Yeah, no.
Lookit - you want fantastic service? Be a fantastic buyer or seller.
I'm serious.Otherwise, you'll sound like a guy who looks like me complaining that he can't make it with supermodels.
You want the best,. be the best.
If you're the rest, well - you've got to put up with the rest.
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Knowing full well that nobody has ever lost debating points by flattering their audience . . .

Generally speaking, you're not that smart and savvy.

If you're a buyer, and you insist that your agent not preview while you surf the web, you need to get out of your own way.

If you're a seller, and you insist on "testing the market" price-wise, or you insist that your listing agent doesn't understand how "charming" your "collections" are, and how important it is to arrange showings around your home-office or children's schedules, you need to get out of your own way.

Good agents know what they're doing, but if you put them in the position of (a) offending you by telling you the truth and risk losing you as a client, or (b) placating you and underserving you by acceding to your whims - you both wind up the loser.

Certainly, if your agent isn't doing a good job, then you have cause for complaint - but first, be certain that you're giving them the space to do a good job.

Always - every single time - hire an agent who brings something to the party that you don't already possess.

To quote Celine Dion, Yat's the yay it yiz.

I talked to one realtor. I explained what I wanted and why. Once we looked at a couple of places we figured out that the location was not compatable with my wallet. He did not try to convince me I did not need what I put as my most important feature (land in acres). Instead he told me I should look in other places.

Who knows, prices may drop a lot more on his area. Houses may become more affordable. If and when they do (as long as I am still looking to buy) I will look him up. It was not about him telling me to go away from that area that impressed me. It was him saying that despite the fact it would cost him a commission I should go look at a different area that convinced me. I appreciate someone who will look at things and tell me the truth even when I do not like it. I figure if he would act that way when he could have said just look for less land instead he would work with me if prices ever dropped.

As a Home Inspector I put my clients first all the time! I would like to believe that I build more a of a relationship than just another client or job...... I hope everyone gets back into the swing of things and really starst putting others first!

Joan

Everything you said is true and well expressed....

What I mean is it is only natural for a consumer to wonder what the motivation of the Agent is in some cases...
For example..."More frustrating is when you expect your agent to go to the mat for you and they end up trying to pressure you into the deal that's no good."

Yes there are many Excellent Agents (like yourself) who put the goals of their client to the forefront knowing that will "make a living" for them and gain respect, referrals ect...however .........

Matt, great post. I'm really glad to hear everyone's input about this topic. I'd be glad to have the opportunity to be your agent and put an end to the bad experiences you've had with realtor's in our area. Feel free to email me and we can take it from there: AnuLifestyle@pruoc.com

Thank you

"Often IMO the public finds themselves wondering if the Agent is actually working for them and their goals or if the motivation to make a living carries more weight. (Matt describes that excellently)."

Since an agent's paycheck is dependent on finding the buyer the house they desire and selling the house they have been entrusted to sell it seems counter-intuitive to me that an agent's motivation to make a living differs from the goals of the buyer or seller. To me, they have to go hand in hand. Also, agents are dependent on referrals and that can only happen from happy, satisfied buyers and sellers.

We all know there are bad agents out there. I am shocked when I hear that an agent was enthusiastically referred by somebody and the agent turns out to be less than professional. I can't fathom this. How can an agent be successful if they aren't looking out for the people they are working for?

It seems logical that it is in an agent's best interest to provide the best service they can provide. The fact that this is not always true is beyond me.

Excellent Question and an Excellent Best Answer....Thumbs up to both

Often IMO the public finds themselves wondering if the Agent is actually working for them and their goals or if the motivation to make a living carries more weight. (Matt describes that excellently)

That is only a natural reaction/question from someone involved in what may be the largest financial dealing they may ever have.....It seems as if many Agents feel there should be an automatic showing of respect or belief they have great expertise because the possess an RE license or belong to an organization that has a Code of Ethics...

Matt IMO describes perfectly the feeling of many consumers when he discusses wondering if the Agent is working for him or for himself.....Whose goals are being pushed to the front, the Agents or the Clients?

This is possibly the largest financial life impacting process most people will participate in and should be treated as such by any True Professional Agent.....Respect is not freely given it is earned.

It is the Consumer that needs to be satisfied not the Agent.......

Focus on quality service to the customer and you will be successful. It might take more time, but you will win in the end. It's the same in every business. Always has been, always will be.

I've been a disappointed with the quality of agents I have dealt with. As a first time home buyer I would expect more guidance and expertise from "experienced" agents, but I haven't seen it. Granted we have only dealt with three agents in the past year, but I usually know more about the property we view than the agent because I use the internet. There's so much technology available that agents don't seem to be utilizing and instead relying on the old school methods and Mapquest. I showed an agent Google maps with saved locations and notes in it and her head nearly exploded. I mean, welcome to 2002...

More frustrating is when you expect your agent to go to the mat for you and they end up trying to pressure you into the deal that's no good. For example, we had an offer in on a short sale for 3 months with no answer. We finally got an answer from the bank and they wanted 20% more than they listed it at and what we had initially offered. I had to convince MY agent to counter. The bank accepted our counter (and may have gone lower, as I suggested to my agent). Then, we got almost daily pressure to close the deal from our agent. I felt like I was being sold a used car. It really turned me off on the process. In the end, we bailed because the house was a hole. It was the right choice for us, but the advice from the agent was not helpful.

On top of that, I feel like no one we have worked with "gets us." Yes, we are picky, but we don't have a ton of cash to throw around and we will be picky. There are not a lot of homes in the area that are "us," so it would actually save everyone's time to listen to what we want first and then narrow down the choices before we go look at them. Don't give me a long list of stuff from the MLS that I've already seen on Trulia and told you I didn't want to see in the first place. Quality over Quantity.

Maybe we haven't found the right match yet, but in an age where technology is empowering the consumer, the focus needs to be on the old fashioned values of quality customer service, good negotiating skills and communication. That's my advice, and yes, we are looking for an agent.

The quality of service I see out there has changed because some unqualified agents have dropped out and changed careers. The vast majority of agents are underperforming and undereducated. There are a few who are top notch and have elevated their service to a sophisticated level. Most other buyers i encounter rate the average realtor as having skills below a used car dealer because of the inherent conflicts realtors have in needing income from selling homes regardless of whether or not buyers are paying the market value of a home or not.

Hi Lerone, Thanks for getting back to me. How have you been dealing with Redfin directed buyers? Just curious.

I love this - a question directed to BUYERS and SELLERS, asking what THEIR opinions of us are............yet, who has answered so far?? AGENTS!! ........... too funny....

.we always have something to say, don't we? haa...I just found this funny........hopefully, some buyers and sellers will answer soon!

We are still extremely busy regardless of media it does not matter who calls we provide same services from years ago education how to purchase, delivering a dream home.

National Featured Realtor and Consultant, Mortgage Loan Officer, Credit Repair Lecturer
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lynn911
Lynn911

Cynthia, thanks for responding. I think this can be a great opportunity for our peers and customers to reflect on their perspective of todays real estate culture. To answer your question, simply put, I just treat people right, gain their trust, and surpass their expectations.

With all of the online resources available (like Trulia, Redfin, etc.), a high percentage of prospects are approaching me with lists of properties that they like and want to go see. What is my value as a Realtor to this person? A lock box key? How can I differentiate myself, and make this person remember me, and want to use me? Well, those answers are going to be different for each client we have.

So that brings up another question, what do our clients value in us the most?

Lerone,

This is a great question.....one we will be following as it develops.

It's important for all professionals to strive toward improving their level of service.

I still strive to provide superior customer service to my clients. I'm curious though Lerone, what are you doing differently to step up your service?