Home : Blogs : Tonya Kirkland : Tonya's Blog

The Real Estate Connection

I am hearing more and more that Real Estate Agents are being viewed as car salesman. I don't know about you but I haven't invested my time and money in an industry that I love to be viewed to prospective clients as a "car salesman". I know that the market is tough and we have to work even harder to find buyers and sellers, but I think no matter what we as professionals need to remember it is all about the connection. We need connect with our clients and remember that we are here to help them first and us second. Caring about our clients, listening to our clients and understanding our clients is what it is all about. Real Estate is about the people not the transaction. I have heard horror stories of agents, lying, cheating, and stealing to get a deal. Be Creative NOT Competitive is one of my favorite quotes. There is enough business to go around. As agents/realtors we need to work together to keep our profession one of the best. Prospective buyers, sellers and investors need to count on us and feel comfortable that we are here to help them. They need to know that we have their best interests in mind. We come second. When we put the $$$$$$$ before our clients we all lose. I know the market is hard, lets not make it any harder.

Lets make the connections first and the transactions will follow!

Remember, if you help enough people get what they want, you will get what you want~ Zig Ziggler

Posted by Tonya Kirkland on 04/13/2008 04:33 PM

Comments (8)

agents, real estate, sales, connections, transactions

8 Comments on The Real Estate Connection

APR

2008

I agree. It seems like people do everything that they can to avoid using a realtor. It is about relationship building, not being pushy and hard sell.

UGH! I sware the frustration. I think our Realtor organization needs to do some serious soul-searching, as do states with their licensing laws. Last year, over 400,000 Realtors DIDN'T SELL A SINGLE HOME. And we wonder why people lie, cheat, and steal to get business! Now I'm going to have to write a blog about this!

Maybe we should start a support group :) A creative brainstorming/motivational type deal?

Wow I must admit I have never heard this comparison yet. God help us all if we are now being compared to "the used car salesman". Unfortunately, the connotations that come with that description happen to be extremely negative. In general I believe the general public is smart enough to know a deal when they see one. It would be difficult at best for us (Agents) to add any hidden costs to the transaction like a used car salesman can. If added costs are being done we have no one to blame but the Loan Officers, unless of course, as is the case now most of the time, the Loan Officer is yourself. The good faith estimate takes care of most misconceptions prior to a closing....so let's give the public just a tad more credit and hope that they can see the grave difference between a Realtor and a "Used car salesmen"? While we both work on commission, Realtors commissions are right in front of you. The "used car salesmen" adds his commission to the price and/or the monthly payments and that is why they have the bad rap they have!

I used to sell cars in a past life, and I think there are those who are very honerable. I have also meet some Realtors who are worse than any carman. I am not trying to start a battle over which is a more honerable trade,but I think there are good realtors and good car salespeople. I do not worry about stero-typing people-I have too much else to do. Happy selling.

Greg Hampton

Tonya,

I couldn't agree more. Just be glad there are bad agents out there so that you look good by comparison. That's how I look at it.

PS - I think it is hysterical that your name is Kirkland and you work in Mill Creek.

APR

2008

I have heard Realtors compared to many things. My favorite is that Realtors are underpaid lawyers. We guide our clients through one of the most significant legal transactions many people will face in their lifetime, and assume a great deal of personal liability in the process. Your right, connecting with our clients is the only way for them to truly see the value that we offer.

There will always be unscrupulous people in any profession. And there will always be those that put the almighty dollar ahead of everything else. Unfortunately ethical and professional people who put their client's needs ahead of theirs end up paying the price for those few. It is even more unfortunate that those who are unethical get the splashy headlines and media attention and therefore set the image.

Leave a response…

Name:

Email:
(optional)

Comment:

What does the graphic say?