I was very pleased during a conversation with a new potential buyer client of mine yesterday here in Boise, Idaho that was referred to me by one of my lender partners. This buyer has a better grasp of how to sell real estate than most Realtors I know!
Even though this type of client intimidates many Realtors, I welcome them and all their questions. I have found that this type of logical thinking client gains the respect of many of their friends and typically are my best future referral generators as past clients.
Here are a few of the great questions/comments they had yesterday as we were discussing buyer agency and how the real estate industry opperates:
- I couldn't believe the first Realtor we talked to wanted us to sign a "Buyer Representation Agreement" before they even established their value as a Realtor;
- Why doesn't the listing we found have more than one photo?
- Why is the single photo they have a three year old photo from the Tax Assessor instead of a current one?
- Why don't they have a virtual tour either? Are they trying to hide something about the house?
- I can see why that listing has been on the market a while since I don't care to see it if they are hiding something;
- If they aren't hiding something, they aren't representing their clients very well are they?
- Wouldn't this lack of proper cause fewer showing and make the seller think it is overpriced causing them to unreasonably lower the price do to poor marketing?
- I read the Realtor's Code of Ethics and it appears that agent isn't doing what they are suppposed to for their client.
I love working with clients like this since they get it. When I do a great job for them, they are the type of clients that recognize it is a great job and that is why they typically are the best type of referral clients to have. Too many consumers think all Realtor's are created equal but they are usually independent contractors all with different marketing plans, budgets and ideas. Even in the same francise and the same office of that franchise, each Realtor will offer unique levels of service.
Before you sign a buyer representation agreement or list your home with a Realtor, make sure you get a few opinions from different agents. Make sure they can back up their marketing plans with facts from their previous clients. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if they are an A+ rated company or not. Google them to see how they come up in their market and see if you can see how they are marketing themselves and their homes.
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