Buyers, In your car or follow behind

I write almost all of my offers in coffee shops, never at my office because it is too far away.  With the buyers if they are out of towners I almost always drive. With people nearby if they want to see a house or two after work I have them meet me at the house.  I hate having people follow me but I do it that way too.  Sometimes if they have kids and car seats I will actually ride with them.  I guess it is situational, a combination of what I am comfortable with and what my clients want. 

From an insurance perspective you are better off having them follow you.  If your insurance company finds out you are using your car for business purposes and you don't have business auto insurance you could be in big trouble.

Bob,

I always prefer to go back to the office and write up the offer. We have a really nice office enviornment and it's rarely that far of a trip back. Although, sometimes, if I've previewed the house and know that it's perfect for my clients, I will have a contract already drafted and ready for signature when we go to the house.

I always prefer to drive (motivates me to keep the 'Benz in showroom condition!) But I will always ask my Buyers first what their preference is.

I think that it the most important thing, what is your client comfortable with.

We ride in the same car, theirs or mine, doesn't matter.

I prefer to write offers at my office because I can get forms, make copies, and get whatever else I may need.

I do not carry my laptop around with me and don't intend to start now.

I do have some contract forms in my briefcase and if a buyer insists on writing an offer anywhere I'm OK with that too.

It's funny because when I was in Texas, you drove with the agent, but here in Cedar Rapids, I have seen more agents meeting clients at the properties or following in their car

When I first left the bank to sell real estate I learned to never meet a client at the house, never let them drive, never leave the property before asking a closing question, and never leave without writings an offer. I preferred to write it up, ask the closing question, and pass them a pen to sign, it worked more often than not.

I want to hear what the client has to say before and after the showing. I want to control the time we spend together. If all your needed for is to open the key box and make sure they don't fill their pockets on the way out, then send a security guard. I don't believe in driving taxi either, if we can't communicate well enough to find your dream home in short order, then refer them to someone who they'll get along with. (Treat everyone the same, explain your policy at your first meeting, and keep good note.)

I was well into my second million (a big house was $20,000.00, then) before I found out you could write an offer in the daylight and it was over a year before I wrote an offer in the office.

I did use coffee shops to write up offers and to meet clients before we drove together in my car to see the house.

Except for newborns I didn't take children through sellers homes.

Some salesmen mistake a sense of self importance for professionalism. Well, just how professional are you standing in an empty house waiting for a no show? How professional when you've no idea why they didn't make an offer? How professional are you when someone else gets paid?

Bill

William J Archambault Jr

The Real Estate Investment Institute

www.reii.org

Normally, we like to haveour clients ride in the same car, in order to discuss the prior hiuses we`ve seen.

I prefer to meet my client at the first property and then they follow me. Usually, I'm following them, because they've already driven by the homes they want to see.

If it's an out of town referral, They drive with me. If it's an out of town buyer I don't know, I drive alone and they drive their car, (safety issues).

First preference is all in my car, second is all in theirs. I've rented a larger SUV or van if needed to accomodate all in one. If two cars are necessary, try to take one of the buyers with you. Much better for talking about neighborhoods, getting feedback, and overall, establishing rapport with your buyers.

Usually my car but soemtimes they prefer to drive and I'm the navigator. With the distances we have to travel here it doesn't make any sense to take 2 cars.