| OCR Text |
Show Page 4 THE DAILY HERALD, Home Magazine, Friday, September 24, 1999 Independent buyers miss advantages of good representatioi Recently I received a call from buyers who were quite well acquainted with the buying process. They felt that they could do well "on their own" and find the right house, then use whichever Realtor happened to have the listing. In the past, I have referred to this as the "shotgun" approach to choosing a Realtor, but that's another article entirely. Don't get me wrong, this is a process that many people use, and I have found some great clients, because they have called me on one of my listings. I've stated before in this column that it's been a fortunate situation for both of us. Sorry, enough lecture. Back to the buyers. When my listing didn't work out for them, I searched for others that might interest them. One of them did. They told me up front that they would only work with me on a purchase if they decided to buy one of the properties that I had helped to find. I agreed. TO STICK to the facts, we proceeded to look at the home, and I began to be their buyer's representative, or agent, but only on this one home. We even wrote up the buyer's contract to reflect this condition. In most cases, as a Realtor, I do a lot of work behind the scenes. Anyone who is a professional in their field of endeavor does this and makes it look easy. We Realtors are no exception. I did my home- - ON REAL ESTATE 1 Marie Sharon work, and we discussed and prepared an offer. In this process, I had come to know my clients better and become quite fond of them. It was difficult for me not to become "professionally involved" in wanting them to have their heart's desire and live happily ever after in their new home. However, they periodically made me aware that our business relationship was dependent upon this one deal. NOW COMES the dilemma. Naturally, I wanted the deal to go through. I wanted to be a part of their "happily ever after." I became involved in the hopes and needs that were wrapped up in this potential new purchase. However, as I sat in the living room of this home waiting for the sellers and their agent to make a decision on my client's offer, it hit me. I cared. I cared about my buyer's future, and I cared about our relationship. I cared about how much I knew they were able to pay, and I cared about my business. Just about in that order. But, I thought, what about the agent who cares about those things in reverse order? Are there agents out there who would care first about their commission? There could be, especially if it's been a long time between trips to the grocery store. Then it hit harder, and I realized the dilemma my clients might have placed themselves in. They could just as likely have been working with an agent who cared first about his or her own commission in the sale. www.heraldeM-W- behalf? AFTER ALL, the agent that if this particular house didn't work out, he or she could still buy groceries when the right house was eventually found for the client. The commission would come at last, and the agent would not have been doing work with no monetary return. This is a weird business. Most folks go to work and know that they will get paid for the time and effort that they put in not so with Realtors and other professionals who get paid only when a deal closes. It can be tough on a lot of folks, but that is clearly not the point of this installment. would know AFTER ALL, if they didn't buy this house, the agent doesn't get paid at all. Isn't it just possible that this could place the agent in a professional dilemma? Sell this house, get paid. Don't sell this house, don't get paid. Could, in fact, this same hungry agent find himself or herself wanting to work in behalf of the seller to get this particular home sold and thereby be in conflict with the fiduciary duty to his or her own buyer client? I say, "Yes!" What do you say? Could an agent start to talk the buyer into paying more to please the seller, Because of the realizati that hit me, I wanted new home. Marie Sharon is an Associate Broker and Accredited Buyer Representative for CENTU, 21 All Pros Realty. She cur rently has openings for con, plete buyer and seller repre 8entation. She may be hear each Thursday morning frol 8-radio a.m. on (1400 AM) in "GET REAL! With Marie Sharon." Cell 9 phone: msharonrealtor.com, page: 362-514- Brand New Two Bedroom And Three Bedroom Town Homes And Condo's you're still renting. It's time to make the move and OWN your home at Chambery. Clubhouse Sand VofieybaB Courts Pool Basketball Courts Exercise Room Tot Lot Playground Located Just west of UVSC, Chambery is an ideal c Hobble Creek Cabin 2 story on 1 .6 private acres. Lots of trees and wildlife. Close yet affordable at $87,500. Price Reduced- - Make Offer. RESORT RESIDENTIAL Cail Steve Toll Free 1 location for everything with shopping, school, and freeway access just around the comer. A-fra- 368-505- 3 t or Park 1 www.parkplaceutah.com I it Your whole future COMMERICAL 376-09- 1 noin Your total payment is $671.60. No other charges or fees are required. is ahead of you, and it's looking pretty bright at Chambery Call 235-999- 5 Located in Orem at 1390 South and Geneva Road Appliance ami 21 buydown when financed through American Heritage Mortgage For 2 Bedroom Condo Only. Web www.c21allpros.com I maria So you're just getting started. The future looks great ahead. You've made good decisions, yet m my readers to benefit from th perspective. I have heard ries from clients about ha worked in the past with agents who seem to care o about commissions. Perhaps the reader can think about how it might as a professional in the mil die of a deal that is fast becoming a dilemma. The hit point is for the reader to realize the advar tage of using a chosen buv agent and avoid the "shotgl approach in selecting a Realtor for representation and negotiation in one of life's largest investments, Future's Looking Pretty Bright From Here f .""If 7isit lis online because the agent's baby needs new shoes? Here's another set of questions: Would the client have been better off to have first chosen a good agent to become the buyer agent in any and all purchase transactions, a professional with whom the buyer was comfortable? Would not those same buyers have known that in every situation, without a doubt, the agent was indeed working strictly in their |
