How to be the agent everyone likes to work with
I love it Rosie - we always strive to be those agents! When other agents see our name on a home they are going to show, we love it when they are looking forward to a transaction and not dreading it. It makes everything so much easier in the transaction. We just dealt with a part-time agent who was so difficult, it made the entire process very hard on everyone. He was so busy with his full-time job that it took 10 days for him to get us the disclosures. He couldn't figure out how to fax the documents and wanted us to drive to his full-time job in the middle of the night to pick them up because he needed to have the physical copies to us. Reality is, pretty much everything in our business is paperless and systemized. Our documents are scanned in and we use electronic signatures to make everything quick and easy. Makes for clearer copies than faxes and saves everyone a lot of time. Be that professional, easy agent to work with and help the transaction move smoothly!
In the real estate business, we have the opportunity to work with all types of brokers and agents. Most of them are nice, but some are not so. There are a few in my area that I really don't like working with because the experience is usually difficult or just not pleasant.
It's a shame, because being THE AGENT EVERYONE LIKES TO WORK WITH is really simple. I put together a list of some things all agents could do to make working with other agents a pleasing experience. I'm sure you can think of some other things (feel free to mention them in the comments section). Here is my short list:
· Acknowledge receipt of offers, amendments, or any emailed document. Someone took the time to send it to you, so take just a few seconds to let them know you have received it and will get back to them as soon as you can.
· Respond to emails. Simple enough.
· Answer phone calls, return phone calls, reply to text messages. Another simple thing to do.
· If an offer is too low, don't just ignore it. Respond with some sort of answer from your seller, even if it is just, "We'll pass on this one."
· Present a friendly tone in emails and over the phone. Put a smile in your voice. The cooperating agent is not your adversary - you are working TOGETHER for a good outcome for all parties.
· Provide as much information as you can to interested parties without compromising your fiduciary duty to your client. Answer questions honestly.
· Post seller's disclosure notices online, along with any other documents that are helpful to an agent who wants to show your property or send an offer. (Lead-based paint addendum, mandatory HOA form, municipal utility district form, survey).
· Take the time to look up the schools your listing is zoned to, and put that information in the MLS. Knowing which school the home is zoned to is helpful for an agent looking for homes to show, and to interested buyers who are searching online for homes in a certain district. Don't be lazy by just entering the name of the school district in the spots that ask for the elementary school, middle school, or high school.
· Thank the cooperating broker/agent for a successful transaction after closing. Send an email, or a hand-written note. I once had a cooperating agent send me a certificate for a free cupcake at the local cupcake shop, after a successful closing!
These things are not difficult to do, and they will make your transactions a better experience for all parties involved. Just try them, and you'll be THE AGENT EVERYONE LIKES TO WORK WITH!
Rose King
Serving you in Galveston County, Brazoria County, Pearland, Friendswood, Alvin, Manvel, Rosharon, League City, Webster, Clear Lake, South Belt, and the Houston Bay Area
Email me at rose@rosekingrealtor.com
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