Real Estate Blog - The Handoff...

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The Handoff...

Why did I refer you to another agent? (The Handoff)

When you contacted me you were looking for a specific type of property in a certain area. Well I want you to know that that is not my expertise. However I know the agent you need to work with.

Handoff

I am not brushing you off at all, I am looking out for your best interests. I have learned over the years that clients will respect you more if you give them "full service" and sometimes full service is letting go of a commission in the best interests of the client.

It amazes me how so many agents try to be all things to all people. How can you sell a condo in Charlottesville one day, land in Louisa County the next day and then turn around and list a commercial building at Zion's Crossroads?

The good news is that I have several excellent agents who are "experts" if you are looking for "Land in Louisa"....

The key here my friend is to work with an "expert" in an area. Does it make any sense to work with an agent who lives in Fluvanna to show you farms and estates 2 counties away?

Remember, if I am not the expert in an area I will be the first to tell you so!

Any questions about Charlottesville Real Estate , Albemarle County and the surrounding areas, just let me know?

Charles McDonald - BIO

Brought to you by that guy who sells Charlottesville VA Real Estate

Search for Charlottesville Real Estate 22901 or Search for Crozet Real Estate 22932 in one great place!

Posted by Charlottesville Real Estate - Your Trusted Broker Charles McDonald on 05/25/2008 07:56 AM

Comments (20)

expert agent, charlottesville, albemarle, crozet

Originally posted at: Charlottesville Real Estate: The Handoff...

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20 Comments on The Handoff...

MAY

2008

good post..I work the same as you..I refer clients out if I am not comfortable or knowlegable about what they are looking for.

Charles.. I applaud your attitude.

The Internet has expanded our reach, but not necessarily our expertise.

As an Industry, I would like to go back to the days when we only offered services about which we knew something.

I had thought that the price of gas would eliminate agents trying to service areas out of their"territories". Less driving. Instead, I have noticed that they just try to get by with less sevice

Corie - that may be so.

My concern is that a client will get poor representation.

Example: I notice with land that after 6 months to a year the same land comes back on the market. Land is a little tricky and if the client is not fully advised on what it takes to build they may be in for a bad investment....

I do this a lot. I can't do a good job in a city that I am not familiar with. That is why it is irksome to have people from other cities come into my city pretending to "represent" their buyer.

Obviously in my neck of the woods we cover a bit more territory than others might. However I do know when to pass the ball to another agent who may have better knowledge of a particular area or type of real estate.

Ahhhh Charles, I had this same experience yesterday. I knew I didn't have the expertise to take care of the seller client, and referred her to another agent that I knew did have the expertise.

Timely and fitting, thank you.

Charles - And then there's the client who - no matter your level of expertise AND patience - you just can't please. Fortunately, they don't come along very often, but when they do I have a GREAT agent(major competitor) that I refer them to (With no referral fee, of course.) At that point they either become the model client or they leave . . . hopefully to go with my referral.

Charles, I agree! If it is not in your area of expertise, it is best to hand it off to the expert!

Great advice, Charles. I turned down a family member because I knew that she would be better served by an agent who was a local expert. I could have done it, but not at the level of service I wanted her to have. As service professionals, we need to know how to best serve the needs of our clients.

I agree, it is best to refer out then make a costly mistake.

I think referral is the way to go in cases of inexperience or being uncomfortable with a particular buyer or seller. You are giving the best in service when you admit that you can't do something rather than trying to fake it! Good post.

The handoff makes perfect business sense to me Charles. You can't be everywhere or be all things to all people. That's nuts.

Our clients would all be better served if agents realized they need to have that level of expertise to best serve their clients.

MAY

2008

Good points Charles. I feel that there are some agents out there that in way over their head in some property transactions. Sometimes handing the transaction off to someone else is a good thing.

Charles - I work the same way. It is hard to be a jack of all trades. As you know you usually end up being master of none. I have no problem giving up a client when it is necessary.

Charles, Congratulations on remembering we are in the business not only to make a living but to serve our clients above all.

Charles, Thank you for stopping by my blog regarding a listing at 3936 Arlington Drive in Woodbury Minnesota. I enjoyed reading your blog about the hand off. As professionals, we should provide client centric services.

MAY

2008

Excellent advice and great visual. I refer out anything that I think could be handled better by an agent who's expertise exceeds mine in a certain area. Oh, and "Thanks" for welcoming me to the "Rain".

I agree, the same goes for lenders. I refer clients to my other colleagues all the time if I can't do it I am more than happy to find someone trustworthy to handle the deal if I can't.

MAY

2008

Charles - I have to agree with you on this! I cannot know everything I need to know about all the different avenues that are open in this profession! Having reliable connections that are experts is vital!

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