Real Estate in Barrington & The Northwest Suburbs: Why Your Barrington IL Realtors sometimes Politely but Firmly Say No to a Local Short Sale Buyer

Why Your Barrington IL Realtors sometimes Politely but Firmly Say No to a Local Short Sale Buyer.

I was recently contacted from my web site by a buyer wanting to look at a property in one of my Barrington neighborhoods.  I have featured information about the subdivision and considered I was the right Barrington IL Realtor for the job. The property in question was listed as a short sale.

I could have scheduled the appointment and met the prospect at the property, yet that is both disrespectful to the seller and calls into question the Ethics of Realtors in Barrington Illinois and anywhere else for that matter. So here is the more professional way for an agent to respond to any buyers enquiry and the outcome.

• I first asked the email enquirer whether she had been working with another Realtor
• I also asked what her current housing situation was in respect to a possible purchase
• I enquired if she was approved for a mortgage or had cash to buy
• The property in question was a short sale, so I asked if she had any knowledge about short sales and how this could affect her decision to buy a short sale
  

Many times the questions I ask as your future Barrington IL Realtor might seem to you to be too invasive-but if you take offense or do not want to supply me with information that allows me as a professional buyers agent to help you and provide you with the best possible service I can-then so be it. I cannot help you.

The responses were:

• The buyer was also considering a Chicago city condo and yes has a Realtor in the city that has shown her many properties
• She needed a mortgage but had a large down payment
• The family was returning from the UK - it turns out they are British like me and a little confused about how it all works as their previous stay here they only rented
• She had no knowledge of a short sale or what it meant

I explained that I only work with clients that are both committed to buying in my service area and that will work with me exclusively. I explained how we are all in business for ourselves and can choose how we operate our personal businesses. I informed her she should give her current Realtor the opportunity to assist her even though he is 35 miles away in the city, because he has already invested considerable time with her. Should he decide he was not interested then that would be a different outcome but in fact he is interested and is coming out to Barrington this week to show her properties in the subdivision.

So whilst I maybe a more logical choice to be her Barrington IL Realtor because:

• I know the differences between the British and American way of buying real estate
• I am a local Barrington IL buyers agent and therefore know more about the area
• I have experience in both selling and buying short sales as a listing and buyers agent
• I know what is required of her as a British Citizen to be able to apply for a mortgage here

It was Ethical of me to at least allow the first Realtor to have the opportunity. It was respectful to the seller to make sure she was not just a nosy neighbor or some-one out window shopping.

Corinne Guest is a Barrington IL Realtor and is happy to answer your local real estate questions.