Asking Questions Beyond Real Estate Reason

Sally,

Excellent advice....I do know that often-times buyers want to know the answers to these questions and if we're representing them, all we can do is ask. Still, it's really none of their business...

Jo

Sally... What great information you have here...I felt as if I was reading my own notes ..Great stuff!

HELPFULHANNAH

Sally, great post. Are we all a bunch of crazies. Think before you speak is a very good idea.

My all time favorite was "What's the train schedule?" asked of me when considering a home that was near the Pacific RR tracks.

Also on the all time favorites, "When do the buses run?" Again, asked of me when considering a property near a commuter bus route. 

Sally - I am so tempted when asked "Why are the selling?", because it sounds like they are reporters from the National Enquirer. I am so wanting to tell a fabulous tale to make their wanton interest whole like " The wife is having an affair with Brad Bitt and the husband wants out".

In reality, the sellers just want to move to someplace diffferent. Drole, But your question does beg the question... So do you like the house? Do you want to live here? Opening lines to successful endings.  I like this post and hope you contine it's theme. Cheers

Hi Sally,

I will join in the chorus withcudos for a great post.  I usually get the "why are they selling" question at open houses, although I have some buyers who continually ask me that. I deflect the question by saying "you know, they don't put that in the listing packet." I think it's idle chatter while they are looking at the house.  However, for an AGENT to ask that -- <sigh>.

Sally - great post - you mean you can't tell me what kind of neighborhood this is??? How about what religions or ethnicities live here???????????? I love it when people start with those questions-

Love your questions about the questions.  If agents did their research they could find out most of the answers to these questions on their own.  Great post.

Sally - there are certainly lots of questions we get in our business that are hard to answer, inappropriate or seemingly irrelevant. But I supopose to the person asking it has some relevance to their thinking, whether we agree or not. Clearly we have to steer away from the ones that can get us or our clients into legal hotwater. The neiughborhood question is REAL common. Just as is the question "is this a good neighborhood." Hmmm

Jeff

Woo Hoo, A very interesting post and I am actually pondering it. Very interesting.

How are you, We haven't chatted in a while. Trying to back in the groove but still very busy with Buyers. Hope all is well!

Sally,

This begs the question. Do you have a form there for "agency" and "limited dual agency?" We do, with strict guidlines what and cannot be divulged.

#3 is the one that always comes up when I am dealing with a buyer. Of course, I explain to them that I cannot and will answer those questions, and why I can't. But it's just human nature to ask them.

Sally, the every day life of a Realtor. We always have some complex issues to deal with in each and every day. Nice post and I like the "Monkeying Around" term. I'm there.....Agreed!

Great points Sally...and your point that a resourceful Agent can find or deduce that info is well taken... It just takes a little mental exercise :0)

Sally - my suggestion if they want to find out about the neighborhood or the neighbors drve by when the are likely to be coming or going ... stop and have a chat but please do ask me questions I unfortunately can not answer

Sally - For number 3, our buyer agents tell the buyers to drive the neighborhoods and also check on the sheriff website. 

As far as #1 and #2 go - when i worked with buyers, i tried to find out everything. I was their advocate. Aside from public information which I discovered on my own, whatever the other agent told me was used in my buyers behalf in our negotiations. Putting the other agent on the spot or not is not in my job description with the buyer. If that agent 'feels' on the spot, then they is how they are internalizing my questioning. :) 

Sally - All these come up on a regular basis but number three causes me to take a gigantic step backwards and explain fair housing laws.  There are a lot of ways to find things out and this information is what a buyer needs to get on their own. In every initial consultation with a buyer I go through a packet of paperwork which explains fair housing among other things.  My last buyer sat in her car and stalked the neighbors and I when I found this out, I encouraged her to roll down her window and introduce hersel and ask many questions too.