Should We Limit Ourselves?
How far will you go for your client? With all the talk about hyper-local blogging and expertise, should we limit ourselves to only representing clients within our hyper-local area? Generally, we do not! Most of our local boards serve a fairly wide area, and we can show homes within in 50 mile radius; some local MLS’s serve a farther reaching area.
Although I am not convinced I should stay within my hyper-local area, I do have enough common sense to not wander into an area I know nothing about. I do have my limits! Why would I go to the farthest edge of our county to an area which is foreign to me? Not knowing the peculiarities of a particular city is enough to keep me inside the city limits where I do know or can get the information my client needs to make a good decision.
So Far Out of Bounds…
Apparently, not every agent feels compelled to stay within the boundaries served by their MLS. Twice this week, I have had calls from agents who are representing clients outside of their local board’s MLS area. I’m talking a three hour round trip to show homes you can not get MLS data on, which means you can’t possibly offer comparable data for your client.
Agent #1 – I am not the listing agent on the property you are asking about. Your client apparently has been searching my IDX for homes and my name is there. Sorry, I can’t give you any information about the home.
Agent #2 – I appreciate these are dear friends, but do you know the road behind this home will soon be widen to four lanes. What do you mean you don’t know what a short sale is? The best thing you could do for your dear friends is refer them to an agent in the area.
In the past few months I have had agents call me and ask for comparable stats so they can write an offer on a home they have not seen. No kidding!
C’mon people, do you know the meaning of agency or your fiduciary responsibility to your client?
