Buyer Loyalty

My goal has nothing to do about asking you to buy a home from me, it's really more about understanding what your Realtor goes through.

Most Realtors work very hard in this business to be successful and actually in this market just to put food on the table.  One of the most disturbing things that can happen to a Realtor is when a customer they have been working very hard to help calls them to inform them that they bought a house.  Can you imagine how depressing it is to know that even though you worked so hard to help this customer, they didn't respect any of your work.  I think that most consumers understand that Realtors do not get paid a salary and do not earn a penny unless you buy a home from them. 

So why does this happen?  There are a few common instances that I see.

1. FSBO's - For Sale By Owner listings are all over the place.  Your Realtor can help you in so many ways when buying a FSBO.  Most FSBO's have no clue how to really sell their home which means the buyer is buying at their own risk.  Your Realtor can protect you from so many mistakes that we see on a regular basis.  Most of the time the seller is willing to pay your Realtor for bringing him the buyer.  If not, you can always pay your Realtor by adding a couple of bucks to the price of the home.  This is done often.  However, in this market most sellers will welcome your Realtor and you.

2.  New Construction - I can't tell you how many times a customer will tell their Realtor that they are not interested in waiting for a new home to be built.  Then the phone call happens. "We were just driving around and decided to stop in at Builder X.  We fell in love and signed a contract".  Keep in mind that if you go to a builder, the Realtor fee is built into the price.  Even if you are able to negotiate, which most consumers don't even realize they can, the Realtor fee is still there.  What most people don't realize is that the employees of the builder are not allowed to represent the buyer at all in these transactions.  They work for the builder and only the builder.  Your Realtor will most likely be able to knock off 5% off the sales price and 50% off the options in this market.  Your Realtor will also make sure that everything goes smoothly throughout the process.  Realtors do this every day so why not have your Realtor at your side.

3.  Open Houses and Listing Signs - It's a Sunday afternoon and you and your wife or husband are out driving around and see an open house.  You go in, fall in love, and put an offer on the house.  All of the sudden you have forgotten that your Realtor has spent multiple days driving you around from house to house (don't forget it's $4 a gallon to do this these days) and was always available at your whim.  You put an offer on the house and your Realtor is cut out.  Not only are you not represented again, but you just basically said to your Realtor we didn't value you or care that you spent so much time with us. The same goes with calling the Listing Agent to get into a house instead of calling your Realtor. 

The hardest part is when the consumer calls their Realtor to tell them they bought a house or worse just disappears and doesn't even take their Realtors phone calls or answer his emails.  The worst part for the Realtor is trying to act like you are happy for this person who totally just disrespected you.   Being a Realtor is a tough job.  I never would have thought that until I became a Realtor.  In fact, most people look at Realtors as just someone who can open the door for you to look at homes.  There is so much more involved in being a Realtor. 

So, the next time you are using your Realtor, if he or she is good, don't disrespect him or her.  If you want to go to a builder, bring your Realtor.  If for some reason you don't call your Realtor, be sure to tell the builder that you are working with a Realtor and will only buy the home though your Realtor.  If you see a FSBO for sale, call your Realtor and at least let him try to make the appointment to get you in.  If you walk into an open house give the Realtor at the open house your Realtors business card so they know that you are working with an Agent already.  You will still get some open house or listing Agents that will try to steal you away from your Realtor.  If your Realtor is good, why would you do that to him or her.  Your Realtor has most likely spent a lot of time and money trying to help you buy a home.  Show him or her the courtesy that you would want to be shown to you if you were on the other foot.