There really isn't room for the mediocre real estate agent any more. With more and more people getting into real estate every year, you would think that would raise the bar just a little bit on the competition. And it has. Unfortunately for some, it's just easier to be lazy..... ie: mediocre at best.
What in the world am I talking about and where did all this come from? I was talking with a few agents in the office today, discussing where our business is coming from and what's going on, what we're doing to build our business, etc... One agent mentioned that she was currently helping a buyer as her FOURTH buyers agent. All the lady's doing is trying to buy a house! How hard is it to be a buyers agent?! You LISTEN to the buyer, you find them some houses, you show them the houses, you represent THEIR best interest, and YOU COMMUNICATE WITH THEM! I still cannot believe that it has taken FOUR Realtors before finding ONE that would actually work well with her. Ok, well I can understand that sometimes it IS about making that connection and that some people are just harder to work with than others- but seriously, I also know that there are some bad agents out there too.... So, with all that being said, the other agent chimes in that she just met a future seller that she picked up marketing expireds- she will be their FIFTH Realtor! As she arrived to the home, she first noticed that the last agent's sign and lockbox are still there, so naturally she inquired about this (the home expired in SEPTEMBER- it's now MARCH!?). Yeah, the seller said she continually calls him to pick it up, but he doesn't even bother to return her calls. Boy isn't that nice?! So as the new agent is touring the house, she took her pad of paper for notes and made suggestions along the way. She talked to the seller about various things to do to help stage the home and make it more presentable, etc.... she also commented that surely the other agents gave them pointers on things to do prior to showings, ie: open the blinds, turn on the lights, make sure the house smells nice, use fresh flowers... To some of us, this is just plain common sense, but to these sellers, this was ALL BRAND NEW! NOT ONE of the previous agents told them a thing! No suggestions to help make the home show better or anything!! Amazing! But the number one complaint that both agents had heard was in the LACK OF COMMUNICATION from the agents during the process. Even if there is nothing going on, it's just plain common courtesy to pick up the phone, turn on the computer and just simply TALK TO YOUR CLIENTS! It's called customer service and they really just want to know what's going on and that you care- they probably don't even care if you care, but that you're there, and that you exsist in the least.
So with all that being said, we all agreed that heck, we're better than that! WE'RE A LOT BETTER THAN THAT! So, what's there to be afraid of? What's holding us back? They have a product and THEY DO WANT TO SELL (or buy)! WE CAN HELP THEM DO THAT!!! Admitedly, we all have the same basic tools, education (RE) and sources available, the difference is in USING THEM!
The choice is yours.
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