3 Things Agents Do That Buyer Leads Hate

 

I recently watched an online video, posted about two years ago, titled “4 Things that Buyer Leads do that Realtors Hate.” I don’t, first of all, get why this agent took the time to create it and, second, why NAR felt the need to post it on their site.

It’s just wrong, from the topic to the content.

First, the agent opens the video with the statement:

 “I’m not gonna lie, there are things that buyer leads do that I absolutely hate.”

Guess what lady? There are things AGENTS do that buyer leads “absolutely hate” and, since they are the ones who are responsible for your livelihood, how about you get over what YOU hate and concentrate on fixing the things that THEY hate?

We at EAP are relieved that agents like this one are in the minority. But, they do tend to taint the entire industry with their attitudes.

 

It’s called “customer service”

And, believe or not, most agents have the concept down. It’s time for those who don’t to get on board instead of wasting valuable time making videos slamming real estate consumers, a.k.a. your bread and butter.

So, in the spirit of fair play, and as an appeal to these agents’ better natures, let’s take a look at three things agents do that really tick off buyers.

Now, I use the term “agents” loosely because you good ones know who you are (your success rates prove that this doesn’t apply to you).

No, this is for those agents who actually think it’s ok to criticize and belittle the concerns of real estate consumers on such a public forum as Realtor.com.

1. Some agents lack empathy

This agent’s number one pet peeve is that buyers care “too much about aesthetics.” In other words, drat those dang buyers and the importance they place on what pleases their senses!

They’re only forking over hundreds of thousands of dollars for an investment in which they will live, and thus be forced to look at these “aesthetics” every single day until they can afford to make them. . .well. . .more aesthetic.

She uses tile color as an example, claiming “it just doesn’t matter.”

Well, actually, it kind of DOES matter

Tiling a tub surround can cost up to $4,000 according to the pros at Angie’s List. Tiling a walk-in shower costs from $2,500 to $5,000, but “some companies charge up to $10,000.”

So, aesthetics often do matter, a great deal.

These buyer leads she is dissing are spending gobs of money for this home. The down payment and closing costs alone most likely represent every penny they’ve been able to save for years.

And to say it doesn’t matter that they’ll need to spend thousands more just to feel comfortable in the shower is a bit cruel.

Then, there are the repairs that they were afraid to ask the seller to make because they wanted the house that bad. Those will need to be taken care of, as well as things every new homeowner needs after they move into a home.

You see, these people don’t earn commission checks made out for thousands of dollars. Many make average American wages and live paycheck-to-paycheck. So, asking them to overlook a $2,500 bill just to re-tile a shower – claiming you “hate” it when they balk at the thought — is repugnant.

How long do you imagine they’ll have to save for that? Would you be willing to live with unpleasing aspects of a home for that long?

The bottom line is that the whole reason agents are involved with these buyer leads is to make their dreams come true. The agent’s paycheck is secondary. The agent’s feelings about buyer’s wants and needs in a home are secondary.

Just find them the right home. If you don’t, there are hundreds of qualified, caring agents who will.

2. Then there are the agents who make lame excuses

This one comes from recent personal experience.

As a buyer, I don’t care what is going on in your personal life. I only care about ONE THING: buying this home. It’s the whole reason I hired you. It’s the reason you’ll get a paycheck.

It’s not my problem that your teenage son is acting up. Take care of your personal life on your personal time, not when you’re supposed to be working for me.

And, for the record, the most unprofessional thing you can do is proffer a lame excuse for not following through on something you promised

If life happens (which it does) and you can’t perform, hire someone else who can. Pay another agent in your office to do it. Just. Get. It. Done.

3. Buyer leads hate agents who don’t listen to their clients

In the digital age, the word “listening” encompasses both the spoken and written word. Nine times out of ten, not listening to a client results in wasted time. Yours, your client’s, the listing agent’s and the seller’s.

Then there are the rest of the folks in the domino chain that might be affected, from the title rep to the lender to the inspector.

There are some industries where it pays to be good at not listening (a middle school teacher position comes to mind) but real estate isn’t one of them.

Slow down, take your time when speaking with or reading texts or emails from a client. Read and understand every word before mentally formulating a response.

If you listen to your client, with empathy, you’ll have a client for life. If you act like a grownup and eschew lame excuses for why you can’t keep your word, you’ll have a client for life.

If you prefer, however, to spend your productive time dissing the very people you should be trying to attract, good luck.

There’s no way to get rid of those ugly Yelp reviews.

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