Looking for a REALTOR in another city?

I had an "ah-ha" recently when calling on a relocation company that markets themselves as specializing in "Senior Housing" assistance for retirement communities and their incoming residents.

"Our mission is to help senior communities fill faster by fully preparing our clients and their residents for the move-in process, and working closely with each to create resounding satisfaction," says the Moving Station web site.

I must say that as a REALTOR who has helped over 150 senior adult clients with their moves into retirement communities since 2002, this was a great resource.... so I thought, but now I am not too sure. Here's why...

I called the company and asked to speak with someone who could help me with the process of becoming a preferred real estate professional in the Austin, TX area... only to be told that they do not register individual REALTORs, only their Brokers of record. So, having been a Broker of record for a couple of offices in my career, I asked them, "Who determines as to whether the agent the Broker chooses has experience in working with seniors who are downsizing or making a retirement community move?" A good question I thought. He tells me that they rely on the Broker to make this decision. By the way, my broker assured me she had not gone through any screening process by their company either.

Back to my original line of thinking.... This is a service that is marketed to Senior Communities across the country as helping them to "fill faster"... so what is their commitment to the senior who is moving there??? They say they want to "create resounding satisfaction" for the client.... What does that mean exactly?

Basically, this service is a relocation company. They refer the prospective client out to a Broker and the Broker pays a referral fee to them for the lead when it closes (usually 30% of the gross commission earned). That is the extent of their assistance to the actual client. Now obviously, if the real estate agent they refer is one that is good... this turns out to be a valuable service to the client. If the agent does not turn out to be the best fit... the client loses. It's a win either way to the relocation company.

My point in writing this article is to point out that not all services are what they seem. It is our responsibility as consumers to ask a lot of questions and determine the best course of action. I hope that retirement communities that recommend similar services to their incoming residents understand that they are not necessarily being referred to "senior friendly" or experienced agents ... it is more or less the equivalent of picking up the yellow pages.

If you are looking for a professional FULL TIME REALTOR in the Austin area who has worked with hundreds of seniors, I would love to talk with you. If you are out of the Austin area and would like to be connected with other REALTORS who are also FULL TIME and are experienced with seniors making moves to retirement communities, please email or call me. I am well connected and if I don't know someone in your area...I will call and interview them myself before making the referral!!! Guaranteed!

http://www.managingmaturemoves.com/ or 512-276-8876