You want the best service? Be the best client.
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There are bad apples in Real Estate, we all know that! There is plenty of greed, incompetence, disloyalty, and plenty of other less than honest traits in this business — on both sides of the table.
The struggling state of the economy brings out the best and the worst in people. In our best efforts to be untra-responsible and conservative with our dwindling funds, we’re looking for the best deal, the best freebies, and are really looking out for number 1.
Here’s why this reaction to panic is hurting us rather than helping us: The best deals, best customer service, and best prices come from the best working relationships. If you don’t trust your Realtor® (or CPA, or Doctor, or lawyer…) find one that you do trust to work hard to help you meet your personal and financial goals. This may not be your son-in-law or your best friends daughter!
Loyalty and trust are needed for the best marriages and the best business relationships. The person who can give you their best efforts, best knowledge, and hardest work is the person to whom you are honest, open, and loyal to. If you are constantly shopping around for not just goods, but people, you burn bridges that could be the best deal in the long run.
Why you have to be loyal to your Realtor®: I know it sounds like a really fun job, and it is. But it also takes a great deal of knowledge and hard work that you don’t see. A good agent spends hours, days, weeks, or even months putting in the time and research for you. A good agent spends a great deal of time and money on resources that help serve you better, plus gas money and advertising. If you cheat on your Realtor®, they have no incentive to put in the extra effort because no one, not eve those of us in the Real Estate biz, can work for free right now.
A great relationship with a great Realtor® can go very far. Real Estate is one of the most popular and proven ways to build wealth. If you’re good at what you do, keep doing it. If you find a great agent, keep ‘em. If you have a long, loyal relationship with your agent (or any professional for that matter), they will always be looking out for you, helping you, and if you’re one of their biggest fans, they will be one of your biggest fans as well.
We are human and hungry too. I know there are plenty of agents running around flaunting wealth (that they may not even have) that give you the impression that we make money in our sleep, but I assure you that anyone actually making a strong living in this business (the average Realtor makes around $55k/year working 40 hours/week) is working their butts off just like you. It’s stressful when things are down, we also have bills to pay, and it still burns when you use us and toss us away.
I hear so many stories lately about unfaithful clients and unfair practices between the buying and selling agents and even with their own clients. If you want the best service, be the best customer. Be open, honest, and loyal, and you will receive a wealth of knowledge and hard work in return. We will be working around the clock to make sure that your goals are met to the absolute best possible extent.
This doesn’t just go for Real Estate. If you’re struggling, you are absolutely not the only one. Don’t forget that. No matter how green the grass on the other side of the fence looks, it doesn’t mean that it’s getting watered for free. We all react differently to stress and uncertianty, some of us hide it better than others, but the American Dream is still about hard work and great relationships between two parties that each have something to offer.
An example… As you may know I work heavily in the construction industry in addition to sales and consulting. In 2005 and 2006, business was absolutely booming. It was hard to find a framer, landscaper, or other workers that could show up in a timely fashion, do the work for a good price, and do the work well. Those who worked hard to maintain a strong relationship with us are now the ones we choose even when every plumber, electrician, and welder on the block knocking down our door for work. No matter what the circumstances, be human and treat others as humans.
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