This was a sign I had in my room when i was a teenager. It always struck me funny. Ok, it wasn't that funny but it brings me to the topic of Gasoline, Petrol, Fuel, Car Juice. I have been struck recently by a number of agents who say something to the effect of..."At $4.00 per gallon, I am not going to drive someone around in my car."

Gas, like Realtor Dues and Business cards is part of the cost of doing business in Real Estate. Unfortunately, the cost of business has gone up. This paired with our business taking a dip right now, makes it a stressful time for many of us. If agents are not equipped to do what it takes to work with customers, they should seriously think about getting out of the business. You wouldn't be happy if you went to the doctor and he told you that you had to bring your own thermometer and tongue depresser.

I guess the issue is that when i hear this, I feel that agents are portraying themselves in a negative light. If an agent doesn't want to take a buyer out, as an Independent Contractor, they surely don't have to. We all have to be able to take control of our customers and educate them on the area. I took out a customer who wanted to see 4 properties. They were all in 4 separate counties. I had to stop and refill the tank during our showings and at the end of the day, I drove 300 miles in 1 day. I learned that I did not want to do this again and now I help my customers understand what makes good sense, when it comes to viewing properties.

I, like many, have also had customers who wanted to drive around and see if they could see some Real Estate signs. I know that newly licensed agents have more of an issue with speaking their mind with customers. With experience, comes confidence.

Provide full service to your customers. A Few $50.00 fill-ups will quickly be forgotten with a few thousand dollar commissions!