I can’t remember the last time I went to a physician’s office and they did not ask for my insurance card. In fact, I have been reminded to bring it more than once for an appointment. Whether or not you have an insurance card is the start of the conversation about how, when, or if you will be paying your bill. It is not unreasonable that the physician and staff expect to be paid for their services, including equipment, supplies, time, labor, professional fees, insurance, utilities, computers, software, regardless of the outcome of your visit.
We, as Mansfield UConn area Realtors, are routinely expected to show houses, no questions asked, with little or no advance notice to buyers that are total strangers and contact us through various means: internet, our 1-800 hot line, Craig’s List and print media. We are expected, for the sake of a potential commission, to show up at our own expense and risk and ask no questions of a buyer as to their financial readiness to buy, their current living situation, or worse, if they have a criminal record for assault that I may want to know about before I meet them at a vacant property or welcome them to an open house.
A recent post by Inman News addresses this very issue and an excellent point made by a retired NYPD detective:
“Real estate agents make their living meeting with complete strangers in empty houses.”
When you contact Home Selling Team to discuss purchasing a home you should be asked at least a few basic questions such as;
- Are you currently working with a real estate agent?
- Have you signed a buyer representation agreement?
- Have you been pre-qualified by a lender?
- How much can you afford to spend?
- Do you have any money for a down payment?
- Are you the only decision maker?
We may ask you to come in to the office to meet where we review the HST buyer presentation, which is a brief power point presentation where we explain what we can and cannot do in representing you in the purchase of a home. The HST Buyer Consultation is especially great for first time buyers who are unfamiliar with the process and a nice refresher for someone who hasn’t bought or sold a Mansfield area home in a long time.
Here’s how it should go: You look at our featured listings on our website, you see something that appeals to you, you send an email or call an agent and request a showing on the property. The agent asks you some or all of the above questions, your name, email address, phone number and invites you in for a no obligation buyer consultation and if you refuse all the above, you are told by the agent, “I don’t work like that.” For our safety and your trust and respect. Not an unreasonable expectation on either side.