Every day on my way to dropping my son off at school I pass by a sign that says “We Buy Houses” and it reminds me of something an investor once said to me:
“Agents don’t like us too much.”
I knew what he meant. For many there’s a pretty clear “Agent-Investor divide”. A lot of agents have misconceptions about investors – they’re sleazy, they rip people off, etc. etc. Likewise a honest share of investors have misconceptions about real estate agents – we’re sleazy, we rip people off, etc. etc. Many agents refuse to work with investors and vice versa – in many areas they are like oil and water.
This Sell House Quick website for SecureASale, a London based company, is one of these groups which buy houses. According to their website, they buy properties for 90% of the market value. For many sellers this would be appealing, especially when you consider that it is possible that the home could sit for several months, an offer of 95-97% of the list price could be recieved, and the seller still has to pay commission on top of that. They might really save money – and sell that house quicker just by going with the investor. No agent of course will believe this. On the other hand, an agent could list the same house, get an offer above the listing price and sell it just as quickly so the seller would come ahead. No investor will believe this either.
But the agents and investors who learn to work together can both bring each other more business.
On SecureASale’s buy my house quickly page, they list the areas they buy in. Most investors do specialize in one certain area and it’s probably a very excellent chance that they come across a seller with a house to sell out of their area. It’s also possible it could be a house they just might not be interested in buying or the seller won’t accept the investor’s offer. Instead of just discarding the customer, they could give that customer the name and number of an agent who may be able to help them instead.
Most property buying groups also have homes for sale. These homes for sale bring buyers. But it’s a pretty excellent chance that not every buyer who looks at those houses buys one of their houses. Again, an brilliant opportunity for them to say “Hey, I know this agent who might be able to find you something…”
Agents likewise can bring the investor business – if they have a client who is facing foreclosure or wants to stop repossession it might be in that buyer’s best interest for them to do something quickly instead of taking their chances with the market. Chances are if you send a reputable investor a customer, they’ll be glad to return the favor and send potential business you’re way too.
The next time you see a “We Buy Houses” sign don’t roll your eyes – and same goes for investors when you see a real estate agent sign. Instead, call that person up and question them if they’d like to get coffee and talk a small bit more about what each of you do. Investors aren’t all terrible, and neither are all agents!
What are your thoughts? Do agents and investors notoriously despise each other in your market too? Or have you tapped into these unique business relationships that could potentially be mutually beneficial for you both?
Working Together With Investors
Every day on my way to dropping my son off at school I pass by a sign that says “We Buy Houses” and it reminds me of something an investor once said to me:
I knew what he meant. For many there’s a pretty clear “Agent-Investor divide”. A lot of agents have misconceptions about investors – they’re sleazy, they rip people off, etc. etc. Likewise a honest share of investors have misconceptions about real estate agents – we’re sleazy, we rip people off, etc. etc. Many agents refuse to work with investors and vice versa – in many areas they are like oil and water.
This Sell House Quick website for SecureASale, a London based company, is one of these groups which buy houses. According to their website, they buy properties for 90% of the market value. For many sellers this would be appealing, especially when you consider that it is possible that the home could sit for several months, an offer of 95-97% of the list price could be recieved, and the seller still has to pay commission on top of that. They might really save money – and sell that house quicker just by going with the investor. No agent of course will believe this. On the other hand, an agent could list the same house, get an offer above the listing price and sell it just as quickly so the seller would come ahead. No investor will believe this either.
But the agents and investors who learn to work together can both bring each other more business.
On SecureASale’s buy my house quickly page, they list the areas they buy in. Most investors do specialize in one certain area and it’s probably a very excellent chance that they come across a seller with a house to sell out of their area. It’s also possible it could be a house they just might not be interested in buying or the seller won’t accept the investor’s offer. Instead of just discarding the customer, they could give that customer the name and number of an agent who may be able to help them instead.
Most property buying groups also have homes for sale. These homes for sale bring buyers. But it’s a pretty excellent chance that not every buyer who looks at those houses buys one of their houses. Again, an brilliant opportunity for them to say “Hey, I know this agent who might be able to find you something…”
Agents likewise can bring the investor business – if they have a client who is facing foreclosure or wants to stop repossession it might be in that buyer’s best interest for them to do something quickly instead of taking their chances with the market. Chances are if you send a reputable investor a customer, they’ll be glad to return the favor and send potential business you’re way too.
The next time you see a “We Buy Houses” sign don’t roll your eyes – and same goes for investors when you see a real estate agent sign. Instead, call that person up and question them if they’d like to get coffee and talk a small bit more about what each of you do. Investors aren’t all terrible, and neither are all agents!
What are your thoughts? Do agents and investors notoriously despise each other in your market too? Or have you tapped into these unique business relationships that could potentially be mutually beneficial for you both?