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Client or Customer? They are NOT same.

Did you know that Texas real estate license law requires me to provide you, the consumer, with an Agency Disclosure Notice?   In addition, I am to supply a meaningful explanation of agency relationships and the specifics of each one.  This is to be done at the first opportunity once we have made substantive contact.  The notice informs you, the consumer, about broker relationships and how they effect real estate transactions. It is important for you to know that you have the right to be represented in any real estate transaction.

The types of broker relationship that exists in a transaction is up to you.  Simply put, it means you have a choice to make. When you begin to  work with a broker or agent, they will ask you in what capacity you want them to work for you; as a customer or a client. What’s the difference, you ask?

Texas real estate license law defines customers as buyers or sellers who choose NOT to establish an agency relationship. The law requires licensees to perform the following basic duties when dealing with any real estate buyer or seller as a customer:

• Present all offers in a timely manner
• Account for money or other property received on your behalf
• Provide an explanation of the scope of services to be provided
• Be fair and honest and provide accurate information
• Disclose “adverse material facts” about the property or the transaction which are within my knowledge

Because customer service does not require a written agreement, neither you nor the broker is committed to one another in any way. Unless or until you enter into a written agreement for agency representation, you are considered a “customer” of the broker, and the broker will not act as your agent. As a customer, you should not expect the Company or its licensees to promote your best interest, or to keep your bargaining information confidential.

Now, it is also worth noting that many agents, like myself,  do not work with customers.  This is because they do not want to restrict their services in that way. 

We prefer only to work with clients   Clients are those who have made the wise choice to sign into an agreement with broker.   Clients receive more services than customers. In fact, by law, you are afforded the following client-level services at a very minimum:

• Obedience
• Loyalty
• Disclosure
• Confidentiality
• Accounting
• Reasonable care and skill
• Advice, counsel, and assistance in negotiations

This means that as my client, you will recieve these top level services which allow me to fend for your best intrest. negotiate terms on contracts, and provide my expertise and opinion to help you make the right decision. 

The choice is yours, you have the right to be represented or not.  I hope you choose wisely and when you do choose to seek representation, I will be heppy to help you. 

Top 6 Selling Myths Revealed

As a real estate professional I often run into seller's who have concerns surrounding the sell of their property.  Often times these concerns are unwarranted and keep sellers from listing their property for sale.  Here is a list of the 6 most common concerns, or myths, that sellers encounter and the truth surrounding each.  I hope you find it informative and as always, if you have any questions, please leave a comment and I will answer to the best of my ability.

6 Selling Myths Revealed

Myth #1: You should always price your home high and negotiate down.

Truth: Pricing too high can be as bad as pricing too low. If you list too high, you'll miss out on buyers looking in the price range where your home should be. Offers may not even come in, because buyers who are interested in your home are scared off by the price and won't even take the time to look at it. By the time you correct the price and list your home at its fair market value, you will have lost that window of opportunity when your home draws the most attention from the public and real estate agents; i.e. the first 30 days that it is on the market. A well-trained real estate agent who looks out for your best interests will consult with you on your home’s fair market value and different pricing strategies for the current market.


Myth #2: Minor repairs can wait until later. There are more important things to be done.

Truth: Minor repairs make your house more marketable, allowing you to maximize your return (or minimize loss) on the sale. Most buyers are looking for homes that are ready for them to move into. If your home happens to attract a buyer who is willing to make repairs, he/she will begin asking for repair allowances that come out of your asking price. The amount of an allowance that you have to offer a buyer is usually more than what it would cost for you to make the repair (or hire someone to make the repair). Remember, buyers are comparing your home to other homes that are currently on the market. Your home should be inviting so that everyone who looks at it can see themselves living there.


Myth #3: Once a potential buyer sees the inside of your home, curb appeal won't matter.

Truth: Buyers probably won't make it to the inside of the home if the outside of your home does not appeal to them. Buyers and their agents often do drive-bys before deciding whether a home is worth their time to look inside. Your home’s exterior must make a good first impression so that buyers are compelled to stop and come inside. All it takes is keeping the lawn mowed, shrubs and trees trimmed, gardens weeded and edged, and clutter put away.


Myth #4: Your home must be every home buyer's dream home.

Truth: If you get carried away with repairs and replacements to your home, you may end up over-improving the house. There is a point where improving your home doesn’t pay off. The key is to consider what competing properties feature and look like. A highly-motivated real estate agent will consult with you on what competing properties have to offer – he/she can even show you competing properties so that you can make sound home improvement decisions.


Myth #5: You are better off selling your home on your own and saving money on the commission you would have paid to a real estate agent.

Truth: Statistically, many sellers who attempt to sell their homes on their own cannot consummate the sale without the service of a real estate agent. Homeowners who succeed in selling their home by themselves usually net less than if they had a real estate agent working for them. The National Association of REALTORS surveys consumers every year, including homeowners who succeeded in selling their home without a real estate agent. Over 70% of these homeowners say that they would never do it again.


Myth #6: When you receive an offer, you should make the buyer wait. This gives you a better negotiating position.

Truth: You should reply immediately to an offer! When a buyer makes an offer, that buyer is, at that moment in time, ready to buy your home. Moods can change, and you don't want to lose the sale because you have stalled in replying.

The E-Newsletter is here!

SEPTEMBER - 2011 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter

Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general.


The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau and Realtor.org reports, videos, key market indicators and real estate sales statistics, a video message by a nationally recognized economist, maps, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, plus local neighborhood information and more.

Please click here to view the SEPTEMBER - 2011 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter.



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