Chico CA Realtor: Do You Want Yours Black and White or Sugar Coated?
December 13th, 2007categories: Chico CA Real Estate News, My Opinion on Things
I recently had a client tell me that I was a “black and white” Chico CA Realtor.
“Of course I am!” was my first thought.
“Why would you want me to be any other way?” was my second thought.
I wouldn’t want my lawyer, or accountant or doctor to sugar-coat the truth for me. Why would a buyer or seller not want their Realtor to be straight up? We had a very interesting, light-hearted debate over lunch as to the virtues of “telling it like it is” versus “sugar-coating” (my term, not his). Given the excellent company, great Mexican food and a couple of Coronas, the discussion was enjoyable and thought-provoking, to say the least.
In my opinion, the contracts that we utilize to transfer Chico CA Real Estate ARE pretty “black and white.” An entire team of lawyers worked together to ensure they were as accurate and airtight as possible. They constantly review and adjust them. I believe it is in my client’s best interest to respect the contract and the authority it has, rather than test the system and jeopardize the possibility of realizing his real estate goals. Not to mention the issue of opening himself up to other possible negative consequences (IE: loss of deposit, delay in obtaining a property, loss of prime interest rate, etc.)
For instance: if the contract specifies that the good faith deposit is to be deposited into escrow within 3 days, I recommend that the client deposits it within 3 days. Period. There is no wiggle room. The buyer has defaulted if he chooses NOT to deposit within 3 days, and the seller can cancel the contract should he wish to do so. To me, this is very black and white, and I will explain it as such. You either follow the rules, Mr. Buyer, or risk losing the house to a buyer who does.
As a Chico CA Realtor representing a client, I will call it as I see it, because it’s my job to protect my client’s interests. Oftentimes, I find the client simply does not understand the contract or the possible repercussions of not following it, and therefore behaves in such a way that he risks the very goals towards which he is striving. I simply don’t have it in me to sugarcoat the negative possibilities. For most people, a real estate purchase is one of the largest and most important of their lives. I feel they deserve to understand the full scope of the situation.
I of course respect my clients opinion, and ultimately their course of action, even if the client makes decisions contrary to what I am suggesting.
My only concern is that they are properly informed prior to doing so.
My valued client’s take on it was that a Chico Realtor should only offer feedback with a soft touch, even if it means watching the client shoot himself in the foot. My problem with “sugarcoating” is that I think it’s a mistake to not give a client all of the facts with which they can weigh their decision.
Realtors that will tell their clients what they want to hear in order to secure their business are unfortunately a dime a dozen. The sad thing is, the client is done a disservice when they aren’t told the entire truth, and they aren’t being properly represented.
Looking forward to more posts like this?
Hi there…Thanks for the nice read, keep up the interesting posts …what a nice Thursday .
Sandi - Straight talk is always the best whether in Chico CA or elsewhere. The contracts aren’t suggestions. You make some very valid points as to what can happen when agents sugar coat things. - Ashley
Absolutely, we should tell the truth and the Sellers should want to hear it.
Man that is good stuff! Your are right on Sandi, we have a duty to clients to tell it like it is with no sugar coating. Granted, sometimes this isn’t what the client wants to hear.
You are right, follow the contract or bear the consequences.
Hi Sandi - Hope you are well! Honesty is always the best policy for me even when the truth hurts. I run into this a lot when giving a seller an appraisal of their home. Most of the time there has been someone else that has already told them it is worht much more than it is just to get the listing.
BTW - Found your blog over at Propeller! I gave you the thumbs up
Sandi- Chico real estate is better with more brokers that speak the truth, you are of course correct, unfortunately so is your client, because some folks “Can’t handle the truth,” in the words made immortal by Jack Nicholson.If you advise them and if the client chooses to do something else, so be it, they are adults and you have done your job. A small set of these see disagreement with them as disqualifying- I choose not to work with that set and will fire them long before they fire me.Terry McDonald
[…] Black and white or sugar-coated? Sandi Bauman from Chico Home Search has a great post this week about the choices we as real estate professionals make when communicating with our customers and clients. By the way Dothan home buyers and sellers, we are black and white here at Dothan Home Search. […]
There is only one way and that’s the right way. There are no grey areas. You are a straight forward Realtor with a conscience, stay that way!
Great advice Sandi. I find way to many people don’t take the contracts seriously enough. I recently sold a house I fixed up and the buyers were great people, but they thought they could take their sweet time about applying for financing. They were in violation of the contract terms of 5 days to apply for financing, but they were good buyers, so I just gave them a gentle reminder to get on it. It is truly our job as real estate experts to educate our clients.
Sandi - I, too am a black and white Realtor, give the facts and everything else they need to know about real estate and their transaction. Too much sugar coating happened in the past and people need to know what to expect.
[…] Black and white or sugar-coated? Sandi Bauman from Chico Home Search has a great post this week about the choices we as real estate professionals make when communicating with our customers and clients. By the way Dothan home buyers and sellers, we are black and white here at Dothan Home Search. […]