent..???

   

The Entire Team of Price & Company Professionals
Price & Company Realty - Myrtle Beach, SC
I was privvy to a similar situation many years ago.  The broker in charge of the agent that showed the house (YOU in this instance) contacted the client's agent's broker, and demanded an explanation and a referral fee for the agent's time. 
Mar 26, 2008 04:08 AM
Anonymous
Richard Pino

"RIGHT ON."   Most of us have at one time or another.

Mar 26, 2008 04:09 AM
#2
Jim & Maria Hart
Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC
Charleston, SC Real Estate
Hey Wayne, it has happened to the best of us. I have had someone call and ask me to show because their agent was unable to and I quess that my helpful nature kicked in and showed. I only did so because it was an agent in my office; I dont think it would be right if the agent was with another company. Thanks and all my best to you, Jim.
Mar 26, 2008 04:11 AM
Richard Dolbeare
Inactive - Wailuku, HI
Living the Hawaii Lifestyle
It's part of the territory.  We get wiser as we collect experiences such as this but we're never so smart that as to totally avoid them.  Best wishes!
Mar 26, 2008 04:26 AM
R. B. "Bob" Mitchell - Loan Officer Raleigh/Durham
Bank of England (NMLS#418481) - Raleigh, NC
Bob Mitchell (NMLS#1046286)

What a bummer....you'll remember next time and those of us who read this post are more likely to as well!  Thanks for the reminder!

 

Bob Mitchell

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc. 

Mar 26, 2008 04:26 AM
Kay Bennett
First Realty Company - Cookeville, TN
Your Best Cookeville Area Agent!
Wayne, most folks don't understand our procedures and don't realize that we work on 100 percent commission.  I have been there too, and now always ask before I run.  Also, its good to ask them if they are pre-qualified with a lender before you show them homes as well.  ~Kay
Mar 26, 2008 06:50 AM