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What are your expectations??

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Liberty One Real Estate

What are your expectations?

As a seller, what do you expect from your Realtor?  As a buyer, what do you expect from your Realtor?  As a Realtor, what do you expect from your clients, the buyers & sellers?  Everyone in a Real Estate transaction has expectations.  There is no problem with that.  The problems begin when the expectations are not clearly expressed or made known.  In order to help make a transaction run smoother, it is a good idea to be clear on what each party expects from the other.  One of the first things I discuss with a potential seller is what they expect from me.  I let them know UP FRONT that my goal is not to "meet" their expectations, but to "exceed" their expectations.  In order for me to do that, I need to know what those expectations are.  I will also let them know what "my" expectations of them are.  One of three things will occur.  One, they may decide after discussing expectations,  that I am not the best Realtor for them or two, " I"  may decide that I am not the best Realtor for them, and I would rather part now as friends, than enemies later, or three, we are a great match and I will represent them.  As a seller it is very important that you let the Realtor "KNOW" what you expect.  For instance, some sellers will think in their minds, "I expect open houses to be done everyday", "I expect my home to be on the cover of Homes Illustrated every month", "I expect you to call me everyday with a report of what's happening", "I expect you to call me back within 20 minutes when I leave a message". That is fine but please let your Realtor know what you expect IN THE BEGINNING so the Realtor can decide if they can meet your expectations.  As a Realtor, please let your sellers & buyers know UP FRONT what you expect from them. For instance you may say to a seller, " If I list your home, I expect the home to be in show ready condition at all times", "I expect the utilities to remain on during the entire listing period", "I expect you to allow the home to be shown WITHOUT YOU BEING THERE". Buyers, you need to let your Realtors know UP FRONT what you expect from them. For instance you may be thinking, "I want to see a least 50 homes before I decided which one I want to make an offer on", "I want you to call me everyday with a report of what is happening on my file", "I expect you to pay for some of the  repairs out of your pocket if the sellers decide not to fix everything", "I want to be able to call you any time day or night whether it is a weekend, holiday etc...". If these are your expectations, let your Realtor know UP FRONT.  Realtors, let your buyers know what you expect.  For instance, I may let my buyers know that "I expect you to work exclusively with me", "I expect you to work with the lender (if a loan is needed) and submit all documents that are required in a timely manner", "I expect you to follow the timelines of the Purchase contract".  These are just a few samples of expectations that should be expressed, preferably in writing, at the BEGINNING of the transaction.  Let's work together to make this a win-win situation.  So, WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS?????

Comments(4)

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Michael Shankman
Award Realty - Las Vegas, NV
Selling Las Vegas 702-498-3383
great blog- this is exactly how I run my business. Everyone needs to know what to expect-it makes things go much smoother. I have copied your blog-great to use in future situations...thanks
Apr 27, 2008 04:57 AM
Valerie Osterhoudt
Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT
ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889
In a nutshell, what everyone is looking for is communication and honestly.  With those two things, you can get through just about anything.
Apr 27, 2008 05:07 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Melinda,

Couldn't you ask something smaller? It is a heck of a question, and you can't answer in a sentence.

What the clients is expecting from you depends on the client's personality. A driver would ask for the info and only in the form he wants it. Another would be asking for a support in his quest for a property. He needs that you reinforce everything he thinks, he needs to feel that others think the same way. Yet others would ask for statistical info and everything else on the planet Earth, so that they can research. DO they buy base on their research. Very unlikely, They would still by like everyone else, but only after they have read everything they could get.

They will be expecting different things from you. And it does not mean that you can't deal with them effectively. It is the same property, it is simply a different presentation. For one it is great schools in the neighborhood, for others it is a convenience of being next to where they want to be, etc.

Apr 27, 2008 05:17 AM
Renae Bolton
Marketing 4 Realtors - Garfield Heights, OH
I'm your Professional Real Estate Marketing VA!

Don't forget education!  Some buyers and sellers need their realtor to educate them on the buying or selling process but, if they don't say that up front, the Realtor(c) won't know that's what the client needs.  This more than anything could cause lots of bumps in the road.  But, as Valerie said, it is all about communication. Great topic!

~Renae

Apr 27, 2008 05:35 AM