As a real estate professional, I view every person in our industry as a professional until that person breaks that bond or that impression.
Since before I was licensed, I've always run into people who don't treat their real estate business as a business. For example, not returning my emails or phone calls is a huge pet peeve. My time is valuable, just as my client's time or my prospect's time.
When it comes to working with retail loan reps, I find them repulsive (sorry, I do not mean to offend) for the lack of knowledge they have at working with difficult loan scenarios. It seems all they know is "A Paper" and traditional financing and nothing else. If it's too difficult or takes more than 1/2 hour, they won't work with the client.
And I've had loan reps who have tried to bribe me with "referrals" that never actualized. I do not believe in doing business this way and I certainly do not appreciate being misled.
Do you understand? I put myself in my clients' shoes all the time because I want to make sure each client's interest is protected.
I don't know about others, but to me, the people that I work with will have to be similar to me. We have to have open communication. I know "communication" is defined so many ways. And for the people who don't know what this means, I mean "returning phone calls and emails promptly even if you don't have an answer." I don't care if you have to leave the country for 3 weeks. Let me know before leaving or leave a definite alternative contact so we can close escrow while you are away.
And another pet peeve: loan reps thinking they know more about loans than I know real estate and loans. Do not assume that all real estate agents are the same. I've originated, processed and underwritten loans because the loan officer we had to work with could not give me updates and could not get back to me with information -- that caused me to lose qualified clients and sales and of course, my reputation was at stake. I ended up learning and working the entire loan process as an added service to my clients.
So, in other words, I would probably be a loan rep's most difficult and hard-to-please "client" because I am very serious when it comes to taking care of my clients and their interests and protecting their deposits and credit information. If you show any sign of incompetence, i.e., failing to return calls, emails or quoting me rates that I know are too high for the clients' credit history, etc., be assured that you will not be called again.
I hope this helps.
-Susan Vanderburgh
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