Thread: House Trading or Swapping

The link doesn't work.

But it seems that being upset at your realtor for not being a house trading broker/agent is a bit unfair. It's like being mad at your plumber for being unwilling to put a roof on your house.

Originally Posted by Huntman1

The link doesn't work.

But it seems that being upset at your realtor for not being a house trading broker/agent is a bit unfair. It's like being mad at your plumber for being unwilling to put a roof on your house.

what happened to the customer is always right? If a person wants to trade their house for another and I get a commission check then that would be fine by me. As realtors we accomodate to their needs not our conveniences. If you asked a plumber to fix the roof, the plumber should respond, "I'm so sorry but I am not experienced in repairing roofs but I am sure I can find someone who can that would be." Then go to that person and charge them a referral fee. That is not unfair at all.

Huntman1, that was funny. It does seem that in any trade, there are those who know how to wheel and deal, and those who prefer to just stick with what they know.
I personally would have said that I'm not experienced in roofing, but I know someone who is. Get that referral fee (10%?). Also, that same customer will remember you for being resourceful and might need your advice again in the future.
For the realtor to simply say no is fine, but I would have definitely looked for another realtor who was open to my ideas.

Originally Posted by vbcannon

what happened to the customer is always right? If a person wants to trade their house for another and I get a commission check then that would be fine by me. As realtors we accomodate to their needs not our conveniences.

You make a very good point... And if the realtor is worth her salt and has a good business model, she absolutely should attempt to refer the client out for a fee. (can you smell my "but" comming?)

But...

The axiom: The customer is always right doesn't always fit very well in the world of real estate. We are licensed professionals, the client is not. Which is why they use us to coordinate their transactions. We are the experts and the customer is often times wrong in their assumptions about how real estate transactions go down. (Bless their little over mortgaged hearts)

You are right in saying that As realtors we accomodate to their needs, not our conveniences. There is a caveat that needs to be acknowledged. The purchase or sale of a home is a very emotional decision that has a tendency to confuse clients into believing that their "wants" are actually "needs." Until the client recognizes this distinction, you, in an attempt to satisfy their "needs", may commit yourself to a whole lot of running around in circles trying to convince unwilling participants in a transaction that a real estate trade is the answer to everyones prayers.

Mark says that he "fired her for not being open minded" and I am not too sure I know what "not being open minded" looked like to Mark. Maybe she did attempt to refer him out. How many times have you as real estate professionals dealt with a client who had unrealistic ideas about a real estate transaction (no offense to you Mark!), Maybe the property didn't legally qualify for that type of transaction... we just don't know.

As for the contention, "If a person wants to trade their house for another and I get a commission check then that would be fine by me."

That, in my humble opinion, is a slippery slope and is partially why the California Purchase agreement is 11 pages long instead of 1 ( if you count the agency disclosure and the buyer and sellers advisory). There are too many real estate professionals attempting to take on transactions that they are not familiar with because "If a person wants to trade their house for another and I get a commission check then that would be fine by me."

Just be careful, and let the plumber stick to plumbing!

never heard for a hose trading, but it may be a good idea.