You've heard the phrase, "It is better to give than it is to receive". This may be true depending on who you ask. Everyone we know falls under one of these two qualities. They are either "Givers" or "Takers".
So is your real estate agent a "Giver" or "Taker"? If you don't know, then you don't know your real estate agent well enough to work for you. Get to know your agent. Find out if she is a "Giver" or "Taker".
Why is it important to know this and when your real estate agent should be a "Giver" and when should she be a "Taker"?
If you are looking to buy a house, your realtor should be a Giver. Why? Because Buyer's Agents are Givers. I say this, because a realtor, who wants to help someone buy a home, truly gets satisfaction in helping the buyer. This is the person who will agree that it is better to give than it is to receive.
The Giver is the person you want representing you as a Buyer's Agent.
Now that we know that a "Giver" is someone who has your best interest in mind, why on earth would you use a real estate agent who is a "Taker"? Well, if a buyer's agent is a "Giver", then conversely, a seller's agent is a "Taker".
A seller's agent uses their Taker qualities to sell your home because deep down inside, they need to get the best and highest price. Yes, they are in contract with you to do this, but their satisfaction comes from selling the house without regard to the buyer or seller. As a result, you (the seller) just happen to be the beneficiary of a Seller's Agent who is a Taker.
The Taker is the person you want selling your home.
Peter, I the "giver/taker" analogy is a unique way of looking at the client representations model.
Thanks you for such a clear and cogent blog. Rosean
Hi Peter,
I would hope that in today market place that any "taker" real estate agent is on the bread line.
I do like the analogy, but personally I think the difference is now, how bigger a "giver" you are and that does not mean discount fees, it means service.
Roseann, thank you. Sometimes people try to avoid realtors because of a bad past experience. I wonder if that experience was a result of using the wrong realtor.
Alan, though I consider myself to be a giver, I don't wish the bread line for anyone. Are you saying that the Taker is competing with the Giver?
The way I see it, you are what you are. You're either a giver or a taker, you can't be both and you can't switch sides with varying market conditions.
I am definately a giver, but that doesn't mean I can't be an excellent seller's agent. I want to "give" my client the best deal.. that would mean making the most money for him, and selling his house as quickly as possible.
Great analogy though.
Becky, I know that many people may not agree with me, and I'm sure you can be an excellent seller's agent, but being a giver or taker is a personality trait. I don't view it as good and bad but more like red and blue (different).
I got the idea from my wife as she was describing her mother. She loves her mother, but was complaining that she was a taker and somtimes she finds my mother more comforting because she is a giver.
Hi Peter - Becky ( the last comment ) is my daughter and we are two of a kind- We are both givers, In the case of the buyers and sellers we give and give and give...... But we have a very active business- It is a great theory.. but I dont know if it is accurate. I think great Real Estate Agents are givers- Always giving, as agents the definition of the job makes us work in someone elses best interest not our own. Takers have a hard time thinking of others.
I do know what your wife means- Takers are draining to be around. Even as a sellers agent it would be difficult to deal with at times. This is a great thought provoking blog- Thanks
Barbara, I knew Becky was your daughter :-) but what I didn't expect was to be ganged up on :-)
I guess there could be various levels of givers and takers, and as I said to Becky, I don't view takers as negative and givers as positive, just different. Actually each has their strengths in contrasting positions.
Excellent POST!!! I've seen so many Takers as Buyers Agents it's incredible. There are so many horror stories with the roles being flipped!
Too funny Peter-We are not ganging up on you. We just think very much alike.
Henry, thank you. my guess is that these mismatches help create a distance between realtors and clients.
Barbara, I noticed that the apple didn't fall far from the tree :-)
Peter- you're right- the apple didn't fall far from the tree. We're so much alike it scares me sometimes.
Becky, your benefit is you already know how you're going to be in 20+ years. If you see something you don't like, start changing it now :-)
Interesting post, there are differences between buyers agents and sellers agents and it is most definitely scary when agents get them mixed up but I don't see "giver, taker" roles in this business. This is service industry and we all provide service that shouldn't leave any room for taking.
Buyers or sellers, if we give the best of ourselves to our clients then we are all Givers.
Sonja, yes, I agree there are differences and I think this is one of them. I would agree on the service part, that a buyers agent provides a service for the buyer and the sellers agent provides a service for him/herself which benefits to the seller.
Paul, thanks for your comment, but I don't agree, we are either givers or takers and neither makes us good or bad, just different. I know that the term Taker seems to carry a negative connotation, but Takers make great salespeople or sellers. If I recommend a listing agent to anyone, I would want them to be takers, they are going to benefit the seller more than a giver.
I'm sure there will be many realtors who are or have been buyers agents and sellers agents at different times who will disagree with me. But if there were issues on the national level that caused brokers to disclose who they are representing and that duel agency in many states was banned, then I can't see how a person can flip personality traits to accomodate their client in both positions.
It will come as no surprise to me if one day, every RE office is either a buyers agent office or sellers agent office.
Great analogy - I guess 80% of the time I am a taker!
Hi Peter .. I don't know if I agree with you 100% on the "taker" aspect. If I am selling new homes for a builder, maybe ... but even then, my satisfaction comes from the buyer. When I sell a person's home, I definitely get satisfaction from seeing that person's home sold, knowing that they can buy that next home or accomplish whatever their goal might be.
Right now, I am selling a client's home and helping them look for a new home. I am giving a great deal on both fronts. Thanks for a thought-provoking post :)
Shannon, then I would say you are most likely a great real estate salesperson.
Marie, being a taker doesn't mean you're emotionless. of course you could be happy for the buyer, even if she's not your client. since you're doing a sell and buy for the same client, pay attention to the deal that makes you feel better. maybe you're not sure whether you're a giver or a taker, this could help you find out. or, I gues it could be possible that you are a combination (to some degree) of both.
I hate to tell you, but if you are equally both taker and giver, then you're probably not as good as people who are one or the other. If I were to guess, I would say that you are a giver but feel you don't want to lose the easy listing commission so you try and do both.
PETER - I like this analogy. It shows people that while the same person may be both a listing agent and a buyer agent, they can (and do) wear different hats at different times.
Hi Peter ... a follow-up comment ... I am often reminded that my job is not to make people happy but to sell houses. Perhaps, more of a taker, I need to be.
Adam, thanks for your comment.
Marie, good for you. I think Takers always do better financially and are a great benefit to sellers.
Peter~ You sure have me thinking on this one.... I think I am a much better Giver than I am a Taker. I have to admit that I would much rather give than recieive.....I feel better giving than I do receiving.......
Vickie, then it makes sense that you are an ABR, and I'm sure a good one at that :-)
Peter,
You sure got the troops to thinking on this one. We all like to think we're a Giver but that must be some Takers among us. LOL!
Cynthia, personally many times I wish I were a Taker. I think all great salespeople are takers.