851,242
Yes, I do ask. Many people simply don't understand how our industry works. I ask the question in an effort to help them & avoid wasting my time too.
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Ryan Huggins - Thousan...
Thousand Oaks, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
-
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
-
Karen Climer
Orlando, FL
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Dario Ferreira
Attleboro, MA
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Olga Simoncelli
New Fairfield, CT
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
206,135
I do always ask. The comparison of a customer in a market and a fiduciary relationship is very different.
First, if a buyer or seller already has a relationship with another agent it is a waste of time to get involved.
Secondly, many agent/ consumer relationships are contractual. To interfere with another's relationship is considered unethical and the offending agent could have disciplinary actions be brought against them.
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Kevin Vitali
Middleton, MA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly...
Hood River, OR
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
2,435,649
I might ask, "Who is your realtor?"
It's different than asking if a customer is also a customer of another store. A customer is free to shop wherever they like, and it won't increase the store owners costs if that person does so. And the store owner will still sell their merchandise and bring in $.
If a real estate agent runs around with a buyer who is working with another agent, they could dramatically increase their costs and get no $ ever.
Asking that question up front is a smart way to proceed financially.
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Ryan Huggins - Thousan...
Thousand Oaks, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Dario Ferreira
Attleboro, MA
7,835,234
We have them sign an agency disclosure form.
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Olga Simoncelli
New Fairfield, CT
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly...
Hood River, OR
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
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Karen Climer
Orlando, FL
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Eileen Burns 954.483.3912
Fort Lauderdale, FL
5,772,575
Tony,
If they are working with another agent, there is no reason to meet..It is a waste of time. What would you achieve?
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Olga Simoncelli
New Fairfield, CT
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly...
Hood River, OR
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
820,578
Yes, I will provide the reasons as they apparently do not realize how this affects everyone in the transaction. We have agency disclosue here in Florida. Better to edcute upfront and not waste time, energy and effort😎
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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David M. Dwares
Fort Lauderdale, FL
5,868,372
Absolutely. Even with my web visitors, that is one of my questions in the first email.
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly...
Hood River, OR
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
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Dario Ferreira
Attleboro, MA
5,215,598
I did not when active, but given today's market and lack of customer loyalty might require a buyer's broker agreement.
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly...
Hood River, OR
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
628,714
I do, because when they sign the Buyer agency agreement I inform them if they have any other valid agreements in effect it could put them in a sticky situation.
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly...
Hood River, OR
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
5,104,806
Yes, if they weren't referred to me. Fortunately, 85% of my business is repeat and referral so I don't need to ask very often. You need to ask people you don't know in the event they have an exclusive agency agreement with another agent. You can't work with those people. And comparing real estate with a retail operation is comparing apples to oranges.
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly...
Hood River, OR
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
900,008
Yes - first, because one should not get in the way of another relationship, especially if they already signed a Buyer Agency (BA) agreement and second, because they would need to sign a BA with me if we were to continue to work together.
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly...
Hood River, OR
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
1,196,912
No I don’t ask that question. But don’t hesitate to tell them they are now working with the best.
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly...
Hood River, OR
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Peter Mohylsky, Beach ...
Miramar Beach, FL
1,196,588
Always
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
961,383
When discussing real estate with new leads, I do ask. Learned the hard way after spending time and resources with them only to find out their Realtor was out of town etc....
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
3,344,906
Yes.
I also do not always expect the response to be 100% accurate.
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
1,844,171
Not really unless they say something like 'we've been looking for a long time'. That means multiple agents.
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly...
Hood River, OR
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
2,781,013
Interesting to note that it doesnt have to be asked however it is out there and I had it come up for me more than one time
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly...
Hood River, OR
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
1,502,848
Yes, I ask this before I ever set the appointment. Like Brenda Mayette said, many people don't understand the industry and think that they'll see more homes if they work with multiple agents, or they don't want to bother their agent and will call the listing agent for a showing. Once I showed property to someone who then said "great, I'll contact my agent to write it up." That was the last time I set an appointment without asking that question. Add in the buyer broker agreements and that can create an entire new level of confusion.
Whenever a buyer calls, after the initial conversation I ask who they're working with (versus if they are). It's psychological, but I've found greater success at accurate answers if they have to say a name. If you just ask yes or no, they may answer no to avoid thinking they're wasting your time or they may answer yes (say, at an open house) to avoid the "pushy sales guy."
I'm perfectly happy to answer a buyer's questions on my listings. If they say they're working with an agent I direct them back to their agent for the showing. If they want me to show them, they have to agree verbally that they'll write the offer with me and I make them sign something to that effect before I unlock the door. I explain it to them as such: "You wouldn't want to go into work on Monday and have someone sitting at home get your pay, right?"
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
1,543,225
Question #1
How were you referred to me?
Question #2
Are you now or have you ever recently worked with another REALTOR*?
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
2,684,009
Yes I ask. "No" is nice to hear, but a "Yes" answer can be a great conversation starter.
If they say "Yes", I say "Tell me more. Have you signed anything that establishes an Agency relationship?
Specifically, do you have a signed Buyer Agency Agreement that guarantees that agent a commission? Or did you sign a Single Agent Agreement that creates a Fiduciary relationship between you and that Broker? Or are they just working with you, with no signed agreement of any kind?"
Eve Alexander is an expert at answering Buyers who say "Yes I have a Realtor" .
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Eve Alexander
Tampa, FL
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
4,935,551
Always ask for sure.
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
1,052,056
Yes. I have loyal clients, and am not apt to share my time and resources with 'agent surfers'.
I also am unlikely to work with buyers looking in multiple areas who 'are not sure they will buy here' . . . rule out the other areas and hit me up then.
I'm old, cranky, LOL, I have a lot going on already, and would rather do those things.
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
1,310,972
As in many situations...it depends.
I meet many potential clients when I host an open house. At some point, I will inquire whether they are working with an agent (most say they are) and I tell them that is great and they should talk to their agent if they have an interest in the house.
If they say they are not...well, of course, I offer to help them.
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
6,392,889
Before we do anything we sit down and have a consultation, fill out the paperwork, and tour properties online.
It is one of many questions that they answer, of course if they lie about it they will be paying both of us a commission since they always sign a buyers agency.
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
1,464,861