Dear Seller:

Congratulations on your upcoming move!  You're now interviewing agents, preparing to sign that listing agreement and looking forward to the Offer that gets you moving on with your life! You're going to sign with an agent who you KNOW is going to get the job DONE and done professionally.  Right?

As a NC & SC licensed Realtor®, I show homes all over the Charlotte Metro area.  There are agent's listings that  I would prefer to stay away from but, my clients select the homes that they want to see and if I chose only the agent's listings that I enjoy working with, I would be steering my clients, which is against the LAW!  


So, I'm writing to implore your help and give you some guidance in the agent selection process!  I'd like to share an experience that happened with one set of my Buyers.  As a business professional, I feel that keeping the best interest of my clients in consideration is of UTMOST importance.  I did not select a firm that is bound by a third party verifier of Quality Service Certification just because I liked the office location!  Rather I selected Helen Adams Realty because they hold ALL of their agents accountable for the best level of customer service in the country--as a matter of fact, my firm was named the number one Real Estate Agency in the NATION for customer service in 2007!  

Sorry, I digress--this is NOT a solicitation!  Instead, I'd like to recommend to you that you check your agent's references!  Make certain that the following incidents don't happen to you!  These are just a couple of the incidents that have happened to me while working with listing agents who are NOT held accountable for their professionalism (or lack thereof)--and this happened with just ONE Buyer client of mine!

Journal Entry:

I phoned the appointment numbers yesterday to get the showings scheduled for only three homes and was ready by noon for today's tour...

All I lacked were the appointment confirmations from the listing agents on all three homes.  My calls went JUST like this:

Agent #1:  FINALLY, after much encouragement and THREE voice mails from me, decided that they would be able to break away from 'company' long enough to run over to the first property to let me in.  "I don't have any Supra lockboxes, so I have to meet you there...YOU need to be on time because I have company and can't be away too long."

Agent #2:  "Are you the one that called me a few days ago to look at the house?"  NO, I called yesterday to give a 24-hour notice.  "Oh, okay!  I will have to meet you there because my clients don't trust real estate agents and require me to be present for all showings!"  

Agent #3:  After carrying on a conversation with children screaming in the background and having to repeat ourselves numerous times, she said, "I haven't put a lockbox on the door yet so, I'll have to meet you there and let you in.  Are your clients REALLY interested?  I'm just asking because I need to make a stop at WalMart on my way back home and then..."  Unfortunately, YES they're interested but, I REALLY do hope that they don't want to buy this home; I don't want to have to deal with YOU and your screaming children for an entire transaction!!

Home #1:  Clutter nearly fell out the door at us when we opened it!  Amazing how the listing agent didn't even notice the mess.  Even after my clients made a comment wondering whether they were expecting us or not, the listing agent just stood there!

Home #2:  Agent must be present for what?  A VACANT HOUSE--for Pete's sake!  Not only that but, the home had bugs dead and alive!) all around and the photos looked NOTHING like the home; previously staged, the owner's had moved the furnishings out and had not even vaccumed up the debris and dead bugs.

Home #3:  This home was almost exactly what they were looking for--oh, great!  I hope they decide to keep on looking though (remember 'screaming children')!

SELLERS: 

Do you really want an agent who:

1.  Does not return phone calls?  (period--there's absolutely NO excuse for not returning phone calls AND they should be returned in a very timely manner!)

2.  Does not properly assist you in staging and preparing your home for showings?   I've run a vaccum cleaner MANY times in preparation for a showing--it's REALLY a simple task and dead bugs are not appealing to potential Buyers!

3.  Cannot afford a showing (call) service?  I understand those agents who represent Sellers only don't use a showing service all of the time because they are not with Buyers who command their undivided attention.  These agents schedule their own showings but, should take no more than an hour to return their calls in the event that an agent has a client that would like to look at YOUR home right away!  If the agent is NOT going to return phone calls for showings immediately, then they definitely need a showing service!

4.  Cannot afford a LOCKBOX?  If your agent can't afford a lockbox, HOW are they going to afford to advertise your home?!

5.  Doesn't explain to you the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.  And, what exactly is anyone going to steal from a vacant home?

6.  Simply is not PROFESSIONAL?  Do you want YOUR agent chatting with a potential Buyer with screaming children in the background?  Do you want your agent telling other agents that they need them to schedule around THEIR WalMart time?

This day and time, I would NEVER  expect my call to be ignored buy a listing agent or expect an agent to fail to return a phone call!  One NEVER knows if THIS call  is from  the Buyer of the property!

If you don't phone references, at least ASK questions to the agents whom you're interviewing.  You'd be surprised at what you'll learn!  Ask if they use the standard lockboxes.  Ask if they use a call service.  Do your homework and you'll be well on your way to getting your home sold and in a professional manner.

Check up on these agents--have someone phone regarding one of their listings.  See how timely their response is; see if they follow-up with that person again in a day or two.  See if there are screaming children in the background!  You'll be glad you did!

Warmest Regards,

About the author:

Debe Maxwell is a Charlotte Residential Real Estate Broker, Certified Neighborhood and Relocation Specialist who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Charlotte NC or any place in the country by connecting you with a relocation professional in your destination of choice. Debe has created a team of professionals throughout the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. These professionals are experts in the field of relocation and can serve many purposes beyond a simple home search. The destination service is of no cost to you! Please visit www.TheMaxwellHouseGroup.com  for your relocation and/or your local needs.

Debe Maxwell- HELEN ADAMS REALTY - 704.491.3310 - Debe@DebeMaxwell.com

Copyright © 2008 By Debe Maxwell, All Rights Reserved...*Dear Seller:*