Help me out here folks because I am really struggling on this one....

I currently have numerous listings in a neighborhood where homes are still being built. We all know how difficult it can be to compete with new construction; especially when the construction company also has an owner's interest in a mortgage company and can offer tantalizing financing incentives. But...what about when you are told Good Luck selling your resales because the builders are offering huge incentives to Buyer's Agents?!

What exactly does that imply? Am I to understand that there are actually agents who will just show their buyers the newer homes because it is a bigger payoff to them??? I've heard the justification - well, the homes are the same   anyway, so they aren't shortchanging the buyer on homes that fit their criteria. But really - I have shown two homes that were identical in floor plan, both with colors throughout the homes that the buyers liked, but the floor plans were simply reversed. In one home, the kitchen was on the left and FR on the right. On the other home, vice versa.  And the buyers made their decision on which home solely on which side of the house the kitchen was on! (Something you would not know without having actually gone in to see the home!)

Now it's one thing if a buyer has specified that they want a new home. I get that. But I have had several agents suggest that my sellers need to offer an incentive to the buyer's agent to get them to even show their home. WHY? Isn't it our JOB to show the homes that meet our buyer's criteria?

I represent both sellers and buyers. And when I send homes to my buyer clients, I send them EVERYTHING that fits what they have told me they are looking for. I don't care if it is the same floor plan five times over. They might like the position of the rooms better in one over another, the position of the sun rising/setting, etc. And the way I see it, if they are all in the same neighborhood anyway, it'll be a quick trip. They quickly realize they are looking at the same floor plan, and if it is one they like, we walk through all of them so they can decide which one they like better as far as personal characteristics. But that is up to my BUYER to decide, not ME! It should be based on their personal preference, NOT MY COMMISSION!!

Am I crazy here? Don't get me wrong, I am not saying a buyer's agent shouldn't accept a commission bonus when one is offered. But I do have to say, if agents start narrowing their buyer's list based on their commission check, the backlash is going to be ugly! Commission bonuses may be banned. And I think it goes without saying what that will do to our already struggling public image as a profession.

Imagine telling your sellers that they may want to consider offering an incentive to buyer's agent just so they will consider showing their home....wow, are we not screaming out - REALTORS are greedy?!

I would really LOVE to hear I am not the only one baffled by this...Call me idealistic, but I still believe there are those who are looking out for the best interests of their clients...you know, people who are still doing their job.