Agent collaboration, why not I often ask my competing agents. Here is the scene. We each compete for the same listings. Sometimes they win; sometimes I win, that is the way it goes. There are some agencies that want to sell their own listings and not anyone else’s, so they will instruct their agents not to see the home. They won't bring their clients who might want and love the property to the property. Crazy, right? Why would you deprive your client of a home that might be right for them just because it is listed with a competing agent, or agency? In the Realtor® code this expressly prohibited. And yet it has been a common practice since back when the Agents ruled the world. That is no longer the case. That practice is still prevalent in some of the communities I service.
Here is another idea I have tried to bring to my competing agents. How about sharing our walk in clients when we are in the same neighborhood and are considered comps. I am a luxury agent and I know that in this category the differences are minimal. Luxury is luxury, with the differing levels of luxury being amenities and upgrades. They are all nice, just different so why not send my walk through clients over to a competing property once I realize my property is not the right one. I think of that classic Christmas movie where Santa sends the kids to the competing store—Macy’s vs. Gimbals-- we are in this story. I want to serve my community, neighborhoods and people so this is in our interest. If the result is you sell your home then that is great for you and removes one more comp to my own sale. Win-win.
The hope, not expectation would be that there would be reciprocation. Hope is one of those emotions that will let you off the hook when it doesn’t happen. I am not much of person who hopes. I want it to happen and will take action to get it to happen. It is action, not hope, that gets things done. And yet hope is what I have while I send my clients and prospects to you. The business of real estate is an old slow moving ship. So I ask, Agent collaboration, why not?
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