When I am representing a Hawaii Home Buyer or a Hawaii Home Seller there is always one basic rule: No matter which hat I'm wearing I totally think and perform in the best interests of my client. I have the ability to switch my hats and shift into high gear for whichever side I am representing.
The problems that keeps reoccuring are the ones with other agents who are not performing even the menial tasks that come with "job". Regardless if the market is booming or not we are professionals and do everything down to detail. Right? Uh...not so when it's a limited menu item agency representing the seller.
It's so irking to deal with a limited representation brokerage, agent and seller when:
- A 'limited' representation agent does not return calls nor gives pertinent information to the other agent that may help them in the transaction. Why should they? They aren't getting paid for that menu item.
- The same agent truly does not do anything past the menu items that are paid for and doesn't even care that the other agent will have to pick up on the slack.
The seller looks for the best deal in town out of a Realtor® and doesn't realize the impact it will have on the transaction when they do a 'bargain package'.- The seller demands to hang around at the home inspection and gets in the way and causes the inspection to last double the time because they want to impress the home inspector.
- An agent tells their client they do not need to be at the signing with them. I suppose it depends on what they are paying for????
- An agent tells their seller that they can leave the bulky items on the curb after closing even though it's not being picked up for a couple of weeks. Since when did "removal of all items" mean they can leave stuff on the curb????
- The seller expects everyone to do what they want because their agent isn't doing it for them. Oh, sorry...the seller didn't want to pay them for that.
- The seller hangs out at the final walk through and tells the buyer that they paid for the gift they are getting from me.
Now these are the things that I keep in my memory bank about the "professionals" in my neighborhood that keep reminding me why I LOVE my profession and why I do what I do. Times such as this I feel like Cinderella doing other peoples "dirty" work but in the end I know I will sleep oh so well at night. (and wonder how they are able to). These are the reasons why there CAN NOT be menu items for an important life decision of selling or buying a home.
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My reputation IS the solid foundation for my business.
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Sally, I can totally relate to your complaints. There are bad apples in most any bunch but bad apple Realtors have their clients "future" in their hands too! It's scary when I think of all the people's lives that have been affected by bad advice or lack of "fiduciary" responsibility.
It's a wonder we can still attain errors and omissions insurance with all the law suits going on! I will say this though...if I need a Realtor you would get my business. I thank you for the attitude and ethics you hold.
See, you and others can make us PROUD to be a Realtor! Later in the rain~Deb
Sally - The seller hangs out at the final walkthrough and tells the buyer that he paid for their gift from you? Did that really happen to you? How disgusting. It would be hard not to tell him off!
'limited menu item' - never heard that one, but it sure describes a few people that I have worked with.
Sally, hire professionals and you won't go wrong.
Deb: There are not too many that I frown upon but the ones that are not fulfilling their "job" for the sake of a buck .. just to get that unknowing seller are not doing anyone any favors. I thank you for the nice compliment.
Virginia: That was really rude and didn't even deserve an acknowledgement. Those are the ones that do flat rate and then work their way up a menu and tag on this and that and this and that....or they don't get any this or that :)
Gary: I think that many sellers do not realize the importance of having a professional vs. cheap rate discount ones.
Sally: If only there was a crystal ball that sellers could look into to be able to see in advance how shortchanged they will be on the service end of things. Unfortunately... they find out afterwords... when it is usually too late to do anything about it. Thanks for sharing.
Sally - Very well put and I will agree that there are some agents out there that make a bad reputation for others. In Las Vegas I have called agents with no return calls. Then if my clients needs answers that are not provided in the listing, etc, with no return call, I contact the listing agent's Broker. If it's the Broker that has it listed and their not returning my call after 24 hours, they better have a good explanation.
I thought I was the only one that vented on my posts about bad agent's, it's good to see that I'm not alone
Thanks for the reading!
Sally, You are in a very small community - word will spread, just be patient.
Sally- Professionalism from a Professional.....that is the bottom line of what we strive for. Many Sellers don't seem to understand the difference, and might even think all of us are the same, when clearly by your Post here that isn't the case. Lucky for the clients you get...unlucky for some of the others....if they have an Agent that doesn't do anything unless a dollar is attached to it.
I don't thing it really matters what it says on paper...if there is no motivation then the agent won't work. I had agents who are top producers who really stink at their job and just hire children to do their tasks and do then lousy. I don't think they even know the difference with representation anyway.
Sally, you pay for what you get. We now have a state sellers contract for limited service and it must be posted in the MLS. Of course we do all the work, both sides. I never expect a call back that is part of the agreement, we just go to the sellers direct, negotiate direct, set up inspections direct.
I however, make them order the title work and try not to do their jobs where is something they can do. In saying all this, sometiimes it is the sellers only option if they have no money in their home.
Morning Sally,
You have highlighted all the reasons a sell should go with a full service provider. I sing the same song to potential clients during our listing presentation.
I love what I do and do it to the best of my ability. I don't toss and turn at night either.
The last transaction I had with a limited service broker included reading the riot act to the seller - after we were ratified. I explained when he would have to be present to meet the termite inspector, the appraiser and all the other stuff he was responsible for doing. And he got it! But I did wait until we were ratified.
I think what makes it worse from a regular fsbo (isn't a limited service seller just a fsbo in disguise?) is that the seller thinks they are paying for limited service to be performed by their agent when they are getting no service whatsoever.
Sally you are not just speaking about professionalism but also other business models. All business madels need to be welcome but as full service agents we can allow the seller to do me of the work they are not willing to pay for. Let them chase down and do the things a full service agent would do for them. I say that and then I still end up doing things on behaf of my client to make the transaction happen
Hi Sally,
There are many alternative business models, many don't offer representation to the seller. I feel many seller's don't really know what they are getting themselves into any and unfortunately the buyer's agent ends up doing all the work to keep the deal together. At least you can sleep at night knowing you give it your all! :)
Sally, I think many sellers think if they do a limited service company "they will just get the other agent to do the rest of the work". I have heard them say such things. I can't believe the seller would say such a thing to you at the walk through. I guess he doesn't think you did anything short of a miracle of getting his house sold in a disaster of a market.
SALLY, You would think with home buyers and home sellers needing our services more than ever in this market, agents would work a lot harder!!!!! However, I am finding more and more agents slacking off these days.
Gotta run folks....be back this afternoon to comment!
I have been fortunate not to find myself in that situation....fortunate because I know myself well enough to know I would pick up the slack. I go nuts when things don't get done in a timely matter!
Sally, one thing that I am thankful for is that I only have to deal with the Buyer's Realtor, and even some of them can be tough to deal with. You would think that everyone would want to do everything possible to get a transaction closed quickly, but there are times I am left wondering why some Realtors are in this business.
Sally, It's hard for me to believe (somehow, even though I already know) how some realtors treat their clients--I know you go above and beyond for everyone you work with and they adore you for it.
Sally! I do hope you're happy and content! I'm so glad miss Carole (above) is back and I feel as if we have a great community here! I wish all my new friends could come to our Austin get together this weekend with Jason and 70 others! We'll report on it so keep your eyes open!
You take care you angel face! Life is good...
Later in the rain~Deb
Wow....went shopping, errands, escrow, time with daughter ...full day.
Let's start from bottom up :)
Deb: I sure am...doesn't take much nowadays...everything works out in the end too. Life is good.
Carole: It is a little disheartening sometimes....and I especially couldn't believe the seller said that. Rude...
George: I'm wondering right about now.... then again...everything works out the way it's supposed to ....
Joan: I do the same....although sometimes it's a little tough when we don't have control over some situations.
Mana: I just can't believe some of these people. And to let their clients run amuck as well.
Audrey: You mean you've never had a seller tell you that? lol! I agree....they think it's a big old joke to have someone else do their work....because they care.....well, I don't wish it on anyone but what goes around comes around...ya know?
Suzanne: I know. Sad. And they are going to wonder why they are getting a bad rep in our area. Duh.
Jeff: All business models are welcome...but where do we draw the line for the agent? How do we know how much that seller is being represented if there is nothing stated?
Kelly: That makes sense. No matter what ...we do our best and show property to our clients that they would like to see....
Pat: At least you got someone who listened.
Hal: Well, at least I know why the majority of us do what we do....and do it fully. It's because we care...and care to get it done right. There is no half ended transactions where the agent should be allowed to not do the whole tranaction and give their client the best representation.
Missy: The online ones state it directly on the mls too. Some others say call the seller directly for showing appointments. From there I can pretty much gather what I'm up against. Others just barely do the minimummmm.\
Neal: I hate to admit it...but I do believe that's another problem as well. Why is it that they can call themselves professionals when they can't even get the basics straight.
Kathy: I refuse to acknowledge that that's the way it is. I make sure and voice my opinon....and try to be nice about it. Other times...well, just have to get the brokers involved.
Leolinda: Yup...and i do believe it'll be coming in loud and clear.
Robert: It's not that I'm venting...just voicing 'concerns'. :) And they are valid concerns when it comes to representing my client's best interests and another force gets in the way.
Karen: I do believe it starts with some sellers as welll....say like in the case of the seller loudly proclaiming they bought my clients their closing gift. That one clearly had control and really doubt the agent did much to give her professional advice.
Woo Hoo, Your Seller is not paying for any gift, they are the Listing Agency and the listing agency is paying your brokerage. " What an outrageous comment". Bad taste and Bad Choices are not unusal bedfellows.
" Mr and Mrs Seller, How nice of you to offer to the pay for a gift for the Buyer. Shall I draw up an amendment to have those funds credited to the Buyer at closing and this way they can select what they might most like to have. How does $ 200 or $250 sound? I know the Buyers will be most appreciative of your generosity"
I visited an open house this week and asked the person showing the home if they had a business card. They said, "I am not a real estate agent". The bad part is that they were giving all kinds of information about the property and acting like an agent. In Hawaii quite illegal.
William: No kidding. I know my mouth dropped and was wide open. I just know I was giving that person a cross eyed look and rolling my eyes.....I just know it (I hope I was lol)
Randy: That's not good. One time I went to an Open House and a loan officer was holding it.
Well, we all know you get what you pay for. And there are times I continue to be astounded by the mediocrity of some of the people around me.
But professionals like you do the best they can do, and as you said, sleep well at night.
Sally
Michigan just passed a law tha had minimum standards. they were very careful as to not interfere with anything that hasn't been the "norm" in the past but require certain mimimums fromr profession. It is mostly about disclosure as to what you provide and most of the requirements are so basic it was hard to imagine that the wasn't part of the law already. It is very frustrating dealing with an agent who is a limited service agent as it usually falls on us to pick up the slack. maybe we just need to hold to working for our client and not assisting the other side with something that isn't our responsibility. That would probably be like trying to convince agents to not take overpriced listings
Sally...I'm new to Active Rain and still in the overwhelmed stage but first of all I had to comment on your name....my name is Celeste also and you don't run across us too often....so hello
Secondly loved your post and can totally relate...haven't had quite the 'in your face' situations you have run into but enough times where i felt I had to pick up the slack for the other agent in order to protect my client and keep the deal going. I guess all I can say is Karma...oh and what goes around, comes around.
DEB...being in Austin I was curious about the Austin get together...not because I want to invite myself or anything but...is that an active rain class? a conference? Or just people who met through active rain and are getting together.
just wondered what my future may hold...thanks to all.