"I already have a buyers' agent, but I don't like to drag her out to view houses."
HUH?
This is a message I received earlier today. This guy, as serious as could be, called to ask if I would show him a house that is over an hour away later this week, but "preferably this evening".
What? Did I hear him correctly? I actually played the message five times to make sure I wasn't misunderstanding it.
Why would I show a house where I wasn't the listing agent nor the buyers' agent? Just for kicks?
I pulled it up in the MLS, I called the listing agent and left a message for him with this guy's name and phone number. I told him I had no inclination of calling the guy back since he has an agent, and that he was more than welcome to call him on my behalf since he was the listing agent.
Buyers, we have Buyers Agency for a reason, so you are protected and represented. Utilize your REALTOR®. Our job is to help you purchase a home, and if that means you have to "drag" us out to look at them, that's just part of our job. Don't go call random agents to show you houses. We have something called Procuring Cause, and if I showed you the house, you liked the house, yet you presented the offer with another agent, you're going to, more than likely, lose in the long run, as you'll be cutting me a nice check in the end.
Don't try to skirt the system...
**Are You Packed Yet?**
Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com
Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way.
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** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **
Copyright© 2009 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* I already have a buyers' agent, but I don't like to drag her out to view houses...* was first published on donnahomesblog.com
For some reason folks do not get the fact that this is a job for us not just a hobby. I see this often , and really do not understand it
Charlie, I see it often when I'm the listing agent, but for them to call someone at random who's not the listing agent makes no sense.
Buyer agency education is so important. It's more than who's getting paid. It's about fiduciary duty to the seller if we are not the buyer's agent. Now, that will get their attention.
Agents who do not educate their clients do not see the importance of this issue. For whatever reason, they dont believe in themselves and perhaps think that they too are locking the clients down.
I think it's so important to spend enough time to explain Buyer agency to a real estate client, just like we spend time educating them on getting pre-qualified, etc.
It's our business to educate.
Hey, Donna. You have to wonder what people think sometimes. The Buyer's Agent should have done a better job with explaining agency. Take care, Jim
Makes ME wonder if they had even been prequalified??? If the agent didn't take the time to educate them on buyer agency, most likely their are an example of business managing them vs them managing their business!
BTW - thanks for the comical post on my blog. I wondered who might do that and would have been disappointed if someone hadn't! ***winks***
Loreena, Since we have "implied agency" in Texas, it's not always about representing the seller if there isn't a buyer's agreement. And yes, the agent should have educated him much much more.
Jim, Exactly!
Ruth, It astonishes me every time I hear agents are pre-approving their buyers before showing them properties. Education comes right from the start! And you're welcome!
Donna
I feel that you did the right thing.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
I've had the same thing happen to me and did the same thing you did Donna. It's crazy how some people just don't get it. :)
Implied yes, but people are not always on the same frequency unfortunately. Some consumers think the cars we drive belong to the company. Some consumers who never owned their own business never cares for self-employed people who earns something when someone buys something.
Well HUH and DUH! LOL. I think this type of a thing is going around more and more these days. ~Rita
The title hooked me on this one. I don't think consumers understand how it works. I could swear some people think I'm paid hourly to unlock doors.
Lou, Thanks for the reinforcement.\
Jared, Hello, Mc Fly!!
Loreena, Very true.
Rita, Either lazy agent, or not-so-smart-buyer.
Brian, He isn't a first time buyer, so he should have known...
That's just a clear cut case of either someone who doesn't respect what we do or someone who just needs an education as to why there's such a thing as buyer's agency.
You did the right thing here Donna.
When I read the question, I had the same reaction: "Huh?" I always thought the point of hiring a Realtor was for them to do the work for you. Not so that you could go contacting other agents to do the work for free. That's just silly.
Thanks for clarifying that this is not a hobby for you and that you are serious about your role as a Realtor. Sometimes you just have to verbalize in plain English for consumers to understand.
Donna - I once had an agent want me to show him and his client a house that wasn't even my listing, so it's not just buyer's who don't understand how this thing called real estate works.
Hi Donna... I had a better one today... a buyer working with another agent who called and told me that his agent suggested he call me to show him a property because she was too busy, but she would be the one writing the contract and taking her full commission.
Speechless. Quite clearly this buyer needs some help on figuring out how a real estate transaction works. His "buyers agent" has apparently done a very poor job of that!
Denise
Donna, sounds like there is a buyer's agent who is either very lazy or really bad at educating clients!
Donna, I see red flags on this one concerning safety too.....the first thing that came to mind was his urgency...I think you got yourself out of an "unsafe" situation on a property an hour away.
I've gotten these calls, too - it is sometimes confusing to the buyer who represents the listings. But - yes - it's funny when people don't want to 'bug' their buyer's agent - that is the whole point of being one!
Craig, I agree.
Heather, I know, right?
James, Even English doesn't make sense if the person doesn't have common sense.
Michelle, Why would the agent need you to show him? Weird!
Steve, HUh?
Denise, I agree.
Pat, Lazy...
Tracy Lee, Very true!
Tom, But even if it's confusing who the listing agent is, he still should have contacted HIS agent.
Donna --- it is just amazing what people will do -- I have been in the business now for 33 years and I am constantly amazed.
Buyers have an interesting way of working. I am not sure why they feel that our time is worth less than their time. No one else works for free so why should we?
Donna,
Pretty amazing how some of the public perceives us and the job we do. You went the extra mile to call the listing agent. I would not have even made the call.
Liz, Things have definitely changed over 33 years I'm sure!
Cara, Exactly! If he didn't want to bother his own agent, why is he bothering me?
Richard, I only called the listing agent because I didn't want this "buyer" to go bad-mouth me to others if he never got some kind of returned call. Kinda selfish I guess.
Donna - To answer your question the agent didn't belong to the MLS or have a supra to access the property. I told him I wasn't the listing agent and he knew that, but he still wanted me to open the door for him and his client. Very strange.....
Michelle, At least he didn't ask to borrow your access key as I've been approached for that before. Some people...
Donna,
Did he tell you who the agent was? Is so would you have called the buyer's agent?
I think there is more to this story than they told you.
What did the listing agent say?
Brenda, If he told me who the agent was, Yes I would have called her and told her to do her job! I didn't talk with the listing agent, only left him a message, and I have not heard from him to know what he did with the information.
Thats ridiculous. Why would that guy even think its an option? Do people really think you enjoy working for free? Crazy! I think you did the right thing. I know a few agents that would not have even called back... but I agree with your method instead.
John, Got me...