Every failure is a learning opportunity but ...
may I skip the lesson this week, please?
Getting a membership in ActiveRain changed my RE business completely. Forever - F O R E V E R - Before AR, my clients were all folks I knew. They knew my business model and they worked with me or not -- and I existed in a lovely world of trust and commitment - in both directions.
ActiveRain - my beloved ActiveRain - positioned me in a different world. I entered cyber-space in February 2011 and nothing will be the same ever again! I received contacts from folks looking for homes that I didn't know. I still acted the same, perhaps a bit naively. I thought if someone asked me to help find a house, they would respect my time and efforts. I learned differently.
An example? Well, all pretty much the same behavior in different clothing - lack of commitment and lack of respect. "I don't want to get mortgage-qualified - I just want to look at houses first." OR "Oh, I found another agent that would look for me without proof of employment." OR "My cousin's brother's nephew's friend's sister already wrote up a contract for me on that house you showed to us when we were out with her last night."
Perhaps it is the anonymity of the web? Perhaps it is the lack of understanding of our work? However, here we are looking for "something [I] could have done differently that would have changed the outcome"of a certain situation.
I began to realize that I had stepped into a different world, a completely different world. So I did begin to do something differently. I did the initial work to get started with a new contact. Then I discussed that our firm works only with Clients under the standard Georgia Association of Realtors Buyer's Agreement. I no longer worked more than a couple of hours if a Client person was unwilling to sign the GAR Buyer's agreement. In fact. I also added a Deposit on the line of the Buyer's Agreement that was put there for just that purpose. I decided to announce clearly up front: "Hey world - I am a professional who gets paid for time spent ..."
I love the Glenn Freezman cartoon that illustrates this point.
The contest asks "what ultimately happened?" What happened is that I detailed new policy and a new direction for my real estate firm. Not one specific incident but a series of incidents led me to establish office policy that will make ODAT Realty Services, Inc. more strong as the company faces the future. Thanks for the chance to reflect on the evolution!
Have a happy day -
Lynn
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Hi Lynn-glad to see someone else in a similar situation. That video should be linked to our websites!
Is about time people start respecting our profession. . good for you!
Lessons well learned, Lynn. I think you're right about the anonymity of the Internet that gives clients a different mindset than a friend or neighbor. Have a great Sunday!
Hi Lynn - Unfortunately, some people don't respect our time and professionalism. That's why I prefer to work with referrals because we already come recommended to them!
Lynn, We know exactly what you're talking about...been there, done that...if they won't commit to our experience, knowledge, and integrity, we just say goodbye...nothing gained so nothing lost!
Hi Lynn, Good for you I'm glad to hear your AR blogging is such a success. I'm newer at it but hope it will generate business for me in the long run too. Love that Dr/ Realtor clip!
Hi Lynn - I thought the text of the video was very creative and serves as a great analogy.
Great blog and great job happy holidays and good luck this year
Busy, showing homes does not mean trips to the real estate closing long conference room table is an automatic. Making your steps count, watching waste of time, money means careful who you link up with for buyers that may be bored, just wanting to tie you up as the cartoon dr tries.
You have a happy day too! I enjoyed your post this AM - you are charging buyer agency charges and I am charging large up front fees to my listing clients. . . but I am a professional and deserve NOT to work for free! Great post, i can see why it was featured.
Thanks for the inspiration. I am glad that blooging is working out for you.
Looks like blogging is working for you.....cute blog.. keep that clip close by. Thanks again.
Good morning Lynn. What a terrific post and yes, I have been there too. The cartoon is wonderful and makes me realize how little people value you us and our time. Suggested.
Great post Lynn, and I love that cartoon. In fact, I have a doctor client that I need to send it to, thanks.
Lynn - Good for you! Love the video too. Your words are a call to action for every member of our profession.
Hey world - I am a professional who gets paid for time spent ...
Loved the video! The only way that we are to bailout ourselves and our industry is to start charging for each visit/showing, like a doctor.
Hilarious video!! But your blog post is a serious topic and we have had to make similar adjustments in our business model. We have simply told people "no more advice" until they sign a contract. We simply don't have time to fool around.
The conversation about whether or not to have the clikent sign the buiyer's agreement is a popular one on Active Rain. Not everyone believes as you do.
Carry on Lynn and long may your post wave....
Lynn, I agree! All buyers should sign the buyer agreement. Good for you asking for a retainer.
Those videos always hit it head on. Love 'em! I've heard of other agents who add the retainer fee on to the buyer agency agreement. Haven't done it myself, yet but am giving it strong consideration. (Congrats on the feature!!)
So happy to hear that you've had a great experience on AR!
... and thanks for sharing the Glenn Freezman cartoon - I thought I'd seen them all, but this was absolutely hilarious!
Lynn - You are so right! We must set some boundaries --we have private lives too.
Lynn, what an excellent post on our business and how we are treated via the internet. I have people who send me emails all the time, don't want to meet, want specific houses in various areas & when I let them know that i work with clients not shoppers and a Buyers Agreement is needed they disappear. Most think we are a dish rag but I will not be treated this way & I SOO hear you.
It works much better the way you do it!
That was a great video... I love the last line "wouldn't you think a realtor would be happy to just work".. I love that. We work to make money not busy work to take people out to see houses and look around. We qualify all our buyers first then we sit with them and find a home.
Loved the video. Is is just to true about what people expect from a Realtor.
Yes, I'm sure we all have those days. I know I do & unfortunately it will continue darn it! All we can do is set our business parameters & do our best.
Hi Lynn - It's those hard lessons that allow us the opportunity to adapt and become better at what we do. Take heed of them and prosper (or at least survive); ignore them and you won't be arond long. Great post.
Congratulations on moving with the times. so many are not and are looking blankly at the sky. You will continue to proper, even if you skipped a lesson!
Lynn, I like the idea of having buyers put a deposit or retainer down when signing the Buyer's Agency Agreement.
Hi Lynn good to see your post and it tells me about a contest I can enter good stuff. Hope to see you soon
I can definatly say that no matter where you get clients from they always seem to have cold feet! They also seem to want to waste alot of your time and resources! I don't think that your idea is a bad one at all...not wasting more then 2 hours without the agreement signed!
Hi Lynn - This is a serious topic and it is interesting that you differentiate between clients gotten through referrals and clients gotten off the web. When I started there were simply too many agents and friends of mine WITH agents for me to begin to try and peel them away from who they had been working with. After floundering around, I got online with AR and then with my own blog. The few people who did know me and came through referral were more focussed, but since so much of what I do comes from the web, I was wondering if it was me that was having a tough time getting them to commit or whether the source - the internet - was part of the problem. I do think that the latter is true. That these leads are less committed to me as an agent and are more willing to spin my wheels.
OK - You get this week off, Lynn! Making the adaptations to avoid the same problems in the future is huge. It does often seem the whole process of buying a home has no respect nor loyalty for anyone involved anymore. Great video to highlight this.
Thanks for sharing and enjoy your day as well.
Bruce
Lynn, that video is so awesome. It is true though that once you enter the world of cyberspace---some people will try to take advantage of the lack of real connectedness that you might have from the world of word of mouth.
Lynn,
I enjoyed thye video. Good work and congratulations.
However, the real problem is that many real estate agents do work for free.
Brian
Lynn, a lot of this could be cleared up fairly quick if the next agent didn't always just when they;re called.
Great post! I am new to ActiveRain and am excited to get linked in to the network :)
It's great to hear your perspective and experience!!
Your cartoon had me laughing out loud! Although I'm a Home Inspector, I have been a realtor in years past and am so happy you shared that link with us!!
I'll be checking in on your blog, if I can find the link subscribe to it :)
wow - What can I say besides thanks to all of you! I am grateful for all of your comments!
Imagine what fun - looking with a CLIENT not a window shopper! YEAH!!
Have a happy day -
Lynn
PS Please be sure to let Glenn Freezman know how much you liked his cartoon. Glenn's blogs often include humor about serious subjects ...
Great inspiration to your blog! I have experienced alot of this lately.
Great post, Lynn. Congratulations! I'm thinking, though, that this is such a frequent conversation that we have with potential clients...isn't there a way to put an end to it? I am in search of the answer.
That was perfect! It has hit me the most this year than it ever has before. I have been thinking of what to say and I've tired a few different ways to have "THE TALK."
I have been licensed since 1991 here in Atlanta and I love Realtors and Agents. I think we are the most giving kind of people. We have been use to thinking of others first over our best interest and it is really hard to have "THE TALK" & bring out the Buyers Ageeement. But you are right, that is what we have to do or we are thought of as "Dog Spot" and/or a "DOOR MATT" to be used up and told "I FOUND IT MYSELF when I was out driving around." ...etc.....I don't have to tell you'll the different stories we all have heard.
So now I am working on how to handle it. Thanks for your post.
Lynn, congratulations on your feature! The video is spot on. Hope you have a great and successful 2012, (by working with clients and not looky loos.)
Hi Lynn: great blog and cute video..
Lynn ~ I'm glad to hear that your business has grown because of AR! That is itself is a good thing, but how people don't respect your time or view you as a professional can really wear on you quickly. It sounds like you were able to adjust.
Lynn,
I think it's great you've come to your conclusion. Begin putting together a list of all the benefits to the buyer of signing the agreement. Put the list into an attractive Buyer-Broker presentation. Keep adding to the list as you become aware of additional benefits that accrue to your BBA buyers. The list will evolve as your career does.
Lynn - I do not know why my new Mac does not want to show the cartoon/vide everybodyy are raving about. I have a blank space there.
As for Buyer Broker Agreement, I never ask for that, nor do I ask for retainer. Yes, it is a different world, but this different world has its rules, and you will either follow those rules, or you wull not be operating in this different world. It may sound harsh, but it is not that the world will adjust to our model, it is us who would have to adjust to the Internet model.
Put yourself in Buyer's shoes. You start thinking of moving, and you start exploring. you bump into something, and you want some information.
On this site when I click and want to move to another page, it says that I need to register. Even if it says that it is free, I would only do it if I can't get the same information without registering on another site, and I am good at finding information, so I very seldom register.
Call me a bastard, but this is how we act on the internet. I do not care about any request for whatever, I just click away and move.
This is why we have interenet. When I look for info, what it takes for you to provide this info is of no concern to me. I am just looking for the information.
Unless this infomation can't be obtained any other way realtively simply, any stipulation will not work.
This is not against you in any way. This is just a different world, an internet world.
Lynn, I agree that we need to be recognized as professional and deserve to be paid for our time.
Way to stand your ground! I have had some success with my website leads but none are as great as the personal referrals I get. Very often we have a great conversation and then I don't hear from them again or they don't take me up on my suggestion to get pre approved.
Lynn... Great thoughts in your blog. I think what you are doing is great. Loved the video...I have heard most of the "Drs" comments in the past... so true...
Lynn: I think this post resonates with many of us...we are professionals and deserve to be paid for our services.
Congrats on the feature! ;-)
I wish I could all of my agents to get buyers to sign a contract. I always try to get a Buyer Agency Agreement signed.
Lynn: I think the video was awesome - and you taking a stand for some client loyalty is a great thing.
Perhaps if everyone had that standard - and joined together in respecting those boundaries that were already established - it would be an even better world to work in!
Congrats on the featured post too! : )
I am always pleased when folks like my posts!
I feel very encouraged that so many folks liked what I had to say. It hasn't been easy to take a stand. Not easy at all. Margaret Rome's book helped me a lot.
Please be sure to visit Glenn Freezman - the creator of the cartoon - if you enjoyed the video. Glenn has others for you to enjoy.
Have a happy day - Lynn
Lynn, I did the same thing, was out showing houses to anyone and everyone and was more a door opener than a professional agent. I put a change to that and I did loose some people that I was showing houses to but most of them understood the Buyers Agreement that I started making every buyer sign. It gains alot of respect from the buyers ans lets them know I am a professional real estate agent not a professional door opener for anyone and everyone.
I've also been in that same position. Though I just justified the wasted time by telling myself it wasn't wasted time at all. It was getting more experience with the market and showing properties. All experiences are valuable, even bad ones.
I do like the idea of getting clients signed up with an agreement as soon as possible. I don't mind showing a property or two if I have the time, but doing more than that, I'd like a Buyer's Representative Agreement in place for sure.
We should always try to learn from mistakes, in order to avoid repeating them in the future.
Good post, thanks for sharing it.
Lynn - strangely enough, when I came second time, the cartoon was where it was supposed to be from the start. I do not know why it happened, but it works and I watched it.
Hi Lynn,
I could have sworn I posted a comment on here last night but I sure don't see it now. You make such a great point about how we work with someone we know versus someone we've never met. Love the video. Thanks for entering The One That Got Away Contest.
Lynn, So proud of you! Thanks for the mention and congratulations on this featured post!
Margaret
Hi Lynn. What has been the reaction to your use of the Buyer's Agreement. Have clients been willing to sign?
Lynn, thanks for featuring my cartoon I appreciate it! thanks to all of you that left acomment that you enjoyed it. Congrats on the feature Glenn
Hey Lynn, Congrats on the Featured Article, great post, I really enjoyed the video.
Dear AR community -
I am so happy that what I wrote has stimulated conversation. Aimee (#62) asks the key question - What has been the reaction to your use of the Buyer's Agreement. Have clients been willing to sign? The answer is in process. I did get the Buyer's Agreement signed on Sunday mornings showings. Felt great!! Sometimes it is an uphill battle. However, I have to believe in myself first and take a chance on my success. No new direction may be analyzed immediately. Not wasting time on "ditchers" (as Bob Stewart calls them) is my goal. It may take a year but I can say one thing for sure - IT FEELS SO GOOD TO HAVE TAKEN A STAND.
Have a happy day -
Lynn
I'm happy to hear that AR has helped you grow your business-- and given you reasons to protect it as well! Good post-- and love the video! Kathy
Lynn, congrats on the feature. I must have missed this completely. I love the video!
A well wirtten post, congrats...
Lynn, WOW you go girl! YOu took a stand and it worked....and congrats on this feature!
respect yourself and the world will follow....great example of this. Good for you
Lynn
There are plenty of people who should watch but, but sadly might miss the whole point that this illustrates so well.
Jeff
Lynn,
That's part of our work, let's accept the fact because we learn from it. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/BucksPartyIdeas">Bucks Party Ideas</a>
That video's concept and content are outstanding. I love the dry humor and did I see the REALTOR give the stuff it sign to the doctor? That's humor.