What makes this Sequim Buyer’s Agent tick?  That’s not a very interesting question except as to how it relates to your best interests as a buyer.  I’ll ask the question in another way.  What do buyers from outside the Sequim area really want from a Sequim Buyer’s Agent?  The question could also be asked this way–What does this Sequim Buyer’s Agent do for buyers?  These three questions may seem like quite different questions, and they would be except that my answer to the first question intimately tied to the answer to the second and third questions.

Sequim Buyer’s Agent On a Mission

How you form a question has everything to do with the answer you get, right?  The question, “What do buyers from outside the Sequim area really want from a Sequim Buyer’s Agent?” gets to the core of what I do everyday.  If I cannot answer that question, and if my personal work and passion are disconnected from that question, buyers will simply not gravitate toward my service, and they won’t be inclined to retain me as their buyer’s agent.  Most of all, if I can’t answer that question, I am not really doing anything for buyers.

How a Sequim Buyer’s Agent addresses these questions and how he views his clients will be the guiding force for his business model and everything he does for his clients, or doesn’t do for his clients.  [Please insert "or she" or "or her" wherever you read "he" or "his" in this article.  I made this last sentence gender neutral, but after six times in the same sentence, it was ridiculously hard to read.]

Sequim Buyer’s Agent – Personal Mission

My personal passion is to help buyers who are retiring to Sequim search for their ideal retirement home (or land), negotiate the best possible price and terms, complete all the due diligence necessary to protect them, and get all the way to closing without any problems.  There is much more to these simple steps than most people comprehend.  Having been a real estate attorney for 20 years, I could recite a long list of traps for the unwary that catch people all the time.  So doing it right is no small task.  As a buyer’s agent it is my passion to help my buyers do it right, with the greatest amount of success and the least amount of stress.

Why is this my passion?  One reason is that my whole life has been real estate, starting in the mid-’70s as a Realtor, then as a real estate lawyer, and again as a real estate broker and teacher and author.  But the one thing I love most is working mano-a-mano with my buyer clients as a Sequim Buyer’s Agent.

The other reason helping buyers like this is my passion is because part of my life mission is to help people improve the quality of their lives.  This is one way I personally fulfill that mission one client at a time.

Sequim Buyer’s Agent – Huge Benefits to Buyers

So the key question I asked myself years ago is, “What do buyers from outside the Sequim area really want from a Sequim Buyer’s Agent?”  Every day I answer that question as my mission statement.  That’s why you’ll find the most powerful and easy to use tools for searching the Sequim MLS, for real estate market reports, for real estate price analysis, for specific articles written for buyers about every aspect of buying Sequim real estate, and why I’ve written an entire book about buying Sequim real estate just for buyers.  Who does that?  I do, because my passion is serving buyers as a Sequim Buyer’s Agent, and I’m devoted to that mission every day.  This is what I do. 

That’s how you benefit.  That’s how I connect the dots to the questions I raised.  Ultimately, all of the benefit flows to you as a buyer.  I hope this helps you understand me as a Sequim Buyer’s Agent a little better, and I hope you’ll feel that there is a personal benefit to you in retaining me as your Sequim Buyer’s Agent.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Do You Know About Buyer’s Agency?
• Character is Everything
• Sequim Buyers Agent Sells The Most Homes in 2011
• Sequim Real Estate Broker Writes Book to Help Realtors
• Real Estate Brokers – Traditional v. Internet

Do you know about buyer’s agency?  I recently was talking with clients whom I represented as their buyer’s agent, and they informed me they were talking to a couple who had never heard of buyer’s agency.  Buyer’s agency is so important for a buyer.  Imagine a real estate agent listing a property for sale.  He owes that seller a legal and fiduciary duty, which means he has essentially said to that client, “I hereby promise to get you the highest possible price.”  Now a buyer drives into town, calls off the sign and wants that same agent to write an offer.  The same agent owes the buyer a legal and fiduciary duty and is saying to that buyer, “I hereby promise to get you the lowest possible price.” 

Such a conflict is clear on its face, but there are still buyers who do not know the importance of eliminating this conflict of interest.  Not only could a buyer pay more by hiring a dual agent with a conflict of interest, but you could buy a home without completing the kind of due diligence you should do as a buyer.  There are many terms in a purchase that are part of the agreement.  Dual agency is a huge trap for the unwary buyer, and it is why I share the truth about this subject.  Notice that few agents talk about this conflict, because if they can represent you as a dual agent, they get double the commission.  That’s right.

Here are a series of articles I have written that help explain this conflict of interest and how you can avoid it.  Do your due diligence on your purchase, but also do your due diligence on the real estate agent you hire to represent you when you purchase your home.

Dual Agency and The Exclusive Buyer’s Agent

Buyer’s Agency – Buyers Beware

What is the difference between a listing agent and a buyer’s agent?

Sequim Real Estate & Buyer’s Agency

Sequim Exclusive Buyer’s Agent (and Port Angeles)

Exclusive Buyer’s Agent or Dual Agent?

Buyer’s Agent: Dual Agency

Sequim Realtor and Buyer’s Agent Chuck Marunde

I hope these articles on Buyer’s Agency are helpful.  My desire is to give you all the information you need to make wise decisions when you purchase your retirement home in Sequim.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Sequim Buyer’s Agent – On a Mission for Clients
• Character is Everything
• Sequim Buyers Agent Sells The Most Homes in 2011
• Sequim Real Estate Broker Writes Book to Help Realtors
• Real Estate Brokers – Traditional v. Internet

Character is everything.  You’ve heard that before, but it is just as true today as it was when George Washington said, “I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.”  I’m a business man, a full time real estate broker, and I believe character is everything.  Out of good character come the virtues that clients expect–honesty, loyalty, confidence, enthusiasm, excellence, determination, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, patience, reliability, responsibility, and trustworthiness.

Character is Everything in a Realtor

We live in a time when it’s easy to say, “character is everything,” but our culture dismisses good character everyday as irrelevant.  If I conducted myself as so many politicians do, including presidents, congressman, and senators, no one would retain me as their Realtor.  If I conducted myself as many Wall Street fund managers, I would be in prison.  I believe character is everything, and it has everything to do with the way I conduct my business and my relationships with my clients.

Character is Everything But . . .

Of course, this statement that character is everything certainly does not translate into perfection.  No one is perfect, but not meeting someone’s expectations and having good character are two different things.  Have you ever not met someone’s expectations?  If you’re over the age of 10, you would have to answer, “Yes.”  We all have experienced that.  It may be that we were not able to do all that someone expected or demanded.  Sometimes we can’t be all that someone wants, and that may have nothing to do with honesty and integrity or hard work.  Other people will have unrealistic expectations, and in their view we may fail them.  Again that may have nothing to do with character.

Character is Everything and Was to Washington

George Washington said, “I do not recollect that in the course of my life I ever forfeited my word, or broke a promise made to anyone.”  Of course, George Washington was a man of good character, and probably today would not get elected President.

So the question today is, “What do you look for when you hire a Realtor?”  Is it a company name?  Is it nothing more than a convenient office, or whoever answers the office phone?  Is it the reputation of the franchise?  Or is it the character of the individual Realtor?

Over the past 37 years in real estate, I’ve had thousands of very satisfied clients.  But I’ve also had clients who apparently did not feel that I met their expectations.  There were only a few, but a man of integrity never accepts anything less in his heart than total satisfaction with every client.  I continue to seek to do more for my clients and increase the quality of the service I give them with integrity.

Everyday I pour everything I have into my service to my clients.  I leave nothing behind, and at the end of the day I am often emotionally and physically exhausted.  But it is rewarding work, and the clients who understand my loyalty and my commitment to them are grateful.  That is my reward for a hard day’s work.  If you’re looking for Superman, I am not him.  If you’re looking for competence, loyalty, honesty, and integrity built on a lifetime of education and experience in real estate transactions, then maybe I am the right Realtor for you.

May I suggest you interview me yourself and find out, but know in advance that I believe with my whole heart that character is everything.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Sequim Buyer’s Agent – On a Mission for Clients
• Do You Know About Buyer’s Agency?
• Sequim Buyers Agent Sells The Most Homes in 2011
• Sequim Real Estate Broker Writes Book to Help Realtors
• Real Estate Brokers – Traditional v. Internet

Who is the number one Sequim Buyers Agent?  (Excuse the absent apostrophe.  There’s a reason.)  Wouldn’t sellers like to know that?  Probably, but they don’t know.  Why?  Because this Sequim Buyers Agent markets to buyers.  Wouldn’t sellers love to know what agent has the largest and most effective Internet marketing machine that could be marketing their homes?  Yes, but they don’t know.  Why?  Because this agent is so busy and doesn’t have time to market to sellers.  Believe it or not, most sellers do not even know about this Internet marketing system that is selling so many homes!

Sequim Buyers Agent Sells Homes

Sequim Buyers Agent Created Huge Marketing System

I rarely talk about what kind of agent I am.  I hate boasting and arrogance, especially when I see it in myself.  It doesn’t persuade clients anyway.  The purpose of this article is to share something I’ve never shared before with buyers or sellers.  What is it?  It’s a simple fact:  I have created the most effective and largest Internet marketing machine on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington.  That’s a fact.  It’s the system that I want to write about today.  The proof of the success of this system is seen in a couple of ways, only one of which I will mention here.

Sequim Buyers Agent Sells a Lot of Homes in Recession

Here’s the proof.  My system has sold more houses so far this year from January through September of 2011 as a Sequim Buyers Agent than any other Buyers Agent.  There are listing agents who have more total sales volume, but they are not selling as many homes.  Many listing agents just go out and list property and let other agents (like me) sell their properties.  Listing a lot of homes does not impress me.  Anyone can list a property, put it in the MLS and let other agents sell it.  The real estate business has spawned many listing agents.  List list list.  That for many agents has been the name of the game for several decades. 

But what really serves the consumer best?  Giving a great listing presentation and putting a listing in the MLS so other agents can sell it?  Or marketing to connect with qualified buyers and actually selling homes as a Sequim Buyers Agent?  My conviction is that this marketing system has integrity and does what clients hope it will really do–sell homes.

That’s precisely why I built a huge Internet marketing system to reach buyers.  It is working exceedingly well!

Disclosure:  I pulled the data for this proof out of the Olympic Listing Service.  For the period from Jan 1 through Sept 30 of 2011, there are two agents listed ahead of me as selling more volume and more homes for all of Clallam County.  One is not a Sequim agent.  The other is not one agent but a whole team of agents.  That means for volume and the number of homes sold in the first three quarters of 2011, my system has sold more homes than any other individual Sequim Buyers Agent.

To learn more about my system and how I sell so many homes in Sequim and Port Angeles, email or call for an appointment.  Let’s talk.  If I can list your home and put it in my marketing system, which is connecting with more buyers than any other system, wouldn’t that help you sell your home faster at the highest possible price?

Possibly Related Posts:

• Sequim Buyer’s Agent – On a Mission for Clients
• Do You Know About Buyer’s Agency?
• Character is Everything
• Sequim Real Estate Broker Writes Book to Help Realtors
• Real Estate Brokers – Traditional v. Internet

Sequim real estate broker Chuck Marunde has written a new book to be released within a few weeks.  The title of the book is, The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents.  This is a 2nd edition and almost a new book compared to the 1st edition.  The 2nd edition doubles the size of the book and includes very practical, but still largely unknown, tips on marketing real estate and connecting with buyers.  The purpose of the book is to help real estate agents all over the country make the transition from the traditional brokerage to the New World of Marketing.  All agents will have to figure out how to bridge the gap, or they will go out of business.  Consumers have moved on, but many agents and brokers around the country have not.   As a Sequim real estate broker, I’ve had to learn how to bridge the gap from the old to the new, and for years I’ve tracked what successful agents are doing around the country.  I’ve also tracked the broker bankruptcies, mergers, and consolidations.  Even little Sequim, Washington, has lost 50% of it’s real estate agents since 2006.

Sequim Real Estate Broker Discusses the Brokerage of the Future

The book reviews traditional real estate brokerage and how consumer demand and preferences have changed and how technology has changed the entire real estate industry.  In the context of a major real estate recession, the book’s marketing concepts are cutting edge concepts and frankly way out ahead of the traditional brokers we all have known so well for decades.  Many brokerages are still operating with a 20-year old business model and still primarily using the same marketing and sales techniques.  But times have changed, and what used to work to sell a home and to connect with buyers does not work so well anymore.  There are entirely new technologies, new methods, new business models, and a new generation of buyers who have moved into the future already.

Sequim Real Estate Broker Training Realtors

Traditional brokerage has relied heavily on print advertising, flyers, open houses, and even billboards, not to mention huge luxurious bricks-and-mortar offices, and this has been true for three decades.  Agents today who practice under a traditional business model are still using many outdated methods.  This is not about the character or integrity of agents.  It is about the dramatic changes taking place in the industry and how agents can and must bridge the gap from the old to the new.

Sequim Real Estate Broker Speaks to Sellers

As a Sequim real estate broker I wish that I could sit down with every homeowner who wants to sell their home and every homeowner who has been unable to sell their home.  Of course, that is impossible.  Out of several thousand homeowners in the area who want to sell their homes, they have no idea who I am, and they are not doing their due diligence on the Internet to find answers.  I do not do mass mailings to reach all of these people, and I do not cold call expired listings.  I also do not run expensive print ads in the newspaper.  All that is very expensive and not very effective.  But guess who is doing their due diligence on the Internet when it comes to Sequim real estate?  Buyers!  Buyers are doing extensive Internet research, but the vast majority of Sequim sellers are not.

To reach a larger audience, I decided to write The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents.  While this book is written to help agents sell homes and connect with buyers using the latest and most effective marketing strategies, technologies, and Internet tools, home sellers may find it interesting.  I really think if sellers read this book, even though it assumes agents will be reading it, their eyes will be opened up to the incredible new ways and tools to market homes and connect with buyers.  I might even boldly suggest that home sellers buy a copy as a gift for their listing real estate agent.  (Or may I be even bolder here?  Instead of waiting for your agent to read the book, learn these techniques, implement them with the software and Internet strategies, and spend years in the school of hard knocks, why not just hire me?  Makes sense, doesn’t it?)

The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents, 2nd Edition, has been endorsed by big names in the industry, including Tom Hopkins, who is known by almost every Realtor in the country as a top trainer, motivator and author. 

“With more and more people depending upon social media and the Internet for information, that’s where today’s real estate agent must be in order to gain new clients. Chuck Marunde’s book is well written and provides great information. Agents who want to be in the right place at the right time for the future need to read this book.”  Tom Hopkins

The book has also been endorsed by well known national trainer and author Don Hobbs, and by a broker who has sold over half a billion dollars in real estate, Beau Weidman.  The book will be available in a few weeks, so check back.  Don’t buy the first edition which is still in Amazon.com, because the 2nd Edition will replace the 1st Edition entirely.

Anyone who reads this blog probably knows that one of my passions in life is to help people, and for me that means using my expertise and a lifetime of experience to help buyers and sellers in real estate.  I give away a ton of free information and help on this blog.  I hold nothing back.  It’s all free.  So this book is a continuation of my passion to share the truth with other Realtors and clients and to help them to be fully informed and to make wise decisions in buying and selling real estate. 

The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents can be ordered at The New World of Marketing.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Sequim Buyer’s Agent – On a Mission for Clients
• Do You Know About Buyer’s Agency?
• Character is Everything
• Sequim Buyers Agent Sells The Most Homes in 2011
• Real Estate Brokers – Traditional v. Internet

Real estate brokers are discovering that their entire industry is changing.  The real estate recession has certainly been a major factor, but the underlying tectonic forces have more to do with changes in consumer preferences.  Consumers are using technology to find their homes and their real estate brokers.

Consumers are no longer willing to be sold with obnoxious advertising and told what to buy and when to buy it. Consumers are sick and tired of interruption advertising, of billboards, of high pressure salesmen, of telemarketing, and of misrepresentations and boldfaced lies. Real estate brokers are right in the middle of all these changes.  I believe it was Seth Godin who first coined the phrase, “interruption advertising.” It’s a very descriptive phrase of traditional advertising that interrupts your favorite movie with an ad for a product you don’t want and don’t care about, or a large obnoxious page in a magazine or newspaper that interrupts your reading experience.

Real Estate Brokers – Not Business as Usual

Consumers have also had it with professional conflicts of interest, especially with real estate brokers. They’re fed up with only getting partial information upon which to base their most important decisions. Consumers want and demand freedom to control their own destiny. They don’t like being controlled. They don’t like being manipulated. I write here about changes in consumer behavior and preferences in the context of buying real estate, but isn’t it interesting that the same could be said of consumers’ feelings about politicians, Wall Street, and salesmen in every industry? This tectonic shift in consumer behavior is changing the world.

The catalyst that has empowered consumers and is forcing these changes that are the death knell of traditional real estate brokerage is . . . advances in technology. (more…)

Possibly Related Posts:

• Sequim Buyer’s Agent – On a Mission for Clients
• Text a Sequim Real Estate Agent
• Do You Know About Buyer’s Agency?
• Character is Everything
• What is the difference between a listing agent and a buyer’s agent?