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Did You Pick the Wrong Sacramento Realtor as Your Listing Agent?
Sellers believe they will never pick the wrong Sacramento Realtor to list a home but it happens. It almost happened to one of my clients. He was all set to sign with a discount agent. Instead, he started searching the internet to see if maybe, just maybe, he could find a better agent. Something in his gut just didn’t sit right, I imagine. I’m not sure exactly why he began a search for a different Sacramento Realtor but that’s how he found me. I’m everywhere. You really can’t get away from Elizabeth Weintraub online no matter where you go.
Some sellers say they did not pick the wrong Sacramento Realtor because they chose a friend. Doesn’t make a lick of sense to them that might not be wise because perhaps that agent doesn’t really sell much real estate. Never occurred to them they should instead choose a veteran full-service agent. They feel their agent friend is a person they can trust. Well, you can probably trust your gardener but you wouldn’t want him selling your home, would you? An agent who sells a home here and there often knows only the basics. Like how to put a home in MLS. But an agent’s duties to her seller goes way beyond that.
For one thing, an experienced agent know how to price correctly. She knows her market, buyer’s preferences, understands stats and develops custom strategies for each client. A top agent figures out what the market will bear over what the comps reflect. One of my clients called me last month just as he was about to pick the wrong Sacramento Realtor. We discussed pricing and one of the unusual aspects that came out of our conversation was the fact agents had been telling him to list about $50,000 less than I suggested.
Now I know how that looks to seller. They think: whoa, she’s so far off on her pricing! How can she be right and all of those other agents wrong? That’s a normal reaction. I had a seller in Carmichael last year ask the same thing. Yet, I sold his house at list price, which was $100,000 more than other agents in Carmichael told him to list at. I have an ability that apparently other agents do not.
In a blog he read that led him to call me, I had explained the standard real estate commission in Sacramento. He could clearly understand why I get paid a little bit more than many other agents. Because my clients tend to make more money by choosing my services.
I looked this guy straight in the eye and warned: do not list with any of those agents. You will lose $50,000. Not only that, but you have an older home. Which means you’ll never survive the inspections and they will take you to the cleaners. My experience will help you to smoothly navigate your escrow. Besides, you know why my sellers who post 5-star reviews say I exceed expectations and work miracles? Because they are happy.
It’s a good thing he listened to me and did not pick the wrong Sacramento Realtor to list his home. We are closing escrow next week, and he got exactly the price he wanted. No renegotiations after inspections, either. Smart guy.
Beware of Sacramento Agents Who Have a Dog in the Race
Not every Sacramento Realtor has a dog in the race.
You know what I mean about Sacramento agents who have a dog in the race, right? The underbelly of this business. Especially real estate agents whose sole business model is: no closing, no paycheck. When an agent must close a transaction or starve to death, it can be difficult for a client to feel comfortable with the advice that agent might offer. I get it. But I hadn’t quite had it put to me like a client explained a few days ago.
Basically, he said he was referring me to a co-worker who needed to list his home because I have enough business to be financially comfortable. Implying that it’s difficult to trust an agent who doesn’t. Granted, there are many types of Realtors in Sacramento.
It’s true that there are Sacramento agents who have a dog in the race, but I’m not one of those. I take listings because I enjoy the challenges and it’s rewarding to do a good job for my sellers. The money isn’t bad, either. But money is not my motivation. As a matter of principle, I probably charge more than most other agents, but I also provide services that warrant the highest commission and net higher prices. You might find that ironic but I don’t.
If a seller demands to work with a cheap agent, that seller can work with another agent who won’t do nearly the job I would do. No skin off my teeth. There’s another seller around the corner who values what I do.
And, yes, I find it amusing when a seller asks me if this is a good time to go on the market. I tell them don’t ask a Realtor if it’s a good time because an agent will tell you YES.
New Client: Is this a good time to hire you?
Me: Well, I dunno, maybe you should check back next year to see if I’ve retired.
Darn tootin’ it’s a good time to hire Elizabeth Weintraub! There’s a reason I rank in the top 5 agents in Sacramento.
Although, joking aside, I do tell clients if their home will be difficult to sell, then list it now. We have no inventory. It will sell quickly. We’ll push that price up, and I’ll take care of them all the way through closing. I will monitor the transaction and handle any blips. On the other hand, if you’ve got a stunning home and can afford to wait, then April 15th is prime time.
I’ll sell anything if it’s fun to do. I don’t need to have a dog in the race. But be careful of those who do. Sometimes buyer’s agent will try to threaten me and the seller. They say if we don’t do what their buyer wants, their buyer will walk away. You know my response is to that? That agent is an idiot. They don’t look for answers, solutions.
Still, I don’t hold that against them. Because they could very well be one of those Sacramento agents who have a dog in the race. Those are the ones who rarely make it to the finish line. They do not realize that a sure-fired way to make it in the real estate business is to take the agent out of the equation and focus on what is best for the seller.
How NOT to Choose a Sacramento Real Estate Agent
Choose the best Sacramento real estate agent you can find based on service.
Part of the problem with writing a blog about how NOT to choose a Sacramento real estate agent is that it probably won’t ever reach the people who really need to read it. Because some of those people already think they know everything about the complexities of real estate, tend to exhibit little respect for real estate agents (as they imagine we are all identical to each other when we are not), and they wrongly adhere to the misbelief that the only two things that count are the suggested sales price and the agent’s commission.
These types of people could not begin to fathom how completely twisted those concepts are and why it is the wrong approach to go about hiring a listing agent.
I have noticed that airlines recently have been thanking customers on the plane by saying they realize we have a choice in air carriers and are grateful for the business. Yet, as nice as this sounds on the surface, the real reason most people choose an airline is because of cost. The same way they choose almost everything, and why Sam’s Club is so popular.
Many travelers don’t pay a lot of attention to a convenient travel schedule, the quality of food, the comfort of the seats, the attention and detail to service, nor the on-time record of the airline, either.
They don’t always care too much about how they get to where they are going or whether the journey is pleasant. In fact, they could willingly board an old rattled plane that bounces about in any kind of air turbulence with a drunk pilot in the cockpit who almost crashes the plane, and as long as they land at their destination in pretty much one piece, well, that’s all that matters.
On the contrary, when I tell my clients at closing that I am thankful they chose me because they have a choice in a Sacramento real estate agent, I am sincere. There are almost 5,000 real estate agents in the Sacramento metro region, and for me to rank in the top 10 agents is no easy feat.
It means clients recommend my services because I have earned those referrals.
