Is Your Toronto Realtor a Real Friend?
One of the challenges that successful, life-long real estate agents in Toronto and all across the GTA have is to make sure new clients understand the true value of hiring them. There are unfortunately many agents who think being a realtor is all about making lots of fast money and posting multiple photos of themselves with a new luxury car they just purchased. That certainly doesn’t help the image of the profession. And it likely won’t make anyone want to hire them.
Recently, I came across an article that I thought got to the heart of the matter. With the right examples and the right amount of humour, this fellow realtor summed it up perfectly. She describes wonderfully how many of us want to be seen and how many of us behave: always putting our clients first.
And this is a main goal of The Weir Team.
Originally written by Sarah D’Hondt and re-posted with a few modifications, with her permission. (Thank you Sarah!)
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There are a few times in life when we connect with a person and develop a strong bond of friendship, trust, and admiration for one another. These lifelong besties may enter your life in high school, or become your college roommate, work colleagues, or as your future spouse.
Some people may come and go in your life, but one special person will always be there for you; to stand beside you, and guide you, comfort you and console you. This amazingly special person is: YOUR REALTOR.
Great realtors are Superheroes who make your dreams happen, and will travel the ends of the county, working tirelessly for YOU.
Realtors go above and beyond to protect your best interests and get you what you want and deserve. When you are buying or selling a home you are vulnerable, emotional, and some of your worst traits rear their ugly heads, but your Realtor will love you anyway.
Here are 7 reasons why your Realtor is the best friend you never knew you had:
1. They know what we can truly afford (even when we don’t).
Your Realtor listened to you when you explained what you were looking for in a home. They may have even had you fill out a “wish list”, and pointed out that not all of them will be granted, based on your budget. They probably set you up on a search or emailed you homes to consider, and kindly reminded you that the 14 homes you flagged on Realtor.ca were out of your budget.
Good realtors know what homes values are in your market, and they know what other costs are associated with purchasing a home. Embrace their experience, guidance, and advice because they are working for YOU and want to help you.
2. They’re the most honest people in our lives (not including our mothers).
Ideal realtors will be brutally honest with you about the homes that are out of your budget, that need a lot of work, that are awesome deals, and that would best fit what you need and want.
They will help guide you on writing the best offer, and advise you when not to try to haggle with the price or asking for tons of things that will cost extra to the seller.
As a seller, your Realtor will be honest about how your home compares to others for sale in the neighborhood and give sound and educated advice on how to price yours and stay competitive. TRUST your Realtor! They will tell you what you need to hear, not always what you want to hear.
When you close the deal on the home you sold or bought, you can thank them.
3. They’re more loyal than our pets.
True, our dogs love to greet us at the door when we get home, and cats, although a bit anti-social, will purr, come around from time to time and sprawl out on our lap or brush up against our legs. But no matter how loving your pet may be, if you aren’t with them, they can’t support you at a moment’s notice.
Your Realtor is ALWAYS there for you. Full-service realtors are even known to sleep with their phones. Good realtors will make it known that you are their #1 priority and you will never have to clean up their messes.
4. Nothing shocks a Realtor.
Realtors have dealt with people from all walks of life that have had divorces, bankruptcy, deaths in the family, job losses, and horrible decorating taste. Realtors show bank-owned homes with flooded basements, mold and fire damage, and occasionally a squatter or two living upstairs. They deal with rude, ungrateful, and unprofessional people all day long, including other Realtors and clients at times.
They’ve seen it all, heard it all, and been through it all, and it just makes their superpowers stronger.
5. They are the greatest listeners.
Good, honest realtors truly listen to you. When you drone on and on about the dream home you want, with all the bells and whistles, and the white-picket fence, your Realtor is taking notes.
When you tell your whole life story, or why you’re selling your house because your husband is a no-good-cheating-bastard, or when you need to vent about the neighbors, or your mother-in-law, or what color you should paint your bathroom.
Your Realtor is always there, making mental note of every word you say, and will not judge you (not to your face, anyway!).
6. Their intentions are always PURE.
It’s very simple: Realtors get paid when they close your deal. It could take months! They want to help you buy or sell your home, and will work diligently and tirelessly to accomplish that, or they get no pay check.
Of course a Realtor is a hard-working Superhero with pure intentions, because who else do you know will do all that they do, for FREE.
7. When a Realtor becomes a real-life friend, nothing in the world is sweeter.
You will always have a friend that can give advice about home upgrades & updates, referrals to trusted and inexpensive contractors, and that can let you know the market value of your home in a matter of minutes.
Your Realtor friend will be happy to help you, for FREE, anytime you need it because they eat, breathe, and ooze real estate.
And as a friend of a great realtor, you should want to help your friend as often as possible, and send them as many referrals as you can. 🙂