Solving Problems You Didn't Know You Had, in Ways You Can't Understand
There's a real estate t-shirt for sale on the Web which bears the following message,
"I am a real estate broker. I solve problems you didn't even know you had, in ways you can't understand."
The message sounds egotisitcal, maybe even a bit arrogant, but there is more than a grain of truth to it. Consumers often don't know or understand the problems that come up during a real estate transactions. They don't know because real estate professionals make it look easy.
Remember the underarm deodorant commercial in television from a couple of decades ago that said "never let them see you sweat"? That is precisely what real estate agents and brokers are trained to do. Real estate professinals do such a good job of making things look "easy" that consumers often fail to understand how complex and fragile a transaction may be until a sale actually closes.
Sellers want their agent or broker to "make this sale happen". Buyers want their own agent or broker to "get me that property". But in both instances, consumers fail to understand the role of delicate negotiations. They also fail to notice or comprehend their real estate agent's role in many activities along the way, such as assisting buyers to obtain financing, or recommending service providers like home inspectors, land surveyors, title companies and so forth.
Consumer awareness and understanding of a real estate professional's role in the transaction, especially between acceptance of an offer and closing of the sale, is often lacking.
In this author's opinion, real estate agents need to do a more thorough job of educating their clients (and the consumer) about the complexity of a typical real estate transaction. Both the public and our real estate industry will benefit from that education.
Comments(1)