The Real Job of a REALTOR®

I think there’s often a misconception of what the job of a REALTOR® is; even among real estate agents. I often hear from buyers that they think the job of their realtor is to unlock houses and negotiate deals. That’s not completely incorrect, but not quite my perspective either. Some REALTORS® say their job is to sell homes. Yes, completing the sale of a home is how real estate agents make a living, but that is not what our job is. Well, not in my opinion anyway.

My job as a REALTOR® is to educate you on what it means to buy a home, help you find a house you want to make your home, and then guide you through that purchase. As an agent, I  provide you with the resources to look at homes through the multiple listing service and take you to see them when we find ones that match your criteria. My job is to be an advocate on your behalf and represent your interests when buying a house. I guide you through the purchase, the inspections, and the closing of your new home; making sure you are well informed during this process and confident you made the right decision when you close and get your keys.

There are a few things my job is not, though. My job is not to convince you to buy a house you don’t love for the sake of making a sale. That is not how I operate personally. In fact, I take a more limited number of clients than the average agent because I want you to have an exceptional experience and I can only give my attention to so many people, so I limit the number of clients I have at one time. On the flip side, my job is also not to get you a house as cheap as possible and my job is not to convince a seller that an offer $20,000 under their list price is the best they’re going to get. If those are the things you are looking for in a REALTOR®, I'll be honest and say "I'm probably not your girl."

Instead, my goal is to always make sure you pay a fair amount for the house you want to make your home. My job is to make you feel confident in your purchase by providing data on the home, including what other homes in the area have recently sold, and educate you on the current state of the real estate market. I do this to make sure your first offer is your strongest offer to limit the stress of multiple back-and-forth negotiations. I want to make sure your offer is accepted above any other offer while also making sure you don’t overpay for a home. You should have the best experience possible when you purchase a home, especially if it is your first.

"You catch more flies with honey than vinegar."

I believe in providing a true service and doing fair business. Making sure myself and the selling agent have a mutual respect and understanding for one another. Knowing we are representing opposing interests means I'm pleasant to other agents, their sellers and my buyers. What's that saying, "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar?" Yeah, I think that's it. My thoughts on being a REALTOR® and what it means to do this job are based on three main schools of thought:

 

I should be a trusted guide and resource for my buyers

We should all strive to come to a fair purchase price and terms

Being nice to everyone makes for a happier buying experience

Happy Hunting,