Nobody tells you when you’re growing up that life is just a bunch of waking up, spending money then doing it all over again until you die. Our lives are full of purchases. Small ones, big ones and all the sizes in between, all varying in importance. We go to the grocery store, each time using a different cashier. You may visit the jewelry store or your favorite clothing or shoe store where a different sales associate may help you each time. It doesn’t matter who helps you, you still get assistance, and you still buy the stuff. These purchases that fill our daily lives don’t usually hold much significance and we don’t care who sells them to us, as long as they do. When it’s time to make what is usually the biggest purchase of our lives, we need to put a little more thought into it than we do about who is tossing our food across the scanner at Walmart.
Why use an agent at all? Buying a home is a huge deal. It’s not like going to the shoe store and asking the associate which style of sneaker is best for running. They point you in the direction of the running shoes, make a couple suggestions, then you’re ready to run the next town marathon. Home buying just doesn’t work like that. There are so many variables, laws, and things to watch out for that the average Joe just doesn’t know about. Unless you’ve bought and sold several homes in your lifetime, you most likely will need someone to guide you through the process. In most cases, your home will be your most valuable asset, so why would you want to walk into it blind and end up with something you regret? Realtors go through an extensive amount of training to stay up on all the latest laws. We know the process and the market inside and out, and offer a level of protection you’re not going to have if you go it alone.
Why stick with one agent? So you may be wondering, “Whats the big deal if I use more than one agent to look at several homes, shouldn’t I just call whoever is on the sign?” Calling the agent on the sign is a good way to start out if you don’t already have someone in mind, but once you find one, you’ll want to stay loyal to that agent throughout your entire search and purchase process. Here’s why. You need an advocate in this process. As our client, we take our relationship with you very seriously. I know I speak for other agents as well when I say that I take the time to personally get to know my clients and their wants, needs, likes and dislikes. My home searches on your behalf are specifically tailored to the criteria you’ve shared and the things I’ve picked up on in our conversations. This isn’t just about finding you a house, it’s about finding a home. A place where you can retreat to at the end of the day, your haven. This relationship goes beyond just finding some homes I think you might like and sending them over to your email. I recommend lenders, inspectors and other service personnel you may need so that you don’t have to fret over who to call. I make sure your offer contracts are filled out completely and properly so that you are fully protected in the event that a home inspection comes back bad. You wouldn’t want to be stuck buying a house that you just discovered is going to need thousands of dollars of major repairs. Speaking of offers, many times you won’t be the only party interested in a particular home. I help you negotiate price and stipulations to get you the most protection for the best price possible. This kind of guidance will keep you from making a quick emotional decision where you wind up paying more than you should have. We advocate for you, protect you and guide you. That kind of relationship can’t be built unless we have your loyalty.
Another reason we need this kind of loyalty from you is because this is our livelihood. Even though I absolutely love my job, the downside is, that I don’t get paid unless I make a sale. Each serious buyer I get means food on my table, my utility bills paid, gas in my car etc. The sad reality is, that I could be working with a buyer for months, show them several homes, then they use another agent to show them something and make the purchase. I have done work for months with that buyer and the other agent gets a pay day. Most agents will not work with a buyer that is already working with another agent. Even though we are all technically competing against each other, we all know what it feels like to not get a sale you were counting on. We know the excitement of getting an new buyer and also the let down of realizing they’re also talking with 3 other agents.
Bottom line. The bottom line is this. We as agents have an important job to do. One we take very seriously. Our job is to get you into your dream home while providing an exceptional level of commitment, guidance and most importantly protection. Your next home could be the biggest decision of your life. Your loyalty allows for the type of agent-client relationship that brings YOU the most benefit. Help us make you our priority.
Inside the Agent mind 