We Are There for You, But…

In a business where we try to be as accommodating as possible, there are times when buyers and sellers make some pretty astounding requests. Take this one from this past week: “Can you pick me up at the airport and take me to look at a few houses. I’d like to see if maybe, perhaps one day I want to sell my house and move here?”  Or this one I get routinely from owners: “I’d like for you to give me a market analysis of my home so that I know if it’s time to refinance.” Or maybe, “I’m just trying to keep up with how much my property is worth in case my real property taxes go up?” You get the drift.

REALTORS® are independent contractors which means we pay ALL our own expenses. We pay for cars, gas, insurance, MLS office fees and often, even signage. Our personal websites and marketing materials are not free. This means that time we spend “touring” folks or performing tasks normally associated with moneymaking activities takes time away from making a living. For this reason, many of us have adopted policies that include buyers signing a representation agreement and providing proof of funds or a preapproval prior to riding in our cars. My friend said a buyer once even admitted he just needed to show he had been with an agent so he could write off his trip. This doesn’t mean we don’t ever meet buyers at property, but we shouldn’t be asked to be tour guides or unlicensed appraisers to prove value. We do utilize some of the same methods when we list properties but in doing so we also employ a proprietary system for which we pay a pretty penny.

So, what’s a Curious George to do? If you are a curious buyer, take time to tour neighborhoods. It’s a Big Island, you’ll learn a lot. Talk to local folks about living here. Curious about value? Let me know, and I’ll enlist you in our home valuation tool. The new and improved version is fairly accurate and will keep you updated monthly. And, when it’s time to make that all important buying and selling decision, by all means, give us a call. We will happily take those calls with a smile.