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What Does it Mean to Offer Full-Service in Real Estate?

By
Real Estate Agent with Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker DRE #00697006

For some agents, offering full-service in Sacramento real estate means picking up sellers at the airport. That's not an act that is a good use of my time. If a seller really asked me to do that, and not one has, I would arrange for a cab.

Notice I did not say "Uber" because that type of service is not what I consider professonal. Uber drivers do not know short cuts and rely solely on GPS. Half the time they don't know where they are going. They routinely get lost. They haven't passed safety classes nor received additional education about their job. You don't even know how long your Uber driver has been licensed to operate a vehicle. Yet, passengers put their lives in these hands in exchange for fast and cheap.

Sometimes real estate clients are curious about cheap services, too, but in the end, they typically choose full-service Realtors.

You can read more in my personal blog today about Full-Service Realtors Means Sometimes Going Beyond with Service.

 

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Elizabeth Weintraub is co-partner of Weintraub & Wallace Team of Top Producing Realtors, an author, home buying expert at The Balance, a Land Park resident, and a veteran real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown, Carmichael and East Sacramento, as well as tract homes in Elk Grove, Natomas, Roseville and Lincoln. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put our combined 80 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at RE/MAX Gold. DRE License # 00697006.

Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of RE/MAX Gold. Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice; it could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.

Comments (10)

Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

This is an interesting issue, Elizabeth. I've come across sellers who use a limited service broker to save on fees but really don't understand what they do or don't get for that (not that it's much at the end of the day). Of course, more of a problem is when I'm the second agent in and they had a so-called full service broker who didn't do half of what I do for my clients. I hand out a document that lists my "value added services" and that helps people understand what a full service broker can/should provide.

Apr 17, 2018 09:31 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Hi Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Real Estate Agent, Top 1% of Lyon Agents, some sellers truly don't understand what it takes to market a home and get it sold, they're more concerned about saving $$$. Great post! 

Apr 17, 2018 11:21 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Professionals are not amateurs, which are what uber drivers are, compared to taxi drivers.  Professional real estate agents are definitely not the amateur discount types and will know how to fully represent a client's best interests from the start of the process until closing.

Apr 17, 2018 05:35 PM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

Elizabeth, giving advice on what will get top dollar for their property, should be big on the list why they hire you to list their property. And the fact that you used to flip your own homes, is a good credential. Selling is more than putting information on the MLS.

Apr 20, 2018 01:46 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

In my 36 years as a Sacramento real estate agent, I have picked up a client from the airport just once.  But, it was worth my time.  I can attribute approximately 6 sales from that one client.  I'm one of those crazy agents who likes driving around, and I love it even more when I can justify it.

Apr 20, 2018 06:04 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Nina Hollander Lately, I've been getting more calls from sellers who have read my article about real estate commissions and were about to go with a discount agent until they read that piece. I should do a blog about the last guy, now that I think about it, thanks!

Apr 20, 2018 07:32 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Chris Ann Cleland I especially find that to be true in San Francisco with Uber drivers vs cabs. Many Uber drivers never learn the routes they travel because they rely too heavily on GPS.

Apr 20, 2018 07:33 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

The whole Uber thing just feels weird to me.  Random people decide they want to drive folks around for money?  No thank you.  I'll take a professional taxi driver or car service.  

Apr 20, 2018 09:04 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Beth Atalay They only think they are saving $$$. If they were truly interested in saving $$$, they would always hire a full service as I tend to make them more than a discount agent and can prove it.

Apr 20, 2018 07:34 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I had a seller a while back pushed by a colleague to talk with me who was in a big rush when I went out to see his home. He did not give me enough time to explain anything.

Yet, I told him exactly what it should sell for, and then he emailed to say he didn't feel right not using his own agent. Except I know that agent, and while she did not know I met with him, I saw first-hand how reluctant she was to list at the price I suggested, asking for EOVs. Yes, it is pending.

Apr 20, 2018 07:39 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Myrl Jeffcoat Never experienced an expectation that I was a taxi service, and I am going on 44 years in real estate. Not much for driving around, either.

My success has never been motivated by money, although god knows it seems to be in endless supply because of that attitude. LOL.

Apr 20, 2018 07:44 AM