ARE YOU an expert mechanic? attorney? tax adviser? ....No?
Neither am I...and if I said I were, you would tell me I had my head in the clouds
REALTORS©can do many things...and we do provide so many services whether what we do is apparent, or behind the scenes ....
but offering professional advice on subjects outside our universe of discourse is a No-No!
Example: As much as I would like to be helpful when it comes to 1031s, I'm sure no Qualified Intermediary. Not long ago a client wanted me to provide 1031 consulting and tax advice. I told him...
" I 'd like to be helpful !
I can be your 'Resource" for the 'RESOURCES' "...
Over the years, most of us meet professionals in real estate related fields... our "Resources" ...
At our eco-friendly real estate firm here in Asheville, when referring clients to"green" and/or professional resources, our policy is to refer at least three(3) individuals . We simply act as the "Resource for the Resources"...three attorneys, three appraisers, three home inspectors...
By doing this, we provide at the same time, the opportunity for our clients personally to make choices... thus avoiding unwanted consequences should we be tempted to have our heads so high in the sky.
How often do you catch yourself wanting to be helpful, and forgetting how much you don't know about other people's areas of expertise? Certainly, real estate agents are NOT experts in the fields that relate to ours (nor do we claim expertise.
Example: Knowing the status of various systems of a home. We leave that to a home inspector, whose insurance will cover errors he (not we) might make. So, even when we've been around many homes and sat in on many inspections, we happily refer and defer to the experts. Right? Well let me tell you a story. In the winter of 2007, one of our junior associates had a request from his client. She would not be able to move into her 1903 restored bungalow here in Asheville until the summer. That winter, she asked for a tiny favor from our associate. "Please watch over the pipes at my little home to make sure they don't leak or freeze, Honey," she smiled.
Now what do you think our Pipe Watcher candidate replied? Is this service one you would refer to an expert?
Check out this list of experts and let me know what you think!
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Property Mangers
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- 1031 Qualified Intermediaries
Added from pals here at AR:
surveyors
renewable energy consultants
well drillers and dowsers
solar installers, plumbers, electricians, HVAC folks
THANKS to you all....and Who did I forget??? any more???
Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place Greenolina
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That is a great reminder janeAnne...I cringe everytime I hear a fellow Realtor make a representation about something that is definately not in their area!
I guess the property manager should handle the pipes but I have to admit...I probably would have done it!
Joni~
I cringe, too. As the Broker-in-Charge, I can only imagine what the consequences could have been hadthat junior associate, with all the best intentions, volunteered to help out and then, been blamed when the pipes burst . . .
Mary~
I'm always on the look-out for professional referrals. I like to interview the people I place on my referral list, and ask for references. Over the years, I have found excellent resources, while a few have surprised me when they turned out NOT to be what I hoped they were.
Gita~
Good thing to be careful. I'm always asking my colleagues who they find responsible and professional. Many times, we invite potential resources to come speak with us at staff meetings. We have fond that's a good way to "interview" them...
Hi janeAnne,
I think watching over the pipes may be one that I would refer out to someone that does weatherization or something. We don't have that problem down here. :)
I have a long list of resources as well including architects, solar installers, plumbers, electricians, HVAC folks, etc. It is a huge list but giving out 3 names (atleast:) I think is important.
OH, how about surveyors...
Hi janeAnne - wow, what an impressive list! I need to write mine down like you did and make sure I have all those categories covered.
I would have been the source for the resource for that nice lady who didn't want her pipes to freeze. I've used that saying, 'the source for the resource' many times, especially of late when I seem to repeatedly get asked certain things that I won't give opinions or info on - outside my area of expertise.
Great reminder for us to stick to what we expertly know!
Ann
Janeanne:
Great list! How about well drillers and dowsers?
Stephanie~
I've added surveyors and totally agree that it is so important to refer three (3) experts/consultants...that way our clients can get a sense of which of the three could best meet their needs. We are all different and so it's important to have that choice...
Ann~
Stephanie suggested adding..."architects, solar installers, plumbers, electricians, HVAC folks..." I am sure there are a dozen more we could add...I'd love to have a brochure listing references and resources to hand out to my clients at the same time I provide the Professional Services Document...how about you?
Bill~
Good eye! I'm adding well drillers and dowsers. I am wondering if you could give me/us a little hint about how to find three dowsers, how to tell if they know what they are doing and what they do??