Clingy Real Estate Agents, don't they just freak you out?

I don't and will not follow a client every step they take in a home.  I stay close by, but let them breath.

Well darn, you mean you want Agents to allow the Home Buyer to have time and space to make a decision?  What a novel concept.

Hi Jessica~ I always ask the buyers what their preference is- do they want me to walk around  with them in the home or do they prefer to look on their own?  I let them know I am right  there should they have questions, but that they are definitely free to roam around and look on their own.  It is their preference, NOT mine that matters!   

@ Vern I don't do that either...

@ Kathy I want the home buyer to have time, space, freedom and privacy to make all and any decisions.

@ Vickie  Yes, it is their preference that matters.  And, if they want to go around looking at homes without me...I don't mind.

Jessica - I like the bookend concept!  I will readily admit that it's a balancing act when it comes to allowing buyers freedom without losing them.

Jessica...Jessica...you are assuming that clients are capable of understanding that the area with the stove and refrigerator is the kitchen...Hey I spent 120 hours in real estate school to learn where the dang kitchen is and I'm going hang with my buyers until they know that I know where the kitchen is...

I think I'm going to start having people register to read my blog...no point in giving out my ideas for free now...

;-)

@ Jason that is REALLY where Book End #1 (the buyers counseling session) comes into play...
When it's properly handled...it doesn't happen nearly as much.


@ Melina  You tell'em where that kitchen is girl!


I don't know...if I can collect a retainer fee in RE...I can probably collect a few thousand dollars 'coaching' agents on Active Rain.  I've never even posted my best stuff.  ;)

Jessica - I believe every buyer needs their space in terms of time to decide, weighing their options etc. I also do not call people regularly to follow up because I personally do not like to be hounded when the shoe is on the other foot. I am confident knowing I am giving good service and that my clients will call me when they want to set up another appointment or make an offer. I do think people appreciate having their space and most of my clients even have a preference towards email communication. However, due to liability the one thing I won't do as an agent is let buyers walk freely around an occupied and furnished home by themselves. If there is a time that i am clingy it's under these circumstances. Plus, seeing and knowing how they react to a property helps me understand their likes and dislikes.

@ Carol  That's my experience also. 

This post was really about buyers going to open houses, model homes and such.  I think you can still give buyers plenty of space while showing without giving them free rein over the home.  However, I've had other agents take the key out of the lockbox and let the buyers come in by themselves!  Granted, it was a new construction home, but still...<Groan>

Jessica,

I like your business model and the bookend concept.  Thanks.

@ Don  let me try this again.  It didn't post my comment a few minutes ago.

Thank you!  However, I actually learned about "Book End Selling" from one of the top independent real estate company owners in the nation. I spent a week out in Fort Collins at his office and it was life changing.

Jessica- I like your teaching style!  I too feel that the buyer counseling session is sooo important.  Why do more agents not do that?  I had a buyer call me at the office the other day wanting to look at a listing that wasn't even mine.  I asked if he was already working with another agent.  He told me he was in fact working with another agent but he felt he was running the other agent all over creation and thought he would give him a break!  He also said the other agent would definitely be the one to represent him in his purchase of a new home.  I told him it would be best for him to call his agent to see the property.

Ewwww!  THAT guy!  Yes.  I remember him.  It's like the helicopter moms - constantly hoovering over their kids so that they can't learn to fly for constantly bumping agains her.  Man, I hope I'm not like that.

Kathy

@ Stacie  The Buyer Counseling sessions is very important to not only me, but also the buyer. It really helps us focus in on their needs and objectives.  I think so many agents "waste time" looking because they haven't taken the time to properly understand what their clients want.

@ Kathy  Yep! That guy! I don't like being clingy with my client/customers.

Ahhh...

The never ending debate about Buyer Representation. So far my best foot forward has been to not work with Buyers. We simply don't and don't want to. The only Buyers BB and I take on are our investors. We've worked with a small group of them for years. Around these parts (MickeyVille) the Buying Consumer treats Realtors like an over glorified tour guide. Unfortunately, too many Realtors fall into that role and forget it's okay to say NO. They also make the huge mistake of not counseling Buyers properly.

Jessica, we've actually just allowed two Lovelies to hang their license with us and are currently teaching them the how to's. Hopefully, this will be a good move on our part. We do advocate a non-stalking mentality. But there is a fine line between stalking and doing what The Buyer's have asked us to do.

I'm not sure I agree with some of what I've heard but I do know that in this biz there's always room for improvement and new biz models. Look at the Exit Realty's. Most of us 'dinos' figured it would never last. Or how about desk fees, we thought that would go the wayside as well. As a dino, I've learned there's room for growth, there's room for improvement. And sometimes I'd like to tell NAR to kiss my...Well...You know what I mean :)

Good to have you back Jessica. Ain't nothing wrong with the Young Blood. It keeps us old cats and dogs on our paws :)

TLW...ROAR!

Yikes!! John I have to agree with Jessica. This is a marketing piece that is a public post. You have no right blasting her way of doing business on this post.   

Good move Jessica :)

TLW:

No, I won't even pretend that we see eye-to-eye about all things real estate.  We don't.  However, I think that hiring people can be a very scary thought for people like us.

Now, forgive me if I am way too presumptuous, but I think we both work hard and we play hard too. We know what we want. We know what we expect. We know how long it should take. We worry if others can keep up and do it properly because our names are attached to it. Yet, we also recognize opportunities and the need for help. At least, that's how I see it.  I could be wrong...

It's just hard to find the right kind of help. 

I wish you the best of luck.  I've interviewed about 6 people off a recent ad and still can't find what I'm looking for. I may just hire a complete rookie - that way they won't have any bad habits to unlearn.  You know how them 'old dogs' are... ;)

It's good to be back here (A | R).  It's good to be back in Georgia. The last 18 months have been brutal with the lawsuit and all that, but I won it and I'll begin picking up the pieces and rebuilding it.  I've got the support of my family, some of the best clients in the world and it's going to be ok!

I recognize my superiors in the industry whether they are young or old and I'm always learning from you guys. Don't ever plan on stopping.

P.S. Yes, I agree it was for the best. John, is a great guy in my book. I think he was just a bit heated. I've been told that I do that to some agents. ;)

:)