Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Why every Realtor should have their own home for sale!

Last week while booking showing appointments I got a call from a Realtor from another company.  The home I wanted to take buyers through was his own and he simply wanted to see if the buyers were in position to buy.  He went on to say that every Realtor should have their own home for sale every few years to see what we put sellers through.  His family in this case.  His family that had on more than one occasion lovingly prepped the home to find out the buyers weren't even ready to buy!

In my case, the buyers were ready willing and able (house wasn't for them, alas).  But all too often Realtors jump into taking out buyers that they barely know, have not pre-approved or even worse ones that are just sizing up the area!  Some "buyers" are no more than looky loos who wouldn't be ready to move anytime in the next year!

Walking around in someone's home is NOT like strolling through a car lot for crying out loud.

Why oh why would you get a seller excited about a showing, knowing a diligent seller will clean and prep their home, make arrangements for any pets or children and vacate for the showing, when your buyer is not even ready to buy?  That's just nasty.

When someone is "just looking" they can do so on line and from drive bys.  If you have nothing better to do than chauffeur them around, take them to vacant properties!

Also to any of my colleagues that get casual about "getting back" to the client with updates on their negotiations....what is wrong with you?!  An hour seems like a week when someone is waiting on tender-hooks to know if their offer was accepted or if the buyer got financing. 

I agree that every Realtor should have the regular experience of "waiting to hear".  Maybe waiting to hear how your medical test went.  How would you like it if the professional got too busy to let you know how it was going? 

STRESS is often found in the sea of the unknown.  Throw a lifeline and be thoughtful and prompt with communication.  If you're too busy to be courteous to others you are simply ineffectual and need to either stack less on your plate or get into a different business with less life altering impact.

Before you take a step, or miss taking a step, consider the impact on others.  Don't be a dink. 

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