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Christina Sanchez Hood, #SiliconValleyHOODS | Inspired Living

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657,208
Martin E. Kalisker, Esq.
Natick, MA
Real Estate Law From A Practical Perspective

The terminology is pretty clear under agency law. Consumers become customers when you serve in a non-agency relationship. If you become a buyer's agent or a listing agent, they become your clients.

Aug 26, 2015 01:21 PM
Rainer
509,531
S. Leanne Paynter ☼ Broward County, FL
United Realty Group, Inc. - Davie, FL
Davie, Plantation, Cooper City & Weston Specialist

They're clients if it's my listing, they're customers if it's my buyers.  If I have the buyers sign a BBA agreement, then they're my clients.

Aug 26, 2015 12:56 PM
Rainer
13,033
Michael Brown
Keller Williams Ballantyne - Charlotte, NC

Clients when under agency agreement, and customers when not.

Aug 28, 2015 12:41 PM
Ambassador
6,392,929
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Ours are all Clients.

Aug 26, 2015 03:54 PM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Everyone is your customer and those that contract to pay you are clients.

Aug 26, 2015 02:43 PM
Rainmaker
4,160,306
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Christina, I call them clients.

Aug 26, 2015 01:24 PM
Rainmaker
784,786
The Woodland Team of Texas
The Woodland Companies - Austin, TX
Land Specialists

Depends on whether they signed a contractor not, most are clients.

Dec 02, 2018 03:02 AM
Rainer
2,320
Jeannie Philbeck
Coldwell Banker United, Realtors - Goose Creek, SC
Realtor serving greater Charleston area

It is hard not to think of all the people I help as clients.  I try to treat everyone the way I would want to be treated.  I have to remember, though, whether or not someone chooses to be a client or remain a customer is their decision (and their right).  Client or customer, everyone is entitled to "reasonable care" which means never doing anything intentionally to cause problems down the line.

Aug 28, 2015 11:55 AM
Rainmaker
2,486,205
Captain Wayne - Rowlett Real Estate School
Rowlett Real Estate School - Panama City, FL
Rowlett Real Estate School / Owner and Instructor

Customers when I work as a transaction broker.

Aug 28, 2015 11:21 AM
Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

Clients are those you work FOR as in representation with fiduciary duties.

Customers are those that you work WITH...no representation, no fiduciary duties.

Eve

Aug 27, 2015 03:48 AM
Rainer
384,519
Paul Durry
Collateral Specialist Inc - Lawton, OK
Former Broker Associate, CDPE, CIAS, CHMS

Christina, here in Oklahoma we are not under the agency as far as real estate is concerned. I call all people I help sell, or buy a property clients. I consider people customers if I was in retail or some other similar setting.

Aug 27, 2015 12:17 AM
Rainmaker
4,571,967
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Clients.  

Aug 26, 2015 11:59 PM
Rainmaker
7,835,329
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I call them prospects until they become clients.

Aug 26, 2015 11:57 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

If I am talking to other professionals, the technicly correct term, customer for non-agency, Client for ageency, is used.

However in public I NEVER use customer to describe anyone.

Aug 26, 2015 11:11 PM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Martin Kalisker is absolutely right, that is the legal definition, although the two terms are often used interchangeably.

Aug 26, 2015 11:04 PM
Rainer
273,237
Richard Robibero, e-Pro, ABR, SRS
Panorama R.E. Limited - Toronto, ON
Selling Your Home as if it were My Own!

As someone else mentioned, the distinction is clear here in Toronto. Clients have signed an exclusive agreement to work with you. Customers are people you help but they are not exclusive.

I treat everyeone fairly and honestly.

Aug 26, 2015 10:33 PM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

If there is an agency relationship client.  I don't work with customers.

Aug 26, 2015 10:32 PM
Rainmaker
699,277
Chris and Dick Dovorany
Homes for Sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida - Naples, FL
Broker/Associate at Premiere Plus Realty

Customers.  I was told by a broker years ago that "here" they are customers.

Aug 26, 2015 10:27 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

If they have signed an exclusive buyer agency agreement, they are a client. If you have no agreement with them, they are a customer.

Aug 26, 2015 08:58 PM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

It depends on the industry.  In real estate in Ontario, customers and clients refer to two different types of relationship that the real estate brokerage has with the other party.  Other industries or even specific companies use customer, client, patient, guest, etc.

Aug 26, 2015 08:49 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Christina. I will always use client, customer just doesn't seem as valuable.

Aug 26, 2015 07:23 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good Thursday morning Christina. My customers are the real estate agent's clients.

Aug 26, 2015 06:55 PM
Rainmaker
809,829
Bob Force (REALTOR®)
Weichert Realtors - Aspen Hill - Mount Airy, MD
The FORCE in Maryland Real Estate

Christina - I agree with Martin Kalisker, with one more level; that of a serious client.  Serious client is one who reads and responds to your emails and returns your phone calls.

Aug 26, 2015 01:54 PM
Rainmaker
544,014
Dave Halpern
Dave Halpern Real Estate Agent, Inc., Louisville, KY (502) 664-7827 - Louisville, KY
Louisville Short Sale Expert

I call them clients

Nov 04, 2017 08:54 PM
Rainmaker
763,783
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Christina, I was an owner operator of a retail market and some of the most wonderful customers.  As a Realtor my clients are also terrific.

Aug 28, 2015 12:19 PM