The anxiety and stress.
Who doesn’t want to be a real estate agent?!
These guys have a great life – easy job – big money – nice cars… wow
They don’t even need a license to operate their property agency: Isn’t that convenient?
Everyone can do it!
And such an easy job: Just bring a client to see a home or condo.
If the client likes it, they buy or rent it and the deal is done!
FAT commission into the pocket of the agent. That’s real easy money!
Yes, it is the ideal dream job for those adventurous hit’n’run cowboys that want to be quick-cash millionaires!
And now, back to the drawing boards.
The average life of a real estate broker in Thailand merely sucks.
I hear you thinking “Yeah, right…”
Here’s the reality:
No matter how efficient you are, most of your daily busyness remains unpaid.
No matter how organized are, you are still regarded as sloppy.
No matter how honest you are, one still thinks you are untrustworthy.
Why are most brokers classed as “used car salesmen”?
Why most people don’t feel sorry for them?
Because that is what they really deserve…
Imagine that you own a shop.
Every shelf, fully stocked. A perfect inventory “Ready to move”.
Your shop is open all day, properly staffed with friendly employees.
Everyone is looking after your inventory. Keep everything fresh and clean, well-stocked.
You work hard to motivate everyone, keep your clients happy. You are on call 24/7.
And still, your fully stocked shop has an inventory with unpredictable expiry dates.
Stuff keeps missing… Waste. How frustrating.
You market your products with advertising campaigns, websites, on social media etcetera.
When there’s finally a client that visits your shop and would like to have one of your products in-store (3rd from the bottom on the top shelf), you proudly pull it out and ask if he wants it wrapped as a surprise gift?
Until DISASTER hits! It has passed its expiry date. Can no longer be sold.
The client is not happy as you can imagine.
“You are a jerk”, is what the client thinks when he walks out of your shop.
What’s wrong with this shopkeeper?
He is a professional real estate agent.
Realtors in Thailand source and maintain an inventory with homes and condos for sale and rent, mostly on a “nonexclusive” basis. This means that a similar portfolio is also kept by multiple other agents.
ALL of them going through the same procedures: Sourcing (farming), intake, photoshoot, listing, branding, promoting, advertising – the drill. All unpaid for.
Yet, there’s only ONE that makes it to the finish line and sells the property.
“First come, first served” as they say.
It is called an “open listing” system. How great is that?
It’s not.
How frustrating, if you keep hundreds of “products” in-store and you only sell 3-4% of them?
Glad you agree.
Now from another point-of-view: YOU.
You are looking for a property and finally made it to 5-6 different websites, all claiming to be the best and biggest realtors around town. Strange, but reality.
You make your inquiries.
Only some respond in a timely fashion. Strange, but reality.
Some others might not respond at all. Strange, but reality.
From the properties, you selected some 50-70% were no longer available. Strange, but reality.
You would start to wonder why all these minions still advertise “old properties” that are no longer available? Strange, but reality.
Clickbait? Laziness? Unprofessional? Dumb? Or a combination of all?
You start to understand that it doesn’t require any license to operate a real estate agency. Strange, but reality.
With this system of “open listings” there is no “win-win” situation, is there?
Seems a “lose-lose” situation instead.
You can’t really blame the agent for not having his portfolio 100% in order, can you?
I mean: If you have sold yours, would you then inform all listing agents that your property is no longer available? You might say: “Yes, I would”, most others however do NOT.
So, the agents are battling a struggle they will never win.
And consumers continue slugging off the bad manners of the amateur realtors in Thailand.
Whereas both parties should be considerate towards each other.
Take away some of the anxiety and stress from your realtor and accept his perfect imperfections.
So much for my two cents’ worth.
Town & Country Property – The Best and the Biggest… lol.
Author: Mr. KC Cuijpers
For more information: Please contact Town & Country Property – [email protected]
