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I had potential buyers email me to ask if I would be available to show them around Raleigh and surrounding areas. I must admit that I was going to be very busy that week with previous clients that had only 4 days to buy their new home. However, once I told this to potential buyers, they whined about how no other Realtors had answered their pleas for help.
To make a long story short...
I agreed to meet with them EARLY on a Saturday morning before I met with my clients. I spent a couple of hours with them and gave them listings to ride by and maps to guide them.
I made arrangements to have an afternoon to show them around once they had chosen the houses they wanted to view; however, since this was just a scouting trip for them, one afternoon was all I had available.
While they were in town, my emails went unanswered.
When they arrived back home, I emailed again to make sure they had gotten back safely. She emailed me to tell me that they weren't sure when they'd be moving.
On a forum, she has been announcing that she toured the area with an agent and was excited to be moving here.
So...here is my rant...WHY CAN'T PEOPLE JUST BE HONEST?
I'm sorry but I think this is why Southerners are fed up with others coming into the area and just not being honest and turning the area into a less friendly area.
I only agreed to HELP these people because no one else wanted to, or so she said. Since she did find someone with more time (which was fine with me), why not just be honest and tell me. I would have been thrilled not to have the pressure to try to fit them in.
I'm not new in the business so I understand that you cant "win 'em all" but come on people...be honest with your agents. My goal is only to help you find your home and get you through the process. If you can't use my help, at least have the decency to free up my time to allow me to help someone who does want my help.
By the way, my clients that had 4 days to find a house found a beautiful lovely new home! So at least I made someone happy!!!
I don't think this is a problem with any one specific area of the country. I think in general, we as a society, place very little regard on simple courtesy. You see it in all areas of life, from people cutting you off in traffic, to the way people behave in public places. I had a similar experience to yours when I first started out. I also wish people would just be upfront with me - they fail to realize this is my livelihood after all. I'm not playing at being a Realtor. In the end, all you can do is VENT (I usually find a nice glass of wine takes the edge off) and go on. Look at the experience as a blessing in disguise. Now you're free to help others who appreciate your professionalism.
I don't think this is a problem with any one specific area of the country. I think in general, we as a society, place very little regard on simple courtesy. You see it in all areas of life, from people cutting you off in traffic, to the way people behave in public places. I had a similar experience to yours when I first started out. I also wish people would just be upfront with me - they fail to realize this is my livelihood after all. I'm not playing at being a Realtor. In the end, all you can do is VENT (I usually find a nice glass of wine takes the edge off) and go on. Look at the experience as a blessing in disguise. Now you're free to help others who appreciate your professionalism.
Thanks, kensgirl...thanks for listening and for allowing my vent! I do feel better now!
As a potential buyer, I totally get what you're saying.
But, I have to say, on my side of the fence it's the same thing in reverse.
We are definitely moving to NC next year (June 2009). This is a done deal.
However, we haven't decided on what specific area. I keep trying to pin it down but so far every Realtor I have spoken to has (as I've determined afterwards) told me exactly what I wanted to hear.
So, I don't know who to trust anymore. I mean I know the market out there is rough and things aren't moving. And maybe people can't be bothered to take me seriously because it is, after all, 15 months away.
But I know that moving from one state to another requires that I depend on the Realtor to tell me the truth. Don't tell me this area is great, that area has such and such if it's not true. And a lie of omission is still a lie.
I outlined to one Realtor exactly what I was looking for in a house. I received emails linking me to a list of houses that had nothing on my list.
My goal is to have 5 houses to choose from when I arrive down there. That's it. But I'm afraid that the list I get won't have a single home on it that even comes close to my requirements.
So, I do understand your frustration. Totally. I know that as a buyer it's my responsibility to be definitive on what I want, where, and not be wishy-washy. And that is exactly what I intend to do. I just hope I can find a Realtor with the same attitude.
I sent an email to this buyer and explained why I thought she could have been more honest. She, in return, said that she felt that I was TOO HONEST.
She had a few examples. One was that I had mentioned to her that one of the properties I had for her to drive by, the builder was paying 4% commission. I did this because legally I must disclose any bonuses and also to educate her to the fact that this builder was going to negotiate. I view it as educating my buyers. However, she said it made her feel uncomfortable. Interesting how we perceived the same information, so differently! Would she have felt less uncomfortable had I hidden this fact and then disclosed it at closing? If I were in her shoes, I would have felt that the Realtor led me to this neighborhood to make more money. I always disclose if there are ANY bonuses or additional payouts so my clients understand that I'm NOT motivated by the bonuses!
She also said that she felt that I was doing her a "favor" by meeting with her. Now thats my fault. I was overworked and gave her the wrong impression. I met with her because she needed SOMEONE and I did the best that I could. Perhaps I should have told her that I was just too busy to meet with her. I tried to help when I should have declined and I gave her the wrong impression and for that, I did apologize to her.
I'm glad that I got her to open up, even though she felt that her approach was more tactful. I, on the other hand, prefer honesty from my clients. I realize that not every client is a good match for every Realtor.
I love people. And it always amazes me how we can see the same thing so differently. This was a learning experience for me.
Teebopop - It's been said many times, but the real estate business IS all about relationship. It's true some realtors will say anything to get your business. But there are just as many (if not more) who truly want to provide you with the best possible service they can. So keep trying. You need to feel that you can rely on your realtor to find you what you want.
Having said that, it is also true that you are planning over a year out, and many realtors may not take you seriously. You may need to take more than one trip to really identify where you want to live. Seeing listings on the internet is one thing, but knowing if you like the area is another. Once you can decide what area you want to focus on, it will make it that much easier for search for properties and find a realtor to help you in your search.
Relocating can be tough (I've done it twice in the last few years), but it can also be a very exciting time. Hope your experience gets better
OMY!!! Sounds like this is one you might be glad you won't have to work with if she is like that. YIKES!!! Let's see, she called you BEGGING and whinning as no other realtor would even answer their calls/emails. Trying to make YOU feel bad for THEM! She tried to put a guilt trip on you till you caved (don't blame you there as I would have too IF I had a lil bit of time I could squeeze them in). Must admit I was expecting for you to say that they kept you out and tied up preventing you from getting w/ your other clients (glad THAT did not happen). Anyway, you met w/ them and went over everything w/ a fine tooth comb, being upfront and HONEST with them (and how many people come on here and complain about realtors NOT being honest) and letting them know upfront about even the extra commissions/bonus. You were "TOO HONEST". okay............. Guess she doesn't mind being lied to then or for a realtor that is working with them to hold back information. I'd be willing to bet they would be the first ones to sue the realtor after the deal was done IF they found out there was something held back from them even though it legally did not have to be disclosed.
No her approach was NOT "more tactful". Her approach was just down right pathetic and it DOES give the people in the area a bad taste if too many newcomers act like this. She at least could have been more tactful and letting you know UPFRONT that they were unsure when they would be moving.
We are definitely moving to NC next year (June 2009). This is a done deal.
However, we haven't decided on what specific area. I keep trying to pin it down but so far every Realtor I have spoken to has (as I've determined afterwards) told me exactly what I wanted to hear.
So, I don't know who to trust anymore. I mean I know the market out there is rough and things aren't moving. And maybe people can't be bothered to take me seriously because it is, after all, 15 months away.
But I know that moving from one state to another requires that I depend on the Realtor to tell me the truth. .
That is a LOOOOONNNNNG WAY OFF and ANYTHING can happen between now and then. Even though it is a "done deal" things do change and it is not a "done deal" till money has changed hands. There are things that can come up in life unexpectedly to change plans and the realtors know that as they have experienced it many a times. Then the market in some areas is totally unstable so the realtors your talking to are going to have a REALLY hard time trying to figure out the future and how the market is going to be THEN. This is when that realty crystal ball comes in handy
So they told you what you wanted to hear. Okay? Are YOU in someway giving them the impression that you won't use them if they don't tell you "what you want to hear"? You have to remember that realtors have a code of conduct they MUST adhere to and they KNOW that they can be shopped and fined if they are trying to "steer" someone. What kind of questions are you asking them that you feel this way about? I'm sure with as many good realtors as we have on here they can help you find words to use that might make it easier to communicate w/ your realtor.
However, we haven't decided on what specific area. I keep trying to pin it down but so far every Realtor I have spoken to has (as I've determined afterwards) told me exactly what I wanted to hear.
I don't quite understand this. You wanted to hear something, and they told you what you wanted to hear. Exactly what was it that you wanted to hear, and why was it bad that they told you what you wanted to hear?
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So, I don't know who to trust anymore. I mean I know the market out there is rough and things aren't moving. And maybe people can't be bothered to take me seriously because it is, after all, 15 months away.
If you're talking to many realtors, maybe that's why they aren't taking you seriously. If you want to be taken seriously, then select one realtor and agree to work with that realtor to help you find a home. I wouldn't spend 15 months working with a person who is talking to other agents. If a person does their homework and then chooses me to represent them, I will work with them for 15 months because I know my time won't be wasted.
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And a lie of omission is still a lie.
That's a tough one. What is someone omitting?
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I outlined to one Realtor exactly what I was looking for in a house. I received emails linking me to a list of houses that had nothing on my list.
Then all you have to do is tell the realtor that those don't meet your criteria. Don't expect perfection at first. Remember that the realtors are probably busy with clients who are committed to them and they take first priority. You, on the other hand, are not committed to any realtor, so you are going to take a back seat until you select one.
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My goal is to have 5 houses to choose from when I arrive down there. That's it. But I'm afraid that the list I get won't have a single home on it that even comes close to my requirements.
When are you going down there? If its 15 months away, the houses you choose now will probably not be available. And again, which realtor are you going to choose?
I agree with Captain Bill on this one. With my clients that are that far out, I set them up on automatic emails, which means that I AM NOT screening them. As we get closer I screen them for my clients. I can't screen homes for 15 months and expect to make any money. It is very time consuming to do that for clients.
I am sure you are on automatic email. Take this as an opportunity to see what homes are in a particular neighborhood. Make a list of what you DON'T like about the houses you are being sent. I personally find dislikes incredibly helpful in screening homes for my clients. Since I am in homes all of the time, I can often rule a home out based on something that won't show up on the MLS. That way when we do go and look, it is very targeted.
Not sure what you are expecting this point. You are not ready to buy. You may feel agents are omitting issues, but there may be steering and fair housing issues at play here. What questions are you asking that they are not answering?
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