An agent's an agent

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Foothills Realty

This is my first post and I am going to talk to you about something that really bothers me.  You know it can get discouraging hearing the common theme in the market place - any agent will do.  There is a prevalent belief that seems to be taking hold and that is that agents are a dime a dozen.  I am not sure why this has occurred.  Perhaps it's due to the fact that so many people have gotten their real estate licenses over the past 5-7 years.  Perhaps it's due to the fact that there are now so many discount brokerages out there.  Or perhaps it's just the lack of knowledge that most home buyers and sellers have when it comes to buying or selling a home - let's face it, people don't buy and sell homes as frequently as they buy and sell stocks.

 Whatever the reason, it can be frustrating to be considered a commodity especially when I know the amount of work I do for my clients, the pitfalls I help my clients avoid and the amount of sleep I lose thinking about and worrying about my client's transactions.  Of course it's my job not to let them know about all the behind the scenes issues that they DIDN'T have to worry about - that I did.  But how do you let new clients know this.  How do you let for sale by owners know that they could be selling their home for far less than market value or they could be setting themselves up for law suits or just plain headaches down the road - all to save a couple of thousand or sometimes hundreds of dollars.  How do you let buyers know that our commission is paid for by the sellers and that we have their fiduciary responsibility at stake?  That we are there to negogiate the best deal, work through the contract issues, deal with inspection issues, keep tight on contract deadlines, work with the lender and on and on?

 I don't know what the answers are as I don't think they are easy.  I think that enough people with try and "go it alone" or "save that money" only to learn the hard way that real estate is a complicated business and one that DOES require a LOCAL, KNOWLEDGEABLE, COMMITTED expert.  Everything in life is pendulum like - things just sometimes swing way to far in one direction but they always swing back.

Dania Guth
www.evergreen-conifer.com - Evergreen and Conifer Real Estate Expert
303-589-4513
dania@evergreen-conifer.com

 

Comments (5)

Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Hi Dania, I see this is your first post on Active Rain.  Congratulations!!  I just wanted to welcome you to our Real Estate Industry Network! 

Welcome aboard, I hope you'll continue to blog, and invite others.  Wishing you all the success this industry has to offer.

Enjoy!!

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I hope you'll find these to be useful tools in helping you get started here on Active Rain.  You will meet many wonderful people here!! Again, welcome to Active Rain, the best place for your Blog!

Good Luck to you and your business!
Aug 05, 2007 03:29 PM
Rebecca Quinones
Coldwell Banker Heritage Realtors - Dayton, OH

Welcome to Active Rain!

Unfortunately, agents are a dime a dozen.  It's the good agents that seem to be in short supply these days!  Lucky for me, I work in an office full of good agents.

I believe the trick is to educate your buyers and sellers.  I let them know right up front that there are a lot of other agents that can place their home on the MLS or open doors for them.  It's the extra things I do that make a big difference.  If we educate them about the whole process up front, there will be fewer surprises down the road. 

Personally, I like picking up FSBO's after they've tried to sell their homes for a while.  Once they see how difficult it is to go it alone, they appreciate my dedication and customer service so much more!

Best of luck to you and WELCOME! 

Aug 05, 2007 03:41 PM
New Jersey Real Estate James Boyer Morris, Essex & Union County NJ Realtor
RE/MAX Properties Unlimited, Real Estate - Morristown, NJ

Welcome to AR

Be sure to join the newbie group.

 

Interesting post.  I assure anyone that a agent is not the same as the next agent.  Their are so many agents out their who should not be agents.

Aug 05, 2007 03:42 PM
Fran Gaspari
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ
Dania, Welcome. I am new myself and still wondering why I even do this. Your first post is excellent, however, because one reading it can tell you put your heart into it. Agents are a dime a dozen, and it seems in our area in PA there are more agents than people who vote. Try to never let a prospect go until they have given you the name of at least someone who is thinking of either buying and selling. Farming and networking are both key. Good luck,   Fran
Aug 05, 2007 04:04 PM
Leon Austin
Mobile Notary Services - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Mobile Notary

Dania, as a fellow Coloradan I want to welcome you to ActiveRain. I wish I had an answer for you. I like Rebecca's response. Do all you can to educate people. And continue to post on ActiveRain and its companion site localism.  Good luck.

 

Aug 05, 2007 10:59 PM