A Great Agent is Worth Every Penny

[Brian J Allen]

Check out this excellent article from Banker and Tradesman, "You Rarely Know All Your Agent Does". While it mostly focuses on listing agents, the same holds true for buyer's agents.

You only know some of what your agent does. The article does a fantastic job of highlighting things that often go overlooked by sellers. I wish there was something similar for the buyer-agent side.

With the upcoming NAR settlement, buyer's agents must negotiate their commissions. Hopefully, buyer's agents who invest time in viewings and analysis will be appreciated by their clients.

Buyers often overlook many aspects of the process, focusing only on what they consider important. They miss out on crucial elements. Personally, since 2018, I've viewed over 2700 properties for clients. I believe I have a lot to offer a buyer client with their search.

[Bruce Lynn]

Quote from @Brian J Allen:

Chck out this excellent article from Banker a

Wish I could give you 100 votes....I do everything I can to give my clients all the info they deserve and make it all look easy.   Sometimes I think I make it look too easy and smooth and they have no idea that it has taken. 25 years or more to get this good.  All my vetted vendors make the process smooth.   Just like a debate or presentation I may spend hours preparing to send 1-2 with the client.   They never or rarely see that.   As you mention I have been in 1000s of homes and a rare day when I hit a street or neighborhood I've never been in.  Many times I have been in the home they choose 3-4 times for previous sales years ago, so can tell them all about updates, etc.

I think many people are getting ready to have a rude awakening in the coming year or two and when people get burned with no representation or loose a lot of money.

[Mike Dymski]

[Don Konipol]

Quote from @Brian J Allen:

Check out this excellent article from Banker and Tradesman, "You Rarely Know All Your Agent Does". While it mostly focuses on listing agents, the same holds true for buyer's agents.

You only know some of what your agent does. The article does a fantastic job of highlighting things that often go overlooked by sellers. I wish there was something similar for the buyer-agent side.

With the upcoming NAR settlement, buyer's agents must negotiate their commissions. Hopefully, buyer's agents who invest time in viewings and analysis will be appreciated by their clients.

Buyers often overlook many aspects of the process, focusing only on what they consider important. They miss out on crucial elements. Personally, since 2018, I've viewed over 2700 properties for clients. I believe I have a lot to offer a buyer client with their search.

 I’ve been on all sides of the equation. Although I hold a brokers license and have for 45 years, I operate exclusively in the commercial arena.  When I buy or sell my personal residence, I ALWAYS use the top agent in the area.  There is an amazing difference in knowledge, skill, and experience between long term agents with whom real estate is their career (life) and the agent whose in real estate because he’s a career SALESMAN selling the hottest thing; you know, the guy who’ll be selling oil well drilling participations next year, and advertising services the year after. 

[Jonathan Greene]

The easiest way to prove the value you bring as an agent is to calculate your hourly wage when someone thinks you make too much money. Sometimes, I show as many as 30 homes (very hard markets here in NJ), and once showed a couple 84 homes until we won. You count those hours and the travel time, the offer prep, the research, and your wage is low.

Most consumers also think we get the whole check. They forget our brokerage, team, and lead sources put their hands into that check first as well.

After August 17th, only the best will continue to prosper in my opinion because it's going to get harder and harder to start from scratch in the business.

[Sherry McQuage]

Quote from @Jonathan Greene:

The easiest way to prove the value you bring as an agent is to calculate your hourly wage when someone thinks you make too much money. Sometimes, I show as many as 30 homes (very hard markets here in NJ), and once showed a couple 84 homes until we won. You count those hours and the travel time, the offer prep, the research, and your wage is low.

Most consumers also think we get the whole check. They forget our brokerage, team, and lead sources put their hands into that check first as well.

After August 17th, only the best will continue to prosper in my opinion because it's going to get harder and harder to start from scratch in the business.

 Good point about after August 17 it will be harder to start/continue in this business.  New agents in my office generally need 1-3 years experience (full time) to have the confidence to ask for a fair commission.  Sometimes buyers don't realize all the houses a buyer agent had to preview (in previous deals, and just agent walkthroughs) to get the neighborhood vibe and trend...numbers and data don't tell the whole truth.

I hope that after a year or two of the new rules enough buyers (who got burned) will see that having someone experienced represent and protect their interests is a darned great idea.  Yes, the good ones make it look easy...

Thankfully, I have always been constantly learning and improving my skills so I can prevent problems for my clients.  "You get what you pay for" is true.