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My Job Is My Job And Your Job May Be Mine To Do As Well !!!

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired 104763

I’ve heard the statement “it’s not my job to do that task” more times than I can shake a commission check at.  Fortunately, my team members are very thorough at following up and making sure the seller is delivered to the closing table.

Do we have any limits to what our job description might be?  Is there a line that one should not cross once the transaction is solidified with a signed purchase and sales agreement?  I don’t believe in drawing lines across that playing field. 

We are listing agents, and we need to make sure the buyer’s agent is performing properly.  We need to follow up with the mortgage officer; the closing attorney; the buyer’s and seller’s attorney; and the buyer’s agent.  If everyone is performing his/her job properly, then the transaction will close smoothly. 

However, more often than not, one of the parties might have a loose end that needs tightening.  One of those parties may have forgotten to order the title; or the municipal lien certificate; or the appraisal; or a laundry list of what might slip through the “proverbial crack.”

Catching that “slip-up” before it hits the “crack” will save time and emotion later.  It’s not a “finger pointing” event.  It’s an agent doing his/her to deliver the client to the closing table.  Both sides have their weak members, and if both agents follow up, the deal will run like a well-oiled machine.

 

The moral of this post is “my job is my job, and your job may be my job, too.”  The important detail is that all of the duties that need to be satisfied to deliver the parties to the closing table be accomplished, and it doesn’t matter who accomplishes “following up” with those tasks.  

Posted by

 

 

Barbara Todaro, Great Grandmother to Caleb, Santino, Aiden and Gianni       

Todaro Team - Retired

508-918-9148

               

             Copyright © 2009 - 2021 Barbara Todaro

                               All Rights Reserved



 

Comments(31)

Conrad Allen
Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA
Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Barbara.  A loose end?   More like a loose nut that needs tightening

Jun 27, 2015 09:55 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

The only time I won't do something is if it's something an attorney needs to take care of. Otherwise, I'm in.

Jun 27, 2015 11:05 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Oh yes....the lender calls because they have no offer from the selling agent...where was that amendment etc. etc.

Jun 27, 2015 11:05 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Barbara, you are so right, if the other side is not holding up their end of the deal, you have to do both sides to get a transaction to the table! 

Jun 28, 2015 12:03 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

It must get frustrating when it happens often and you feel like you are the only one who takes their job seriously!

Jun 28, 2015 12:17 AM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Barbara, our job is to get the transaction to close and we may have to do the work that is sometimes done by the other agent. 

Jun 28, 2015 02:13 AM
Tammy Adams ~ Realtor / Podcaster
Maricopa Real Estate Co - Maricopa, AZ
A Maricopa Agent who Works, Lives & Loves Maricopa

I just had this happen on 2 of my last 3.  I can't go into to much detail but let me just say, it is a good thing I'm a nice person and care about ALL the people involved. lol

Jun 28, 2015 02:28 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

BarbaraT- I couldn't agree more.  Anyone with the "that's not my job" attitude will not last long. 

Jun 28, 2015 03:04 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

There are some things I don't do, and it's for a good reason.  One is setting up the home inspection.  My clients' schedules are varied and I don't know what would be a good time for them, and if the inspector can schedule that.  It's a back-and-forth "let me check if that would work" and gets way more complicated than it has to be.  Buyer can call the inspector and set up an appointment much more easily that works with their schedule. 

Jun 28, 2015 03:08 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Carla Muss-Jacobs, Principal Broker/Owner the buyer MUST be the one to set up inspections.... that's a time drain for any agent to coordinate that....

Jun 28, 2015 03:09 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

I also don't want to have ANY discussions with the home inspector prior to their conducting the inspection.  

Jun 28, 2015 03:11 AM
Raul Rodriguez
Covenant Partners Realty - San Antonio, TX
Looking out for the client's interest and not my p

It's always good to work with the other agent to get the deal done. But if the other agent is not performing as I think he should a call to his broker is next on the to do list.

Jun 28, 2015 03:25 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

I've always figured the bottomline is a happy customer celebrating their successful Closing in their new home.  I also want to be happy about it ... so if something needs to be completed or done and I can accomplish it, Barbara Todaro ... I WILL do it.  Rather that than a failed transaction ... period.

Gene

Jun 28, 2015 04:49 AM
Pamela Seley
West Coast Realty Division - Murrieta, CA
Residential Real Estate Agent serving SW RivCo CA

It happens. There are many steps involved and sometimes something slips through the cracks, usually it seems it's on the buyer's end. I'm working on putting together a general listing package for my sellers so that it may help make the process easier for buyers and their agents. 

Jun 28, 2015 06:52 AM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Barbara

Amazing things happing when we focus doing what has to be done . . . . and not who's job it is.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Jun 28, 2015 06:58 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Barbara Todaro - that's why we need to keep the check-list and make sure everything is done in timely manner.

If the transaction does not close, it does not matter who failed to perform their duties - our client will be unhappy at the end of it. No point pointing the finger....

Jun 28, 2015 09:47 AM
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

Barbara Todaro, your blog reminds me of the old saying' "If you want something done right, do it yourself."

Jun 28, 2015 03:53 PM
Julia van Mook
Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services - Pittsburgh, PA

The phrase "its not my job" makes me cringe.  Everyone should be willing to work together to reach the final goal - closing.  Its everyones job to do that! 

Jun 29, 2015 06:23 AM
Les & Sarah Oswald
Realty One Group - Eastvale, CA
Broker, Realtor and Investor

Great post Barbara. In order to have a smooth transaction that closes on time, we all need to work together and communicate better. In other words...don't we wear all sort of hats?

Jun 30, 2015 04:09 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I imagine it was a pleasure to do business with you during your selling careet. Great post!

Jun 30, 2015 12:53 PM