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What is So Hard About Are You Working With an Agent?

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

There are lots of things that are difficult to answer, and are you working with an agent is one of those things. For starters, when an agent springs that question on an unsuspecting home buyer, the first reaction is generally, why no, I am not. And then the buyer feels like, hmmm, maybe there is something wrong with me, and perhaps I should not admit that I do not have an agent. After all, I am not a loser. I have no capital L embedded on my forehead. If everybody has an agent, why, I must have one as well. Is this a trick question? Lots of things go through the minds of potential Sacramento home buyers . . .

You can read more in my personal blog today about this subject and what it actually means when an agent asks a home buyer: Are You Working With a Sacramento REALTOR?

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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 (11)

Rose Mary Justice
Synergy Realty Pros - Dandridge, TN
Synergy Realty Pros

NEVER THOUGHT OF IT IN THAT PERSPECTIVE, BUT ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IN THE WAY A MIND WORKS.  ENJOYED THE POST.

Mar 11, 2015 12:11 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Rose Mary Justice We, as agents, sometimes get so wrapped up in our work and our world that we forget others don't speak our lingo. I'm continually advising my team members that you can't just throw out "that" question, you've got to engage in a conversation. Don't take short cuts.

Mar 11, 2015 12:27 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

It's a difficult question for many real estate agents to ask, too. I've always thought they were afraid to hear the answer, so didn't ask the question. A lot of time and angst could be spared by asking and answering the question. No right or wrong answer.

Mar 11, 2015 01:07 AM
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Real Estate Agent, Top 1% of Lyon Agents , I find that Buyers may say no, even though they have one.  It could be, their agent didn't return their call or they got a recording.  They are afraid that if they say yes, then you won't help them.

Mar 11, 2015 11:40 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Elizabeth, I believe it is called COMMITAPHOBIA.    They do not want to reveal this unless they are sure!  

Mar 11, 2015 11:46 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I've had the lie both ways and say they are when they are not and say they are not when they really are.... there's just no rhyme or reason to in my opinion.  But I'll continue to ask and keep trying to find a way to ask so that I get the truth.

Mar 11, 2015 12:14 PM
Eric Kodner
Madeline Island Realty - La Pointe, WI
CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -

It's our job to ask, even if some consumers don't respond with the truth.

Mar 11, 2015 02:41 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

It is what it is.  I've asked the question before only to find out the potential clients did or was actually working with another agent.  Get that paperwork signed 

Mar 11, 2015 08:11 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

And the answer is:

A.) Yes but he/she is out of town but I still want to see that property.

B.) Yes, but I have some questions about this home and didn't want to disturb him/her, they are busy.

C.) No, I don't like agents.

D.) Fill in this blank.

Mar 11, 2015 09:41 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I suspect part of the problem is we know why we ask the question, and we've had that question drummed into us and repeatedly hammered over and over that we need to ask it, but we forget to sit down and have a conversation. Explain who we are, what we do, how we work, what we expect, ask how we can help and engage.

Mar 13, 2015 01:25 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

You are so right about buyers who want to work with listing agents.  They definitely get the representation they deserve.

Mar 13, 2015 11:00 AM