Pam Buda

• Manage |RSSConnect SF 2008

Jay thanks for your follow up comments. I would agree I have met a number of canaries but most listing agents are professional in this regard. That doesn't stop me from trying to find out what I can! And there are things that a listing agent can divulge to a buyer's agent to help them craft an effective offer that may not relate to price, such as length of escrow. In some cases a seller may want a longer escrow, or a short rent back period, or the ability to address (or not) particular issues found in an inspection, etc. Any transaction can have terms other than price that make an offer into more of a win-win for both parties. It is important to know what these factors might be, and not necessarily a breach of fiduciary responsibility to make them known. Of course, as a listing agent, the seller and I explore these issues in advance to make sure we are on the same page. Pam Buda Coldwell Banker Blog :www.WineCountryandHorses.com

Hi Theresa--what a surprise to read your post! I wonder if you weren't a little tongue in cheek with your post--the real question you seemed to be discussing seemed to be a matter more of lead qualification which is an important skill for any realtor to have regardless of the lead source. I have received numerous leads from my various social networking and blogging activities and they run the gamut in terms of quality. But I also have closed numerous deals in the last several quarters which were directly a result of either my SM activities or internet marketing of my listings. I have met some great people who have become clients and sometimes friends that have come directly to me on-line. One additional thing that I really like about my internet efforts that none of the other commenters mentioned is that my blog, Trulia profile, Twitter activity, etc. all serve as an online resume and portfolio for clients who reach me "off-line", through personal referrals, agent referrals and business network referrals. The on-line book of work enables me to cement new business relationships much more quickly and easily. Even my listing presentations are much shorter. I love spending less time explaining my qualifications to potential clients. In the same way I love the fact that my internet savvy clients are better educated and informed about the market and inventory, so that we can focus our efforts where I can provide the most value added, not as the gatekeeper of information but as the interpreter of local market conditions and transaction dynamics mapped against their needs and goals.

Hi Teresa, Thanks for the reminder. It is difficult in a rural county such as Sonoma County to remember your rule sometimes, where a wide-spread geography, country property and out of town buyers make for some pre-meeting gyrations in order to find a neutral coffee shop, deli or some such when one of our offices is at the other end of the county and/or the home is at the end of some scenic lane. It is especially challenging on a listing call. I will sometimes request that the seller remain at a property if meeting at the listing first is the logical, low carbon footprint way to go first time meeting with a client. Cold calls off listings can be challenging anyway, since I prefer to spend a good amount of time pre-qualifying someone before I will take time to meet them.