When it comes to Real Estate is the new way or old way better?

Scott, How sad the buyers had to learn the hard way that doing a favor for inexperienced realtor, family or not, is not the way to get an offer accepted.  If failing to complete the purchase contract is considered the "new way,' the only ones benefiting will be the attorneys.

Hi Scott- I miss reading all of your stories and am so happy that you wrote this one. And I know that the "young" whippersnapper has learned that young or old, the important thing is to do it the right way. 

Scott Godzyk for me there is no new or old way.  There is only one way, and that is as you put it the right way.  This Agent is starting off on the wrong foot, and it seems like she has a chip on her shoulder.  Test work OK if a quick answer or response is required, but for the most cases in this business a phone conversation works much better.  This Agent would do well to get her head out of her donkey, and listen to those who know A LOT more than she does.

Good evening Scott,

Wow....don't think this new agent practicing her "way" of real estate is going to make it long term. The basics are a must and her attitude needs to go. I feel sorry for her clients they didn't have a fighting chance! Live and learn. 

 This seems to be the way of the world these days... New agents with little or no training filling out blanks in the contract without know what they are doing.  Seems like I spend a lot of time training new agents in other people offices. At least the good one will listen; the bad ones are never going to succeed  

Bless her heart. ;-)

One takeaway - If you want to "help someone get their first sale" make sure it's not on a property you really want.

There were several things that went wrong in this case! The buyers first mistake was not contacting you when they were ready to purchase. The second was using a new agent who wasn't willing to listen to experience. They received bad advice from their agent - and hopefully they learned a thing or two for next time.

Experience matters...but as in everything in this business- it depends. Had the other agent simply listened to your feedback and incorporated it- things could have turned out different. That doesn't require experience...or maybe it does, after losing enough deals. Also, if she didn't take the fake it till you make it approach and asked her managing broker for some guidance- that too could have made a difference. Not everyone will succeed in this business. 

I had studied this business from the outsider point of view for years before I decided to change careers and become an agent. I had knowledge of the market that agents with a decade or more experience couldn't match- but what I didn't have was knowing procedural issues. Not hard to learn the process if you understand the market- but I had to learn it by doing the job- not by reading. When I was working on my second deal ever, I made some sort of minor process error- and the listing agent got angry. She was angry because I repeated the action of my first deal- and the listing agent on that deal also had the process wrong. I had told her this was only my second deal and she was astonished. The listing agent was ivy league educated- and had been working in real estate for more than 15 years- and she was shocked to learn when I told her this was only my 2nd deal- and I was apparently making the mistake by repeating what I had done by the listing agent in my 1st deal.  When she realized how easy it would be for a rookie to make this small process error, she wanted me to work with her on her team. What I learned from this- it's ok to make a process error- but be open and honest about it and learn from the experience. 

Fast forward several years, that agent that had been briefly angry about the small process sin I had committed- and I are on great terms- and she often comes to me when she wants to pick my brains on neighborhood or building specific knowledge. 

It's not about a new way or old way of doing things as much as it is listening, applying feedback appropriately, and simply be willing to adapt as necessary while ensuring that what you are doing is working and accurate. The woman in your story did none of these things.

Scott Godzyk 
Hmmm - I wonder if those people will give that agent another chance?
All the best - Lynn

Your post details the importance of having a knowledgeable and EXPERIENCED agent when buying or selling real estate.  This sentence in your post made my hair stand on end.

"They said they would have paid cash but were told to put a mortgage contingency in case they changed their mind." 

Wow!  Lesson for those buyers to choose an experienced agent, you, to get their offer accepted.  Of course you were representing the seller, but still.....  Hope that buyer's agent learns some valuable lessons and leans on her broker to review the paperwork submitted and share what she should have done!  Great post - get back to basics folks!

Great post. Thanks for sharing.  

Those agents that ONLY want to text--that's not really serving your client IMO. I hope that new agent learned a lesson, probably not. In addition, she should have had an experience mentor or at least a broker who would look over the offer BEFORE submitting it.

Scott Godzyk  I really enjoyed your story. Experience really does make a difference 

You provided great service, Scott Godzyk, and you provided the RIGHT service. I wonder if the buyer who was trying to help a relative learned anything from the transaction?