Nate's Bright Ideas: I Would Hate For Someone To Think I'm Unprofessional Because I'm A Good Dad...

Me and my little buddy I saw a question on Zillow yesterday where a first time home buyer was asking whether it was a good idea to fire her real estate agent and find someone new. The short version is: the buyer is using financing, they are in a pretty low price range (60k-85k) where the competition is mostly cash buyers and they keep getting outbid, the buyer wants the realtor to show them homes as they come on the market immediately, as in: at 7pm with 10 minutes of advance notice. The buyer is upset that their offers keep getting out-bid and that their agent can’t show them homes immediately when they pop up on the market.

Both of these things are unrealistic expectations. The fact that they need financing to buy a home is not something that their agent can control. The fact that their competition is made up of cash buyers who’s offers are more attractive to sellers is also something their agent can not control. The fact that their agent can’t just show up at a seller’s home is, again, not something their agent can control. Agents normally have to make appointments to show homes to a buyer. The seller may not want someone tromping through their home during their dinner meal. Or the buyer’s agent might have a family and already have plans for the evening.

The buyer called the agent out for being unprofessional because their offers weren’t being accepted and they couldn’t go immediately to see homes when they popped up in the MLS. All in all it sounds like there is likely a failure to communicate somewhere in this situation. It’s a team effort and for a team to function all of the team members need to be communicating.

It sounds like the agent is doing a good job to me. Please keep in mind that your Realtor may have a family, other commitments, other appointments etc. We all try to be as available as we can. But we do also have a life outside of real estate. I'm the father of 4 beautiful kids and the husband of a wonderful wife. If at all possible, I try to spend my evenings with them. I would hate to think someone thought I was unprofessional because I do my best to be a good husband and dad. Just something to think about....