We are a designated agency but I find that many buyers don't want to sign an agency agreement-particularly right off the bat. I am not a pushy type of person and feel that if people like working with me, they will regardless of having a contract. And, if they have signed a contract and don't want to work with me, I would agree to dissolve the contact - why would I want to hold them to it if they are unhappy-it doesn't work for either party to be in such a relationship. I have struggled with this dilemma and got the idea for this post when I read Broker Bryant's post about "Are you selling folks or building relationships?"
I think we are a culture that is basically suspicious of "sales" people. I know when I get a call from a telemarketer, I am immediately on my guard-with a website, I get a lot of calls for all kinds of services. If I was on the other end and someone was asking me to sign a contact to work with them, I would want to know them better-at least started to build a relationship. Maybe this is why I have a tough time asking buyers to sign an agency agreement. I have never had a buyer go somewhere else after starting to work with me with or without a contract so it has never been a problem. However, because we are a designated agency, everyone expects me to get it signed-and right away before we have viewed any homes. So, I am curious how other realtors handle this situation.
