First of all...the media always paints the doom and gloom picture, because negativity sells newspapers.
This weekend I read in the K.C paper, a real estate article that was rather amusing. It was written by Gerri Willis (anchor of CNN's real estate show). It was stated in the article that "Local agents are best. They know the selling points of your community - and your house - and can be present to show it to buyers at a moment's notice."
This comment was really amusing. True, using a local agent that knows the area is good, but a large percentage of buyers come to the showing appointment with their own buyer's agent. This "moment's notice" comment is a false image to present to the public. Most listing agents would probably NOT be able to show a home to a buyer at a moment's notice. Like all other professionals, real estate agents have appointments and commitments and set appointments in advance just like any other business professional.
The perception of many people is that real estate agents have nothing to do and just sit with their phones 24/7 to run out and show a home. Professional agents require "call-ins" to come in to the office for an appointment with the agent and a lender. The lender determines if they're qualified in that price range, the agent talks about agency, they sign the agency agreement and then talk about the type of home the buyer wants - - - then a second appointment is set to view the home they called about and several others.
Professional agents do not run out to homes on a moment's notice and meet a buyer that may not even qualify for the price on the property. It's also not safe for the realtor. We're supposed to bring qualified buyers to view the properties, not just someone we just said "Hi" to on the phone.
When watching the popular real estate programs on T.V. and reading some of the new real estate books, take it all with a "grain of salt." Many of these people jumping into the new popular real estate information trend may have never even worked in the field of real estate. Get your answers from an authentic local real estate agent working in the field, not one putting on a T.V. show or pumping out books on the subject.
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