Sure I'll help you out... and expect nothing in return

I do many things as a professional real estate agent for which I am never compensated. And you know what, I am not complaining.

I love talking real estate. (Actually, I love talking and real estate just happens to a subject everybody is interested in right now.)

That being said, I can't count the number of times I have been asked for my professional opinion and then left to wonder.

For instance, last summer I spent several afternoons working with a couple who were relocating to the area. Somewhere along the line they found a home for lease purchase on their own. It was being offered FSBO and through no fault of their own they dealt directly with the owner to enter into an agreement. They moved into that home and have been quite happy with their decision.

I see this couple regularly and on several occasions over the past year the husband has asked my professional opinion on the local housing market. I have let him know our area is still undergoing a market correction and we will only know we have hit bottom after the fact. So I wasn't surprised when he asked me to run the numbers on their lease purchase.

I ran the numbers and prepared a professional market analysis for them. I found the price they agreed to last summer is now approximately $20,000 over market value. I offered several suggestions. The number one suggestion was to go to the seller and renegotiate the contract. I see them at least once a week and have yet to find out what their plan is.

It's been six weeks...nothing!

I received an e-mail in September from a client who moved out of the area four years ago. They are considering moving back and wanted to know if I could send them information on homes that fit their (long list) of criteria. Of course I have been regularly sending them properties to consider. In every e-mail I ask them to let me know what they think of the properties, likes and dislikes, preferences.

Nine months...nothing!

I deal in information and the silence is deafening.