You Are the Best in the Neighborhood...
Life is filled with interesting occurrences. I read Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Real Estate Agent, Top 1% of Lyon Agents blog every day and hear her tell stories of how her success as a top Sacramento real estate agent makes her phone ring, only to find out that someone wants her advice, but is going to hire another agent. They want to hear from the best in the area, but feel obligated to use a friend, relative or neighbor who happens to also have a license.
Real estate agents are all different and specialize in different types of sales and/or geographical areas. To think that we all know the same things about how to market a home, or price one, is ridiculous. But deep down in the souls of the buyers that have contacted agents like Elizabeth and asked for her professional advice, only to use someone else, well...they know there is a difference you could drive a 
truck through in what the agent they are hiring knows, and what Elizabeth knows. That's why they want her advice. And these stories have always made me shake my head.
Today, it happened to me. Not once, but TWICE. The first wasn't so bad. In fact, it was flattering. A neighbor stopped by my open house. Her home is about to come on the market with another local agent, who I think is great. In fact, her agent and I are friends. So when she invited me to her Braemar home to give my opinion on price, I was flattered. She couldn't hire both of us, but she still respects my opinion. It was delivered in a very respectful fashion. She also knew, that it was likely I could end up with a buyer for her home since I also specialize in the neighborhood. Will I go to her home for a sneak peek? You bet.
The other, while still flattering, left me shaking my head. It was another neighbor in my farm area of Braemar. Apparently, my slogan of No One Knows Braemar Better, works. This particular neighbor and I go way back...like...he gave me my first paying job as a kid. My first ever job was babysitting his son. So when he asked me to come to his house and tell me what he thought and how to list it, "Because you are the best," of course of I was flattered. He had mentioned he purchased his next home with his poker buddy, also an agent. The impression I was left with was that he wanted me to list his home.
Turns out, the poker buddy already has the listing secured, but this long time acquaintance and
neighbor, who knew my neighborhood sales record, wanted my take on pricing and condition, and any marketing ideas. "I want what you got the guy down the street that sold a few months ago. You did a fantastic job. He sold for way more than he should have."
Well, the trouble with that is, unlike the first person who complemented my services today in a similar fashion and hired a different neighborhood agent, this guy is hiring someone who will list anything, anywhere just because he has to be eyeball to eyeball with the guy over a poker table every once in a while. And yet, he wants Chris Ann Cleland Braemar results. I feel for the guy, I really do. He's not going to get Chris Ann Cleland Braemar results. But he will serve the obligation his conscience feels he must to his poker buddy. And in the end, if losing $20,000 in the sales price is worth assuaging that guilt, then so be it.
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