Any Reason Not to Use USAA Movers Advantage? (recommendation, agents, mortgages)

[DMenscha]

Originally Posted by Brandon Hoffman

4-To qualify the agent must meet requirements for number of closings and customer service.

And in my rural area, only 2 companies have "bought" the entire county. I figured I'd go ahead and jump through the hoops, but I was told my "territory" was closed to new agents.

[Jkgourmet]

I'm a HUGE USA fan. However, the buyers advantage program was not a positive experience for us. The agents that were referred to us for listing our Mesa, AZ home were not familiar with the area. Their follow up skills left a lot to be desired. I admit, I only spoke with two USAA referrals, but after those conversations and researching their professional skills, I did not think these two were at the top of their gae.

Maybe if it had been a big military area, it would have been a better fit.

Now, the USAA car buying service???? That's AWESOME.

[Brandon Hoffman]

Originally Posted by DMenscha

And in my rural area, only 2 companies have "bought" the entire county. I figured I'd go ahead and jump through the hoops, but I was told my "territory" was closed to new agents.

Totally believable in smaller/rural markets but my experience with small town agents in my market is they generally suck at their job anyway. Not all, just most. While there are exceptions there is usually a gap in education and experience. Now, before some of you guys in smaller markets jump me, please realize I said most, not all. Clearly you guys are an exception because you take the time to work at your craft.

Bigger markets and markets with a lot of military, go for it. Smaller markets, give it a shot and see.

[LCTMadison]

USAA is the DEVIL. Their mortgage department is HORRENDOUS. And I have been a USAA member for 17 years.

I have had several clients use USAA, even tho I have begged and pleaded them NOT to. They learned the hard way. I have never had one close in less than 45 days (which is ridiculous, I have local lenders that can close CON in a couple of weeks, VA/FHA in less than a month) and my last one we sat at the attorney's office for over 3 hours waiting on the USAA person to approve the wire....only to find out she took an extended LUNCH right in the middle of our closing.

Once I have explained the Mover's Advantage to clients and referred them to read some of USAA's "testimonials" they have typically dropped that idea. I will not engage in USAA, cut commissions, etc. In our area the USAA leads are typically shuffled off to newbie agents because the established, experienced agents will not work for that much of a reduced commission. So the USAA member ultimately gets to be some wet behind the ears agent's guinea pig.

HATE THEM.

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by LCTMadison

USAA is the DEVIL. Their mortgage department is HORRENDOUS. And I have been a USAA member for 17 years.

I have had several clients use USAA, even tho I have begged and pleaded them NOT to. They learned the hard way. I have never had one close in less than 45 days (which is ridiculous, I have local lenders that can close CON in a couple of weeks, VA/FHA in less than a month) and my last one we sat at the attorney's office for over 3 hours waiting on the USAA person to approve the wire....only to find out she took an extended LUNCH right in the middle of our closing.

Once I have explained the Mover's Advantage to clients and referred them to read some of USAA's "testimonials" they have typically dropped that idea. I will not engage in USAA, cut commissions, etc. In our area the USAA leads are typically shuffled off to newbie agents because the established, experienced agents will not work for that much of a reduced commission. So the USAA member ultimately gets to be some wet behind the ears agent's guinea pig.

HATE THEM.

You have to learn to loosen up just a bit and say what you're thinking....

[pumamoving]

Moving is crazy and very stressful. One needs professional and competent movers to make the process go very smoothly and calmly. We were moving from San Francisco to the central valley.

[thelopez2]

It sounds like a cut throat business, who will work for the least amount of money to get the job. Buyers don't need to look like the "bad guy" in asking the agent to take a lower fee, someone else has done it for them.

[Brandon Hoffman]

Originally Posted by thelopez2

It sounds like a cut throat business, who will work for the least amount of money to get the job. Buyers don't need to look like the "bad guy" in asking the agent to take a lower fee, someone else has done it for them.

Not exactly.

[TrentBeaver]

I don't know why as a buyer if you have access to the USAA Mover's Advantage program you wouldn't use it. My mother in law used it for her home purchase and after not meshing personality wise with the first agent, USAA recommended another to her and everything went smooth. For my wife and I, we used the Mover's Advantage program for the recommended agent and for our rebate at the end of close, but used a different company for financing with no issues.

The benefit of being a USAA recommended agent is that USAA generates leads(buyers) for you that are at a minimum pre-approved through USAA for the purchase of a home. This makes life easier for the agent knowing the buyer can actually buy what they say they are interested in.

However this lead generation program does come with the agent having to pay USAA a referral fee at the end of close. The train of thought I have to assume the agent has, is that even if you as the agent are paying USAA a referral it is still money in your pocket that you may not have gotten otherwise. You as an agent just have to decide whether the work your are putting forth to find your buyer a home is still worth it after you pay your referral fee to USAA. Hope this helps.

-Trent

[purplesky]

I'm a USAA member and if you go to their website, they have reviews and ratings posted directly on their website which is nice. I know some products of theirs are better than others. For instance, the mortgage refinancing wasn't very popular.