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What a GOOD buyers agent should do for their clients

I am often perplexed by the stories I hear from buyers that I work with. The things that I hear that other agents have or in some cases have not done to best serve the buyers never stops amazing me. As the market has changed I know that many of these fly-by-night agents are going by the wayside clearing the path for the serious agents to do their jobs. I am glad to see them go.

As a buyers agent I have always felt it is my basic responsibility to do certain things for my buyers. Among them are some of the following:

Ensure that they are working with a good lender
Keep them well informed of market conditions and changes
Try to ensure that they buy a home that is within their individual means
Help them to understand the Purchase Contract before submitting an offer
Take the time to answer any questions they may have
Negotiate the best deal possible for them
Keep them informed during the offer process
Personally stay in contact and keep them informed during the escrow process
Try to solve any issues during escrow without having to involve them in every glitch that may arise
Ensure a timely and efficient transaction
Close the deal on time
Always try to answer the phone or at least return calls in a timely manner
MAKE SURE THAT THEY ENJOY THE HOME BUYING PROCESS

I always tell my buyers that the process should be an anjoyable one and they should walk away with a smile not a sigh of relief. It is my job as their agent to ensure that that is what they get, a fond memory of buying a home not a memory of the problems associated with it.

While these seem like some very basic rules to many there are quite a few agents that I have run across that seem like all they focus on is getting a buyer into escrow and pushing them through the process. The client either gets forgotten about or passed on to an assistant never to see their agent again until closing.

We are in a relationship business and sometimes we may tend to forget that.

Posted by Joe Zapata - Your Burbank Real Estate Expert on 09/22/2007 02:27 AM

Comments (5)

burbank real estate, buying real estate, burbank homes for sale, selling homes, realtor, escrow, buying homes, education

5 Comments on What a GOOD buyers agent should do for their clients

Very true, especially the first point. We got to meet up soon, I have some amazing new products to show you. Is anytime this week good?

09/22/2007 04:42 AM

by HPM Financial LLC

Joe, I throughly agree with the exception of one:

Try to solve any issues during escrow without having to involve them in every glitch that may arise."

My buyer clients don't have to be involved with everything that comes up if I can handle it for them, but I do inform them of everything that is going on, anything that could cause a "glitch" or anything that could possibly affect the happy outcome that they want. Something that I may think is rather miniscule could come up rearing in a different manner. I keep them informed of everything, that way they won't ever feel as if I held back anything from them, no matter how miniscule it may seem at the time.

Great post Joe.

09/22/2007 04:48 AM

by Kris Wales-Macomb County MI real estate -Ask me about buyers agency in Michigan (RE/MAX Advantage 1, Inc.)

Hayden - Thanks for stopping by. Did you get my e-mails about getting together? Next week is a bit crazy but I may be able to work it out.

Kris - I agree with you as well. I will normally handle the issue and inform them of it afterwards provided it does not affect the transaction at all. Such a case was in a deal that closed last week. We called for funding and the lender could not find the loan docs. the clients were already nervous and this would have put them over the top. Ultimately we did find the docs and closed on time. i did tell them about it afterwards and they thanked me for keeping them out of the situation.

09/22/2007 12:45 PM

by Joe Zapata - Your Burbank Real Estate Expert (Keller Williams Realty Media World)

Joe- great post, however I do agree with Kris about

"Try to solve any issues during escrow without having to involve them in every glitch that may arise."

I feel that the client needs to know what we are doing for them especially the bad stuff that happens, and how we solved it for them. This way we do not turn out as being a commodity, and they understand that we are worth what we are being paid for. Most people feel that we are over-paid, but never understand what we really do. Those that do understand what it is we do for them or not only the most appreciative clients we have, but value us the most, and those that value us also will refer use to their friends, family, and neighbors

09/23/2007 04:39 PM

by Dan Tobias - Northridge Real Estate Expert (Discovery Properties)

Great post! I also give my clients a break down of the purchase process. Massachusetts has the Offer and Purchase & Sales, so that is often confusing to my buyers. I give them a timeline of everything that'll happen so they are informed. I have found this very useful for my first time home buyers!

09/23/2007 04:46 PM

by Sarah Theroux (ZipRealty)

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