Come on, Tony -- this is not a series of texts between you and a sign call "buyer" I think this is how you and Suzanne met.   Nice try though.  

Tony,

I am voting with Michael Jacobs , and we do like a real red Zinfandel!  I think you handled it very well.  A

Great! Perfect way to handle this and if more did this it would not be questioned. We are not order takers. We run a professional business and that's exactly how I do this. I often take it one more step and have them meet me at the office first. I'm not a fan of running to any property to meet strangers. Congrats on the well deserved feature.

I am amused with Michael Jacobs answer.

My response would be:

Richard Weeks: Lets meet at my office to discuss your finacial approval, and sign a buyers rep agreement.  Also lets discuss why you want to move, when you need to move, and where you want to move.

I think it was handled in a professional and informative way! The fact they called later clearly meant they were interested. 

I normally ask buyers I don't know to come to my office before I go take them to show properties.  For security reasons, I do not show home to buyers I don't meet and talk to and find out is they have completed financing process with a lender.

Largest purchase of ones life brings out caution and questions. Approaching this with finesse & in the spirit of customer service may help. If not, it hurts

I think you did a stellar job.

Sounds like you handled it perfectly!  Couldn't or wouldn't change a thing.  I know the agency disclosure scares a lot of people at first. Also, I'm still so surprised with all the information on the Internet about home sales and whatnot, that so many buyers don't realize a buyer's agent if FREE.  What gives?

Love what you typed. Would have added one thing to your "required to" statement. Required... BY LAW (in TX). And also would have picked up the phone and had the heart of the matter convo vs. text, as it went along.

In the end, you won. They came back. Congrats.

Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers Interesting discussion and you did a good job turning the potential buyer around.

I think you explained it well. Great job!

I'd do as you did except I don't require signing the agency disclosure right away. We cover it verbally but often wait and get signature later.

I have always been bad with this, as I don't have buyer's sign forms upfront.  I have always just built rapport with them to make sure we want to work with each other, then I have them sign forms.

Interesting exchange. Some would represnt both sides and some will not. It is an individual thing. I am a fan of disclsures, so kudos to you!

More often than not, when I get someone who resists on a cold sign call, I think they are tire kickers. Then again, I don't do disclosures at such a first meeting... when I meet them I simply tell them why they shouldn't say too much to me or any agent at this stage.

Nothing wrong with that exchange, and result. I would have wanted to know why the 'buyers' did not want an agent. Also, if a 1 page disclosure is a 'hoop', they will find the actual transaction a hula. Sound like VARMINTS! ;)

LOL - I think Michael Jacobs has your number :)

If this were to happen and the buyer flinched, let him go. It wasn't meant to be.

Absolutely love the way you handled it.

I like what you did.  For me, I would ask if they've been prequalified and how ready they were to buy (if they're not serious and/or are six months out, why jump through hoops and waste my time).  I would setup the appointment and show the house if they were serious buyers who were ready to "pull the trigger" if they liked the house (regardless of prequal).  I'd also ask before showing if they have a house to sell, that way I can bring a listing contract with me too!

I'd also ask if they had an agent.  I'm getting a LOT of calls (upwards of 100% of my upcalls on my most recent listing) from people who have an agent but have questions about the house and want to setup a time to see it with me.  I'd make it clear that if I show it, I write the offer.  If their agent is out of town or too lazy to show it (it happens) then I'm not paying them to let me do their work for them!  I may even consider a buyer/broker agreement for that particular property. 

My brokerage allows (and my sellers understand, prefer and encourage) dual agency.

I usually ask a few questions like, are you already working with an agent?, what price range are you shopping in?, what is your timeline like for moving? If they give me vague answers, I don't go out of my way to help them. Sometimes I just tell people they just need to get an agent, and then let their agent show them properties.

Perfect... I have a hard time asking forthe Agency Disclosure up front... you had the perfect response. Thanks for sharing.. ~Lori 

These people are not serious I don't think...Hopefully your agency agent doesn't waste their time

A large portion of our job is educatoin. Sounds like uninformed buyers who got lucky that you took the time to explain to them how this works.

Too much text, moving on.

Sure think these folks could be some tire kickers.  You handled it perfectly.

I have my own rules of engagement.  My rules. No engagement. I have better things to do with my time. 

Depends on the legal requirements in your state. I think you were right to bring up the agency issue, more agents should have that conversation up front. Buyers sound a little bit like tire kickers.

Hi, Tony. I think you handled the situation very well. 

ditto to Teri Pacitto 

I see that all the time.  Consumers are highly skittish when it comes to signing anything... or even mere paperwork disclosures that don't require signatures.

They're worried that by viewing/signing anything... they might be stuck with an agent they don't want.

I would have asked if they were working with an agent and if not, I would have scheduled to show them the property.  

Establishing rapport is a good first step in any case and it also can help avoid pushback.  I think the agency disclosure and buyer advisory stuff it's a lot to put in front of a sign caller before they see a property.  

While your approach seems to have been successful, it's not one that I'd employ.   

You did just fine. You established the 'ground rules' up front. So many of the general public just either do not know, or refuse to accept that shopping for a home can lead into a legal commitment.

I would say you handled it well.

I think you did a great job and won't change a thing. 

That IS a lot of hoops.

I would have responded, 'Meet you at property at 6pm."

"But we are infront of the house now!"

"I know. I'll be in front or the house at 6. Will you be there?"

At 6 we do whatever hoop hopping makes sense.

Not sure I would have done anything differently. Sounds like you handled it well. I vote for a red Zin, too!

If they're not known or not referred by another customer your response was ideal. My guess is they called a few other brokerages and the response was similar.

I love the fact that you explain this before showing your listings.