Just found out my client bought a home using another agent

jsdomino · 09-09-2009, 11:29 AM

I was just getting ready to contact a client that I had worked with in the past and found out that he purchased using another agent.

I had been showing him homes regularly and even did a seasonal rental so he could spend more time finding his home. Although, I admit I did not show him the home he purchased, I had suggested this development and he told me it was too far from where he wanted to be.

I am P.O.ed!

Thought about a procuring cause complaint, but probably don't have a real good argument.

I worked really hard for this guy and I bet the new agent was a 25 year old blonde with nice smile.

Oh, and this was a $300K, cash deal.

AustinReilly · 09-09-2009, 12:25 PM

BUMMER. We've all been there. The best you can do is vent and let it out here. I had a neighbor who routinely called me every year to help him compile sales data for his local property tax protest filings. You do these free consulting jobs as Realtors with the idea that people will think of you when they are ready to buy and sell, but when he recently bought a lot, he used his wife's friend.

In the end, that's why I love web leads! I don't have to pester my friends/neighbors for business because I know I'll wake up everyday to a new set of emails and registrations from strangers who are happy to have my services.

Madtown RM · 09-09-2009, 04:36 PM

As Michael said, we've all been there. I've had so many disappointments over the years that I've lost count. Best thing you can do is get good at shrugging off the disappointments and honing in on your successes (without resting on your laurels, of course - remember, you're only as good as your last deal!). The more you dwell on the past and the negative, the more energy you take away from positive income-generating activities you could be pursuing. It's a bummer, to be sure, but there will be times when someone uses you instead of the agent that was servicing them for the past year and a half. And you won't be complaining then, I'm sure!

Chin up!

Bigtoe · 09-10-2009, 09:10 AM

When this happens to me I comfort myself with the knowledge that I do this to other agents more then they do it to me.

Malok · 09-10-2009, 09:40 AM

A shame, but it happens to everyone.

In some areas, its fairly common to use a buyer's agency agreement - so if it happens to you repeatedly on other deals, you may look into using one of those.

thataway61 · 09-10-2009, 09:43 AM

As you get more involved with internet leads, you will find that many people will use your site, your information, ask you questions, request research, and still end up buying through another agent. They really owe you no loyalty if there is no buyer agency. This may not be the case in what you were referring to, but it is important not to get too thin skinned. Look at it like there is a world of abundance, not a limited supply. Help people to buy and never sell them. If you help enough people, some will stick with you. I often tell myself that I didn't really want to work with someone that can't be loyal to me anyway (even if I did invest time and gasoline with them). Everyone understands your feeling of being P.O.'ed, but you are better off just venting and moving on.

And don't hold it against the 25 year old attractive blonde, perhaps she did a better job of "helping" and less of "selling". Who knows, but should her abilities be discounted to nothing more than something physical when she may have done an excellent job for someone that contacted her out of the blue? The beef should stay with the person that was not loyal to you and if there were circumstances where he should have been, then perhaps you are better off. If the circumstances were iffy as to whether there should have been loyalty or not then you certainly will have learned from it.

Like Bigtoe said, you will have done this to others as well and not even be cognizant of it the majority of times.

Micheal Pannell Realtor · 09-10-2009, 10:01 AM

That is why the rebate works!!!!

thataway61 · 09-10-2009, 10:20 AM

Hey Mike,
Could you share any drips you use to communicate your program?

Have you ever like sent an e-mail with a coupon and if they prequalify and present said coupon to the agent before any showings they get the discount?

Just how effective is this, any A/B tests?

Micheal Pannell Realtor · 09-10-2009, 11:34 AM

My program works off the natural greed of people. If they know i am paying them they wont go anywhere. I have asked several people about this. If Agent A offer them 20% and agent B doesnt who would they buy from. You guess the answer.\

I can give you some number for my area. Zip realty has done over 550 sides this year. My company is around 50 to 60 before the rebate. I out rank them, They offered the rebate. So i change my plan to what works.

We have had many more property showing since them. We also have gotten many clients that wouldnt have bought from us. Good way to steal leads from other agents also.

Malok · 01:35 PM

Working off your "business model" - wouldn't it stand to reason that all someone would have to do is just offer a bigger rebate than you, and steal your clients? Additionally, because your clients are going to be inherently less loyal (you mention yourself about "stealing <leads> from other agents"), if the clients get an opportunity to cut you out of a deal, it is reasonable to assume that they would do so.

We like to take the opposite approach by offering such overwhelming expertise & exposure (since we are primarily niche driven), that our clients are glad to pay extra to have us represent them in the transaction - and become some of our biggest fans, insisting that their friends, family & co-workers absolutely must use us.

Different strokes for different folks. You try to create loyalty through dollars. We try to create loyalty through other means.

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