Agent Will

What is Service?

The definition provided by The American Heritage Dictionary is, “An act or a variety of work done for others”

What is a Guarantee?

That same dictionary says, ” A pledge that something will be performed in a specified manner”

How does this apply to you and your real estate matters? Quite simply, selecting a representative is an investment in an expected outcome. When you place so much trust and information into the hands of one of these realtors you really should be doing so with eyes wide open. That means that the duties and responsibilities, or Service, is spelled out and understood.

It is far too convenient to just say your realtor will help you find a new home or sell the one you have. Do you have any idea how they are going to do so? What if you feel that they should be doing more? What if they aren’t succeeding in doing so? This may not cost you money (it likely is, indirectly, more on that in a moment) but it is certainly costing you time and time, my friends, is opportunity. Opportunity may, indeed, be money.

If you are selling a home you generally want the home sold quickly, on your terms, and with as much convenience to you. If your representative is failing to get the home sold then perhaps it’s time to consider why it is not selling. Maybe it’s the price/terms. Or maybe it’s the way it is marketed. Either way, that is a failure of your agent to either communicate clearly and firmly. Communicating either to you that your price/terms are too high or communicating to the marketplace that this home is a great buy. This is a breakdown in service. You will likely feel disappointed, perhaps stressed, and, I imagine, angry. You may even be looking for a way to get out of the listing agreement that you signed.

We can not be concerned about what the market may do. We can only be focused on what is happening now. A poorly marketed property quickly becomes stale and then needs either price adjustments down to move or a lot of patience. Either way, there is risk in not selling a property quickly and this could cost you a lot of money. While the market has been very good for sellers over the past few years that could change next week. Perhaps it already has. Buyers may lose their drive to purchase. Vacant properties, once rented, may surge listings upward creating more competition for you and drive prices down. Interest rates may go up reducing the amount of affordability by buyers.

Before you list any home for sale you really need to ask every realtor you interview (and please, interview me last) what they are going to do to sell the home. Forget the “How Much” number they give you and concentrate on “How to” (This is where you will learn the “How come” as in “How come I should list with you?”). All realtors have access to the same information, we often just interpret it differently. If that is the case you need to look at why the agents have such varying numbers and ask them how they cam to that conclusion along with how they expect to follow through on their proposal. You may just find that in that one question “How will you get me $X” that the true difference between each agent shows.

It is in this conversation that you will learn about their Service. In my opinion, the services performed and the manner in which they are done so is the most important aspect to each realtor. Price is not. You can dictate the price to start at and should do so in consultation with your agent. Any agent can put any price on any home. NOT any agent can duplicate the service or the success of another. So, I can’t stress it enough, focus on the Service.

So you come to an agreement and agree on the commission and sign a listing for a stated time to sell. It’s done and you can just let the agent go to work getting your home sold. But wait. What if you later are no longer satisfied with the agent’s performance? What if you come to see that, while a big talker, they are not performing the big duty? Can you just get out of the agreement and go find a new agent, or use your second choice?

Likely you cannot. Really it depends on the listing contract you signed but I’ll bet that the majority of agents craft an airtight contract that does not allow for termination or cancellation. Not without conditions, at least. You’re likely stuck with the unfortunate decision. These types of contracts exist in many industries, not just real estate. Often your agent will cancel the listing if you push hard enough, but they will do so with a Conditional release. That is where you will not be allowed to list your home for 60 days after cancellation. Doesn’t seem fair, does it? If the agent is failing their verbal commitments to you you should have every right to an unconditional release. That’s how I feel, anyway.

Which brings me to my final point: How come you should list with me, Will Wertheim?

Two words: Service Guarantee

I guarantee what I say and I will put it in writing. If I fail to deliver on my marketing plan, you, the seller, reserve the right to an immediate unconditional release.

There. Easy. Simple. Effective communication.