The other day I was contacted by an agent, Carol Sterling, who I first met while running around to open houses in the beginning of my career as a Seattle Home Inspector. She is a perfect example of an agent that only wants the best for her buyers. She has a great sense of Hi Guys: I wish more agents had this attitude. I am happy to say that most agents that refer me have this attitude. Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector
humor and I thought I would share with you an email I got from her-----introducing me to our buyer. I think the email is a good example of how really good agents take care of their buyers and avoid the common misconception that there is some “inherent” conflict of interest when they recommend a particular inspector----or even a list of inspectors (some identifying information has been edited).
Going for the shortest distance between two points here. Charlie, please meet Robert, Robert I cannot say enough good things about Charlie, and his exemplary work.
I'll be meeting Charlie on Tue at 5:30 pm to let him in to do the inspection at the condo……... He will be working for you and Sandy. He does not give a shit what I want or what I think.
Sort of like my kids but polite.
I promised I'd put the two of you in touch with one another and so here we go.
Cheers.
I will get a copy of the report however (with your permission Robert) to use in case there are any concerns in the transaction.
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Charles, what a great email! and I enjoyed her sense of humour.... Its nice to know that during the course of running around doing all that we do... we can still maintain a sense of humour....
It's nice to have clients and inspectors we can be frank with. Some aren't relaxed enough yet to trust their broker and the distanced, friendly, blatantly honest , competent inspector can make the difference.
Charles, I TRULY LAUGHED OUT LOUD at her e-mail....
Thanks!
Charlie, To the point and covered all the bases.
Now that's a fantastic email! I wish more agents had that attitude as well. Excellente:)
Gloria, Carol is such a delight
Alan, is that you? :)
Glenn, I think her attitude really helps the buyer relax
Mary Kay, anything I can do to help :)
Jay, nope
Doug, for sure
Jason, it made me howl
Now that's a perfect introduction! I hope you're working with this agent on a regular basis. She sounds like a keeper!
Craig, not only her, but several of her associates/friends that are equally as good natured.
I like it -
He does not give a shit what I want or what I think.
Sort of like my kids but polite.
Featured in BananaTude!
Charlie,
That is great, I had an experience similar at Lake Chelan, The Agent- Al Lorenz said -(paraphrasing here)"Inspect the home thoroughly. I want my client and I to know everything, If the home is in good shape or not. If the deal does not work out due to your findings then that is Okay, I am looking out for the best interest of my client.
To Al and Carol kudos-
As for collusion, can it happen absolutely, but it goes both ways, if you are being referred because you are honest and provide the best service available then you should be referred. Don't we all ask people we trust for their input on service providers?
Oops sorry for the double post- it was hanging and I hit submit again. I guess I am too submissive ; )
What an interesting counterpoint to a recent blog post from Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi in which she has a long list of "duties of a buyer's agent" which included:
- recommending a home inspector who was also a general contractor so as to be able to give estimates on repairs (shudder)
- assuring that all necessary repairs were "satisfactorily" done at the walk-through (double shudder)
Maybe that is general practice in Clearwater, FL but it would be frowned on here in IL. Unless it's verifying that the spackle in the nail holes has "satisfactorily" dried, I don't want agents evaluating the repairs.
Carol certainly is more practical and I like her attitude!
Mr Charles,
I do not approve of the nasty language and you might be just fine as long as a former employee does not need to extract a dime from you.
Nutsy
I like it as well - that is awesome! Hope the inspection went well!
the perfect working relationship ~ to each their own; great post too.
Anna, thanks for the feature :)
Donald, very true----no problem on the double post---it happens---I deleted one of them.
Leslie, giving estimates of costs of repairs and determining if they have been done in a satisfactory manner are both VERY difficult things to do. I think most inspectors avoid them.
Nutsy, I imagine you hear nasty words quite a bit associated with screeching tires?
Sharon, the inspection went fine----there are always "issues":)
Teral, thanks
Short and to the point. That is the way to take advice...
I personally would have used "doesn't give a cr@* what I want or what I think"... but she obviously has a pretty close relationship with her buyers! LOL good for her :)
Paul, and give it? ;)
Michael, me too most likely----but like you said, I think it depends on how much of relationship they have built up
Charles - Sounds like my kind of agent; and I'll bet her customers appreciate her attitude.
That's great! The client gets two people looking out for their best interest.
P.S. Thanks for the phone call, your couple of words of advice pointed me in the right direction
John, I know they do.
Troy, thanks, and you are welcome----call me if I can be of help in the future.
Charles I never fire anyone for telling the truth. I like my inspectors to be honest, but have good bed side manners. Now I did can a Termite Inspector who wrote up a report stating "Mold" in a number of places rather than use the term "Mildew." It cost my clients a lot of money and delays to no good purpose.
I like to think that most of us feel the same way about the relationship between the buyer(s) and the home inspector ... but few of us could put it so eloquently ... LOL!
I like this woman.
Gene, interesting---not sure I would agree with the distintion between mold and mildew. I would be interested in knowing the details.
Glenda, I agree----nothing like cutting right to the chase
Jane, me too
Is she available to give classes for some of the agents in my area?
How refreshing, totally upfront and honest. And what a great sense of humor. Too bad things can't go like more times than not.
Sue of Robin and Sue
Jack, anything is possible I guess :)
Sue, everyone has a sense of humor----some have simply misplaced it their whole lives :)
I am going off here and not happy at all at the flow of words.
Nutsy
Nutsy, what? is the boss reading to you again?