I did something lately outside of my norm. I booked a trip to Disney. That is not the unusual part, as I LOVE to travel and we do hit up Disney every few of years. But I have always DIYed my Disney planning and booking.
This year, I did what I’ve never done before. You see, I have a fellow mom friend from my children’s early years who is a Disney affiliated travel agent. Although I’m only going for a very quick 2 day trip, one on one with my daughter to celebrate her 10th birthday in a magical way, (I could certainly book it myself, right?), I contacted my friend to give her the opportunity to assist. Now, this was such a huge step and change for me. I love to plan, I love to research, I love to seek out the best deal. And what I don’t love is giving up control. But quite honestly, I don’t have the time to overly research everything as I usually would. But why would I feel a need to overly research? Because I don’t book a trip to Disney every day…but you know who does? My friend. So, I took a leap of faith and confidence in inviting her in as my lead and teammate in my vacation planning.
It wasn’t until after the initial booking that I really started to make a connection and see so many parallels between my own subconscious assumptions and misconceptions in hiring a travel agent and those of many people in regards to hiring a buyer’s agent.
Let’s look into some of those…
It must cost me something to hire an agent!
Why did I assume this? I’m forever trying to educate and inform home buyers of this very fact. The seller pays the commission to both the listing and buyer’s agents. Commission does not get charged to the buyer. Likewise, my friend’s commission for representing and serving me gets paid to her by Disney. It does not cost me any more to use her service than if I booked directly with Disney.
If it costs me the same, then why go through a middle man (aka an extra agent)?
Bottomline, because I want someone to represent me and my best interests. The listing agent is contractually obligated to represent and look out for the best interests of the seller. They have responsibility to be fair and ethical to the buyer, but their loyalty is to the seller. As a buyer’s agent, it’s my duty and job to look out for my buyers, to educate them, to prepare them for what’s ahead, to coach them, to be by their side, encourage and support them. Similarly, Disney wasn’t going to call me at my 180 days out mark to remind and encourage me to book my meal reservations. They know their tables will be filled regardless. They don’t care that I specifically get a place at one. But my friend does. She prepared me ahead of time, she laid out a game plan, she told me what ones I may have slim changes to obtain, she helped me devise backup plans and alternatives, but encourage me to be hopefully. And you know what?! On my 180 day mark I woke at 6:30am to a notification that I got my dream reservation for my little girl’s special day. Disney wouldn’t have prepared me to snag it, quite frankly I wouldn’t have been on the phone at 6am that morning to try doing it myself. I wouldn’t have known as much. But my friend did and she made my day!
I’ll “get a better deal” if I go directly to the source!
This kind of goes hand in hand with the above, but more specifically, many people think they can “get a better deal” if they go directly to the listing agent. Where do they think that better deal is going to come from? Remember the listing agent’s primary duty is to get the seller top dollar for their home. Their loyalty is to the seller. That agent is not going to tell a buyer “Hey, I know this is the seller’s bottom line, make an offer there”. No, it is their obligation to keep all such knowledge private and serve the seller. Is this better deal going to come out of cut commissions so the seller can lower their bottomline? Remember commission has already been established before the the listing hit market, it’s very unlikely that a listing agent is going to cut their commission after the fact, just because they bring in a buyer. No, they just make more for themselves. And if the commission is cut, who would benefit?….the seller. There is no incentive or reason to give the buyer any “better deal”. Sellers are looking for maximum profits period. There is really not a “better deal” to be had. Of course, I admit, I did have to prove this one to myself in my Disney exercise. I did go directly to Disney to get a quote to compare with my friend’s. Guess what?…they matched right down to the penny. No better deal to be had. If I booked directly with Disney, they would have actually made more money for themselves since they wouldn’t have had to pay out a commission to my friend.
In the end, I realize I’m not the expert, I’m not my own best representative in my travel transaction. There is no need for me to try doing it myself. There is too much I don’t know. Too many opportunities I could me missing because I simply do not know the system and the process. Even for a tiny trip, I’m seeing so much value to teaming up with a travel agent to guide me through the process.
Don’t DIY your home purchase! Instead, let me be a part of your team, to look out for your best interests and be your tour guide along the road to your next home.
For those curious or in the market for a Disney Vacation, check out: Be Our Guest Travel Company – Christy Deneke
