Is There Any Way We Can Negotiate This Compensation? YOU CAN SAY If I’m hearing you correctly, you would like to negotiate the compensation I receive for my services in your home buying transaction. I understand that you are concerned about the financial aspect of purchasing a home. This is one of the biggest purchases of your life. And that’s why you need an agent who knows how to negotiate for the best possible price for your home. If an agent is willing to cut their compensation, just like that, how do you think they will perform when it comes to negotiating on your behalf? And because my compensation is directly tied to the services I provide, I could not cut my compensation because I would never offer you less than my best. Don’t you want the best to help you through this transaction? WWB Buyers sometimes will ask to negotiate your compensation before signing a Buyer Agreement. Having a buyer understand the value you bring to the transaction will allow them to see why you are worth your full compensation. Next Previous You are free to use the recommended best practices in these materials for your consideration. These scripts are not intended to be used verbatim, and they should always be modified for accuracy. If you choose to make contact by phone or text (i) check phone numbers against the federal DNC registry, any applicable state DNC list and your company DNC list (ii) do NOT use autodialers and (iii) do NOT use artificial voice or pre-recorded messages, this includes those you haven't spoken to in a while. Emails must follow the rules. Emails must be clear it is a solicitation and provide the consumer with an opt-out. Also, before calling or texting referrals, those numbers need to be checked against all applicable DNC lists. Get prior, express, written consent before texting or using artificial or prerecorded messages.

The Buyer Consultation--Goal 5 YOU CAN SAY CLOSE FOR A SIGNED AGREEMENT-- Ask the buyer to sign a Buyer Representation Agreement to work exclusively with you. Can you see how it would benefit you to have a professional working for you to find the best home and negotiate on your behalf to get the best possible terms? Your signature makes this official! Now let’s work together to find your dream home. After demonstrating your value, explaining your services, and preparing them for the buying process, ask the buyer to sign a Buyer Representation Agreement to work exclusively with you. Next Previous You are free to use the recommended best practices in these materials for your consideration. These scripts are not intended to be used verbatim, and they should always be modified for accuracy. If you choose to make contact by phone or text (i) check phone numbers against the federal DNC registry, any applicable state DNC list and your company DNC list (ii) do NOT use autodialers and (iii) do NOT use artificial voice or pre-recorded messages, this includes those you haven't spoken to in a while. Emails must follow the rules. Emails must be clear it is a solicitation and provide the consumer with an opt-out. Also, before calling or texting referrals, those numbers need to be checked against all applicable DNC lists. Get prior, express, written consent before texting or using artificial or prerecorded messages.

Buyer Pre-Consultation YOU CAN SAY MOTIVATION Why are you looking to move? Do you own or rent? What is most important to you—finding the right home, the right price, timing, or an easy transaction? FINANCIAL ABILITY Have you been prequalified or preapproved? Is it just you making the decision? EXPERIENCE Is this the first home you have purchased? What did you like least and most about that experience and the other agents you have worked with? Did you sign a Buyer’s Agreement with any other agents? PROPERTY INTEL What is your target area? Do you have specific towns in mind? Why would those meet your needs? What are the specifics you’re looking for in a home (how many bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.)? What are your dealbreakers in a home? SET EXPECTATIONS Our next steps are to get together to complete a consultation and sign a buyer representation agreement. I will send you a packet of information that goes into the details of the home buying process and gives you a preview of the home buying process and gives you a preview of the Buyer Representation Agreement that we can discuss to start the search for your dream home. I will send you a text with my contact information, so you have my number and name. Do you have any questions for me? CONFIRM APPOINTMENT Would this evening at 5:00 be a good time to get together, or is tomorrow morning at 10:00 better? Are there any other decision-makers who will be there, or should be there? What is your preferred method of contact? Not all buyers are ready to buy—ask questions weed out the buyers who may already be working with another agent and the ones that are just casually looking. For serious buyers, determine their motivation, timeline, ability, and experience to help you tailor your consultation to their needs. Next Previous You are free to use the recommended best practices in these materials for your consideration. These scripts are not intended to be used verbatim, and they should always be modified for accuracy. If you choose to make contact by phone or text (i) check phone numbers against the federal DNC registry, any applicable state DNC list and your company DNC list (ii) do NOT use autodialers and (iii) do NOT use artificial voice or pre-recorded messages, this includes those you haven't spoken to in a while. Emails must follow the rules. Emails must be clear it is a solicitation and provide the consumer with an opt-out. Also, before calling or texting referrals, those numbers need to be checked against all applicable DNC lists. Get prior, express, written consent before texting or using artificial or prerecorded messages.

Offer Over List Price YOU CAN SAY Some of the recent sales prices in this neighborhood are not actually a reflection of market value. The property at (recently sold home in neighborhood here) was in a pre-foreclosure phase and had fallen into disrepair. Similarly, the property at (recently sold home in neighborhood) has been a rental for ten years. Here are three comps of sales that are of a similar size and condition as this one (research comparable homes to show the seller and the appraiser why the home deserves to be sold at the increased price). The home most vulnerable to appraisals is one that received an offer over list price. As the agent, you can help the appraiser understand why the home is worth the increased price and educate the seller about the value of their home before the appraisal. Next Previous You are free to use the recommended best practices in these materials for your consideration. These scripts are not intended to be used verbatim, and they should always be modified for accuracy. If you choose to make contact by phone or text (i) check phone numbers against the federal DNC registry, any applicable state DNC list and your company DNC list (ii) do NOT use autodialers and (iii) do NOT use artificial voice or pre-recorded messages, this includes those you haven't spoken to in a while. Emails must follow the rules. Emails must be clear it is a solicitation and provide the consumer with an opt-out. Also, before calling or texting referrals, those numbers need to be checked against all applicable DNC lists. Get prior, express, written consent before texting or using artificial or prerecorded messages.

I Want To List At A Higher Price YOU CAN SAY From what I'm hearing you say, your concern is that if your house sells fast, you'll wonder if you should have priced higher. I understand your concern. You're hearing that houses are selling fast and above asking price and there's a lack of supply of listings to choose from right now. Many sellers right now are feeling the same way and were uncertain of where to set the right price. In my experience, when other agents see that a home is priced high in the beginning, that will tell them that the sellers may be unrealistic and not motivated. The agents may interpret this as troublesome when it comes to getting the deal closed. If we need to lower the price later, all of the ready, willing and able buyers will have bought another home, and we may lose out on some highly qualified buyers. If we can decide on a list price based on what the market is telling us, we have the best chance of getting a lot of competition and potentially multiple offers, right? OR In my experience, marketing your home at the right price is critical in achieving your goals of selling. Let's see what the market is saying about your property. (Insert data on the seller’s property within the market) This is important to you because the pricing decision is the most critical decision you will make. My job is to provide you with the best information to make this decision. I'll lay out everything you need to know. The benefit to you is having a complete understanding so you can make the most informed and profitable decision. Can you see why this would be important? Sellers may feel inclined to want to price their homes over the CMA, either due to their concern for underselling or from what they have heard in the media about the current real estate market. Demonstrate to the seller how pricing their home appropriately in relation to the CMA creates a sense of urgency for informed buyers and can motivate other agents to encourage buyers to look at their home. Next Previous You are free to use the recommended best practices in these materials for your consideration. These scripts are not intended to be used verbatim, and they should always be modified for accuracy. If you choose to make contact by phone or text (i) check phone numbers against the federal DNC registry, any applicable state DNC list and your company DNC list (ii) do NOT use autodialers and (iii) do NOT use artificial voice or pre-recorded messages, this includes those you haven't spoken to in a while. Emails must follow the rules. Emails must be clear it is a solicitation and provide the consumer with an opt-out. Also, before calling or texting referrals, those numbers need to be checked against all applicable DNC lists. Get prior, express, written consent before texting or using artificial or prerecorded messages.

I Don’t Want To Sign YOU CAN SAY If you are unsure about signing this agreement, it usually means I haven’t answered all of your questions or there is something we haven’t touched on. I am committed to representing my buyers exclusively in order to provide the service, time, and attention it takes to find and close on the home of their dreams. What I’m asking for is that same commitment for you to work with me. I can show you any home on the market, no matter who has the listing. Doesn’t it make more sense to work with a professional who is committed to giving you the time and attention to find you the best deal? Buyers may object to signing the Buyer Representation Agreement (where applicable) when they do not understand the value and protections it offers. You can explain the benefits of the buyer’s commitment to one real estate agent and the value of working specifically with you. Next Previous You are free to use the recommended best practices in these materials for your consideration. These scripts are not intended to be used verbatim, and they should always be modified for accuracy. If you choose to make contact by phone or text (i) check phone numbers against the federal DNC registry, any applicable state DNC list and your company DNC list (ii) do NOT use autodialers and (iii) do NOT use artificial voice or pre-recorded messages, this includes those you haven't spoken to in a while. Emails must follow the rules. Emails must be clear it is a solicitation and provide the consumer with an opt-out. Also, before calling or texting referrals, those numbers need to be checked against all applicable DNC lists. Get prior, express, written consent before texting or using artificial or prerecorded messages.

Online Lead Follow-Up EMAIL TIPS Speed to lead- respond within 5 minutes to an inquiry Keep your emails short- a few sentences at most Make your emails sound conversational- read your email out loud before sending! Use the subject line to peak interest – give them something to wonder about/question Send emails on Monday mornings Long-term follow-up: online leads take an average of 18 months to convert YOU CAN WRITE SUBJECT LINE: Will This House Work for You? MESSAGE: This listing hit the market today, and I wanted to get it right over to you. As of today, there are four homes listed in your search area and price range. On average, they're selling within 11 days. If you’re interested, I'm scheduling showings for this afternoon and can easily add this to my list. It’s frustrating when you respond to a buyer inquiry on a specific listing, and then you never hear from them. Many agents give up after their first or second attempt at following up with an online lead. You can increase your chances of converting an online lead to an actual conversation with an efficient, informative email script. Next Previous You are free to use the recommended best practices in these materials for your consideration. These scripts are not intended to be used verbatim, and they should always be modified for accuracy. If you choose to make contact by phone or text (i) check phone numbers against the federal DNC registry, any applicable state DNC list and your company DNC list (ii) do NOT use autodialers and (iii) do NOT use artificial voice or pre-recorded messages, this includes those you haven't spoken to in a while. Emails must follow the rules. Emails must be clear it is a solicitation and provide the consumer with an opt-out. Also, before calling or texting referrals, those numbers need to be checked against all applicable DNC lists. Get prior, express, written consent before texting or using artificial or prerecorded messages.

The Buyer Consultation--Goal 3 YOU CAN SAY EXPLAIN BUYER AGENCY REPRESENTATION-- Provide a clear and concise overview of the legal contract you are asking your buyers to sign. Right now, you do not have any representation. If you sign a Buyer Representation Agreement with me as your agent, my responsibility would be to protect your best interests. Buying a house is one of the most significant purchases of your life –I tell my buyers that I am the pilot of their home-buying experience. Like on most flights, there might be some turbulence, but wouldn’t you want the best professionals representing you during that time of uncertainty? Signing a Buyer Representation Agreement doesn't obligate you to purchase a home, it's just choosing me as your representative to help you find and negotiate the purchase of a home. With this commitment, I can dedicate time and energy to working with lenders, inspectors, and everyone in between so you don’t have to! ASK BUYERS TO KEEP YOU INFORMED-- Share what the buyer can do to work together, always emphasizing the importance of a partnership. You will likely continue to search for homes online and will find more driving around. As you do, I ask that you keep me in the loop. I can immediately look up the information to provide you with the details you’re looking for. And I will do the same – if I learn of anything new that may be coming soon that fits your criteria I will keep you informed. I can ensure you have proper representation throughout the process so that you are safe and your best interests are protected. If your situation changes, let me know as soon as possible so we can adjust our plan accordingly. Also, if you ever feel dissatisfied with my service, please let me know immediately so that I can resolve any concerns. FSBOs If you see a FSBO, call me and I will request a showing to protect your time and potential safety by allowing me to assess the home and credibility of the owner. Moreover, if the seller has no agent on their side, it is even more critical that your agent help guide the transaction. OPEN HOUSES If you go to an Open House without me, present my card to the Open House agent so they know you are represented. You don’t want to deal with all the follow-up calls—I’ll protect you from the hassle. NEW HOME DEVELOPMENT If you visit a new home development—present my card so they know you are represented. Don’t sign anything unless I am present. Those agents represent the developer and cannot protect your interest like I can or negotiate on your behalf. ASK THE BUYER TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER If you believe I’m giving you the best professional help and working in your best interest, we will work together until I find the right home for you. I’m excited to get started! The Buyer Consultation is your opportunity to win the buyer’s commitment. Guide the conversation to build trust, present your value, remove objections, and assumptively close for Buyer Representation Agreement. Next Previous You are free to use the recommended best practices in these materials for your consideration. These scripts are not intended to be used verbatim, and they should always be modified for accuracy. If you choose to make contact by phone or text (i) check phone numbers against the federal DNC registry, any applicable state DNC list and your company DNC list (ii) do NOT use autodialers and (iii) do NOT use artificial voice or pre-recorded messages, this includes those you haven't spoken to in a while. Emails must follow the rules. Emails must be clear it is a solicitation and provide the consumer with an opt-out. Also, before calling or texting referrals, those numbers need to be checked against all applicable DNC lists. Get prior, express, written consent before texting or using artificial or prerecorded messages.

F.O.R.D. Model YOU CAN ASK FAMILY How did you meet? (if you are meeting a couple for the first time) How old is your son/daughter? Do you have any siblings? Did you grow up in this area? What brought you to (name of town)? (If they didn’t grow up there) OCCUPATION What do you do for a living? How do you like working at _____? What’s your favorite part of your job? What made you interested in becoming a _____? Do you work remotely? RECREATION What do you like to do for fun? Do you have a favorite sports team? Have you watched (or read) ______(popular show/book)? What are you up to this weekend? Have you and your family gone on any recent vacations together? DREAMS Keep in mind that these questions often lead to deeper answers, so you may want to wait until you’ve established more rapport before asking too many questions related to this topic. Where would you like to travel? What’s something you’d like to try in the future? Would you ever consider trying _____ (particular hobby or activity)? Where do you see yourself in five years? What brings you joy? As a real estate agent, you want to master small talk, make connections, meet new people, be outgoing, and talk about real estate—without seeming pushy. The F.O.R.D model is a tool to be able to connect with people and naturally lead the conversations to real estate. Next Previous You are free to use the recommended best practices in these materials for your consideration. These scripts are not intended to be used verbatim, and they should always be modified for accuracy. If you choose to make contact by phone or text (i) check phone numbers against the federal DNC registry, any applicable state DNC list and your company DNC list (ii) do NOT use autodialers and (iii) do NOT use artificial voice or pre-recorded messages, this includes those you haven't spoken to in a while. Emails must follow the rules. Emails must be clear it is a solicitation and provide the consumer with an opt-out. Also, before calling or texting referrals, those numbers need to be checked against all applicable DNC lists. Get prior, express, written consent before texting or using artificial or prerecorded messages.

The Power of Storytelling YOU CAN SAY Hi! I just wanted to reach out to see how you are doing. (Send them well wishes if it is the start of a new year or season). IF THE CONVERSATION LEADS TO REAL ESTATE Focus on the benefit for sellers in today’s marketplace OR Tell a story of a recent seller who benefited from the current market conditions. It can be someone who worked with you directly or a success story of another agent in your office. This shows the benefits of selling in the current market. FOR EXAMPLE The market conditions right now are really benefiting sellers to an amazing degree. I just sold a house and the sellers got $10,000 over asking. Sharing real stories of success with your sphere in the current market conditions can be a particularly compelling way to find new clients. Maintaining connections allows you to discover new people who are interested in purchasing or selling a home. Next Previous You are free to use the recommended best practices in these materials for your consideration. These scripts are not intended to be used verbatim, and they should always be modified for accuracy. If you choose to make contact by phone or text (i) check phone numbers against the federal DNC registry, any applicable state DNC list and your company DNC list (ii) do NOT use autodialers and (iii) do NOT use artificial voice or pre-recorded messages, this includes those you haven't spoken to in a while. Emails must follow the rules. Emails must be clear it is a solicitation and provide the consumer with an opt-out. Also, before calling or texting referrals, those numbers need to be checked against all applicable DNC lists. Get prior, express, written consent before texting or using artificial or prerecorded messages.

Market Trends YOU CAN SAY If you love this house and you can picture yourselves living here, it might make sense for you to make an offer while interest rates are (check market rates and insert here). They're the (lowest / relatively lowest) rates on record (check updated market statistics and update the potential buyer here). You'll get more house for your money and the data that I follow shows no signs that housing prices will go any lower. In fact, the forecast is that prices may even go up a bit between now and the end of the year. Right now, you may also be competing against fewer buyers because there's still a lot of uncertainty with people's jobs. There are a lot of buyers that are holding off or delaying their home search process right now. Buyers look to you as an expert in understanding market trends. Educate your clients on local market statistics and support them in making informed decisions. Sharing your expertise builds a strong sense of trust with buyers, enabling a successful sale and potential networking opportunities for the future. Next Previous You are free to use the recommended best practices in these materials for your consideration. These scripts are not intended to be used verbatim, and they should always be modified for accuracy. If you choose to make contact by phone or text (i) check phone numbers against the federal DNC registry, any applicable state DNC list and your company DNC list (ii) do NOT use autodialers and (iii) do NOT use artificial voice or pre-recorded messages, this includes those you haven't spoken to in a while. Emails must follow the rules. Emails must be clear it is a solicitation and provide the consumer with an opt-out. Also, before calling or texting referrals, those numbers need to be checked against all applicable DNC lists. Get prior, express, written consent before texting or using artificial or prerecorded messages.

Compensation Structure YOU CAN SAY Great question! Let's dig into how I can be compensated. With such a big purchase, it’s normal to be concerned about where every dollar comes from and goes. This is a common question due to recent industry changes. New MLS rules eliminate historic practices making a seller's unilateral offer a legal obligation. Commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable for both the buyer and the seller agent. That said, there are several ways in which I can be paid for my services. These include: The seller of the property you are interested in has offered to pay a commission to the buyer’s agent as part of the listing. The seller has offered a modest commission towards the buyer’s agent as reflected in the listing, which would require either contribution by you as the buyer or we would include that as part of an offer you make on the property. The seller has not offered to pay a commission to the buyer’s agent, but we include that requirement as part of the offer you make on the property. The seller will not agree to pay a buyer’s agent commission, in which case you would be responsible for my compensation. Based on the properties on the market, we can determine what works best for you. WWB Buyers may wonder why the seller is not paying a commission split. Be transparent about the many options buyers have under new compensation rules. Next Previous You are free to use the recommended best practices in these materials for your consideration. These scripts are not intended to be used verbatim, and they should always be modified for accuracy. If you choose to make contact by phone or text (i) check phone numbers against the federal DNC registry, any applicable state DNC list and your company DNC list (ii) do NOT use autodialers and (iii) do NOT use artificial voice or pre-recorded messages, this includes those you haven't spoken to in a while. Emails must follow the rules. Emails must be clear it is a solicitation and provide the consumer with an opt-out. Also, before calling or texting referrals, those numbers need to be checked against all applicable DNC lists. Get prior, express, written consent before texting or using artificial or prerecorded messages.