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What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

July 1, 2008

Hot off the press blog entry from Monica

 

What would I want if I was a buyer???   I’d want someone who wasn’t trying to sell me.  Sell me anything so they could make a buck.  I’d want to think that they were looking out for my best interest and was really listening to me. How do you develop that kind of trust in a relationship?  I would want to know the whole deal, start to finish, be honest with me, don’t tell me stuff just because you think it’s what I want to hear. Educate me. People don’t buy real estate every day. It’s an alien experience for most.  Tell me the truth. 
 
In the past, being honest has cost me, but I know that honesty in the long run has paid my bills, and made me more money then its cost me. Plus, I’ve never (touch wood-did I mention I have stupid superstitions from my mom), have I had anybody sueme in 23 years.  I hear that’s pretty good.  
 
As a buyer, I’d want to know all, and maybe I wouldn’t know the questions to ask. In other words, I wouldn’t know what I don’t know. Makes sense doesn’t it.   I’d like to think I treat everyone that way. No falsehoods, no wasting their time. What concerns me, is that other practitioners don’t do business that way.  I think they should. It really messes it up for the rest of us.  Again, as a buyer or seller, I want to be told the deal, no holes barred, lay it out.  If you decide for whatever reasons this doesn’t work, I’d like to think I am professional enough to say, just remember me to your friends, and remember also, that I helped you make this informed decision.   
 
What’s better, happy customer/clients that trust and value your opinion, or being this hard sale real estate agent that brow beats someone into a decision that maybe they will regret. It gives real estate agents a bad name.
 
I have sold to customer and client’s friends, family, co-workers, and gosh I have been around a while, now their kids, but I feel a sense of pride. I work with my husband, Kevin.  A great man, who is the best person I know.  I think that’s pretty good after all these years of working and living a life together. I’ve heard him tell people they shouldn’t buy something because it wasn’t right for them.  I use to look at him funny when he said something like that. Occasionally I would cringe, remind him of what we do for a living. But guess what…. he’s been doing this longer then me, and he’s right.  By my calculations he’s been in this business about 34 years. His entire adult career.
 
 
The gist of what I have to say, is that if more individuals in our profession, could think of others before their bank account, our profession, would have a whole different rep (my kids word for reputation). In some cases with other agents that I’ve had the unfortunate experience of working with, it has been extremely negative and, oh god, painful and depressing. I feel sorry for the people they are representing.
 
My personal campaign is to continue to increase the perception of the integrity of our overall industry.  We would all benefit. We all spend mucho time, money, educational pursuits, etc. to stay alive and thrive in our careers.  We deal with people who are making the single biggest investment of their lives.   Don’t they deserve the best of the best?   Absolutely.
 
I have some solutions, o.k. maybe not all the answers, but some of them.   Increase the c.e. requirements. Charge usmore to stay in business. Probably not a very popular opinion. What other profession, can you get into with little or noinvestment?  You don’t need to buy or lease an office, hire staff, office equipment, purchase inventory and more.  You take a class, sit for a test, come out with a license and “voila” you hold yourself out as a “real estate professional”……pleeeease……… some of these agents are retired from other careers and they profess to know more about assisting a buyer or seller then I do about performing a root canal.  Let’s raise the bar. Get the dead wood out and be the experts we profess we be.
 
Enough of my opinions. But I think they are very valid opinions.  Let’s weed out the garbage.
 
Who do I think I am, just someone who thinks people should be treated fairly.
 
 Monica – Ocean City, Maryland
 
 

User Comments

1. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

Written by: Christopher Zabka
July 1, 2008

Your honesty is very refreshing! Thanks for being so forthright -- I know this is something everyone who reads this will appreciate!

2. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

Written by: Monica McNamara
July 2, 2008

Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Since I am so new to blogging, I hope others are able to find my message and see my post.  I want to spread this sentiment around.

My best, Monica

3. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

July 3, 2008
Nice post monica. It supports the old saying, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care" We have to put ourselves in our customers shoes. Mike

4. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

Written by: Gary Passineau
July 3, 2008
Monica -  Just came across this at Realtown.  I've been in real estate about four years now and one of my ideals has been to raise the image of realtors by my own actions. Very few I speak with agree with my premise that I prefer people to buy something, not have me sell it to them. I agre with you totally that this is the absolute best long-term strategy for building any business.  Thanks and best of luck to you.  BTW, I vacation in OC every year, it's a great place.

5. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

Written by: Monica McNamara
July 3, 2008

Gary,

It's great to hear from fellow agents who agree with this thought process. If you come to Ocean City, give me a call.

My best,

Monica

6. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

Written by: Sandi Pfister
July 3, 2008
Thank you, Monica, for speaking (writing) thoughts that many others have discussed: both truth and education. I agree heartily that increasing the original requirements for obtaining a license, AND would urge that use of the term and membership as a REALTOR only be granted with that added education as well as successful completion of at least 1 year of being mentored by an experienced REALTOR. That will get us to the level of expertise and the ability to make the truth the goal to support the income we desire.

7. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

Written by: Monica McNamara
July 3, 2008

Sandi,

Let's continue to promote these ideas, and work to form some grass roots movement towards these higher goals.

Thank you for sharing your comments.

Monica

www.Ocean-CitySales.com

8. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

Written by: Skip ODea
July 3, 2008

Monica

Congratulations on your blog response!   My son-in-law  bought one of your listings at Summer House a little over four years ago,  and my wife and I have a place there also.  We are in OC almost every week and are affilated with your local assoc.  We run a highly professional team and, hopefully, we will have a transaction with you in the Ocean City area soon.

Skip

9. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

Written by: Monica McNamara
July 4, 2008

Thank you Skip. Stop by and see Kevin and I sometime. Our office is right around the corner  from Summer House at 104th Street. Happy 4th of July.

My best,

Monica

www.Ocean-CitySales.com

10. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

Written by: Agnes Tabor
July 6, 2008

Monica,

I agree with your blog as is evident do so many others in our industry. Buyers want to "buy" but do not want to be "sold" to. Real Estate is not all that different than most businesses; as a buyer we are drawn to a product and will seek out those willing to give us the information allowing us to make that informed final decision. Thank you for this timely reminder.

Regards,

agnes Tabor

11. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

Written by: Marcie Berson
July 8, 2008

Wow...it's so refreshing to hear someone else tell it like it is.  I've only been in the business for 3 years now and it's been an uphill battle to fight the negative images that some consumers have about real estate salespeople...but I'm not giving up the good fight.  I'd line up right behind you in the battle to promote the true image of a REALTOR as an honest professional.

12. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

Written by: Monica McNamara
July 9, 2008

Hi Marcie,

You go girl.  The more voices that combine to sing the same tune, will be more greatly heard!

Monica McNamara

www.Ocean-CitySales.com

13. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

Written by: Gloria Soria
July 9, 2008
To Monica and  everybody": I  started in this bussiness  2 years ago, when a lot of real estate people were selling at  the highest prices in the market and  " helped" to get mortgage to buy these houses. Just at this time, I went to learn the most I could, in order to  educate people and became the trusted and honest realtor , I am. The times are difficult  for people who  are in this bussines recently, But  I  am agreed 100%  with Monica . For the long trip or short  , this is the path to follow.

14. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

Written by: Tamara Inzunza
July 9, 2008

Monica, I'm right there with you.  I'm always up front wih people, and it's does floor me when I've lose customers.  But then I hear about how horrible their transaction was, or how their agent didn't tell them everything.  Some people really can't grasp the concept that there ARE good agents out there who do look out for their best interests.

Keep it coming!

Tamara Inzunza

http://www.MovingToNovaBuzz.com

15. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

Written by: Stanley Ching
July 9, 2008

How dare are you to sugget a higher fee for participating as a real estate professional? But I would like you(and your husband) to be my partner for international referrals.

I love what you wrote and I'll suggest higher education requirement instead of higher fee just think we are the surgeons of real estate. We will value our reputation and we shall think more than twice of any potential wrong doing.

There is no down market if we willing to work hard and work smart. I'm so glad I took and graduate from this ePro course. It's real pleasure to read mails like this. Now I have to redo my web page and my email system.

 

 

16. RE: What Would I Want If I Was A Buyer????

Written by: Monica McNamara
July 10, 2008

Stanley,

We love referrals and always treat people with care and concern.  Where are you located?

Monica

www.Ocean-CitySales.com  

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