The late 90’s brought us mom jeans, Y2K, the Spice Girls and the North American buyer agent. This new role, in an industry born in the late 1800’s, was promoted to safe guard the unassuming and unrepresented buyer. Massachusetts is of course among a distinct minority of states across the fruited plan that mandate legal scholars participate in a real estate transaction while still others with looser criteria still fail to eclipse half the country in terms of states requiring legal representation. In addition, not only are home inspections prevalent but this particular market is now bolstered by a mandatory inspection disclosure. Finally, even the most passive buyer understands the value and weight of a preapproval letter which of course is obtained from any number of third-party mortgage brokers who should answer all financing questions front to back so why is dual agency, a return to almost a century’s old format, vilified?
To answer the question, we must define the term and dual agency of course is any case where the listing broker represents both the buyer and seller. In simpler terms, a car dealership. But imagine a car dealership that welcomes your mechanic, i.e. the home inspector, and legal counsel to come along for the ride while insisting you acquire financing through a third-party vendor rather than exercise in-house financing; pretty warm and fuzzy so again, why the hysteria?
Prior to dipping a toe in the real estate waters and actively engaged in building, I accompanied countless customers, friends and family members at showings in order to leverage my relative background be it structural or mechanical concerns or the viability of perceived wants and needs and as a listing broker, I have seen these very relationships utilized by buyers routinely so with all of the third-party insulation, where does the buyer agent come in?
For some reason or another, big box franchises in particular, brimming over with independent contract agents, project the most pronounced displeasure with dual agency before a listing agents hands a buyer off to a team member or member of a satellite office.
First and foremost, as one of the many contrarian provisions of my approach, in cases where I procure the buyer, there is no buyer broker fee associated with the transaction. Should a buyer walk onto one of my metaphorical car lots, they are more than welcome to bring the mechanic, lawyer, priest or marching band yet there is no upcharge. It is not my intention to hawk my perks nor is it to indite the buyer agent or broker as buyer representation covers approximately 35% of my sales history. Rather, the purpose of the exercise is liberating dual agency from Leper Island.
To assist in this endeavor, I culled through my modest pile of dual agency transactions and pulled eight based entirely on five-star reviews from both the buyer and seller for each given sale. While I certainly don’t need to take a victory lap, I do wish to reinforce one of the byproducts of genuinely advocating on behalf of the seller and buyer rather than feigning the sentiment.
72 Keziah’s Ln – $ 2,400,000 – Orleans – Listing Broker
If my creative approach was based on lasting relationships forged through years of nurturing trust amongst my management base, the power of broker creativity was no doubt born from this very transaction.
“We chose Jon to sell our waterfront home and he did a great job. He went above and beyond anything we’ve ever experienced from a selling realtor. The effort, attention to detail and willingness to manage the process and people in order to take the load off of us has been a real testament to his desire to provide exceptional service. He has handled all the inspections, taken care of minor details that needed attention, and did it all without having his hand out or complaining. This has been a great experience. Thank you, Jon!”
Seller – David & Katherine Weiner
“We had the pleasure of working with Jon on a recent property purchase in Orleans. Jon was representing both the seller and buyer on this deal. He handled that challenging task with the utmost professionalism. Jon was also very helpful post-sale in helping us navigate some home service-related obstacles. We enjoyed working with Jon and would highly recommend him to anyone looking to sell or purchase a home in the Orleans area. “
Buyer – John Lyons
In this case, I would go on to represent Bob and Louise on a purchase in Brewster subsequent to selling their Eastham home. I would step in and represent Sandra when her team collapsed the deal and as an aside, not only was the buyer agent compensated for a full commission but I would lay mine down entirely in order to buy Sandra another bite at the apple before we moved on to Brewster.
“We have been a customer of Jon Clark’s Nauset Management for a number of years and always appreciate the job he does and how he treats his customers homes as if they were his. Jon recently left a local real estate firm and went out and formed his own company. We used Jon as our buyer broker and he was great in ways normal brokers cannot imagine. As a former builder with a wealth of experience Jon was able to help us evaluate potential homes in Orleans , Eastham and Brewster and determine what needed to be done and gave us general estimates of cost and time to complete. We ultimately bought a home in Brewster that requires substantial work to be upgraded and Jon provided a tremendous service by introducing us to contractors of all expertise, bringing them to the house and getting quotes for the work and helping to coordinate the effort to lock in contractors and estimates and begin work within 5 days of the closing. You will not find another broker who will spend that much time and effort pre and post-sale to ensure a happy customer and overall outcome. We would highly recommend Jon for your real estate needs.”
Seller – Bob & Louise Steinkrauss
“Because of Jon Clark I am writing this review from my new home. Jon went above and beyond to get me into the home of my dreams. The short version of a long story is this, Jon was the Realtor with heart. He was the seller’s Realtor and I was the buyer, and when push came to shove, he was the one that was there for me and to his own detriment. He put me before himself and followed through with all of his promises even when it cost him money and caused him stress. He communicated throughout the entire deal and worked day and night to get the house closed. Even after my team let me down missed a deadline and threw the deal out the window, he got it back on track. He listened when I explained that I loved the house and trusted my word, talked to his sellers and because of their trust in him they gave me a second chance. He worked and re-worked the timeline and the numbers until it worked for both parties. Though it sounds extreme it is true, this man alone, restored my faith in people even when the process failed me. If I were ever to recommend a realtor or property manager it would be Jon Clark. He has recommended professionals to do professional work with carpentry, construction and landscaping and he was right every time. When I didn’t have a clue where to begin with local professionals he talked me through it. I am grateful to know Jon and fortunate to have him in my corner.”
Buyer – Sandra Alsante
7 & 10 Norseman – $ 2,744,000 & $ 1,062,000 – Orleans
This was a three-family deal and one of my favorites as I would say good-bye to 15-year long management customers residing in 7 before moving previous buyers of a former listing at 10 across the street to 7 and finally welcoming a new buyer to the Cape by back filling 10. The math was easier than the explanation!
“We first met Jon Clark when he represented the seller of the first house we bought in Orleans. Jon had been the home watch professional for this house, so we retained him for the same purpose. Best decision we made! Aside from giving us complete peace of mind while we were off Cape, he was the ultimate source for referrals when it came to any and all kinds of work or service needed for the house. Flash forward five years, Jon put together the sale of our original home and the purchase of our new home in a transaction that made three families very happy and could only have been executed by Jon. The superlatives for Jon’s professionalism, determination and ability to make his clients happy are second to none. We highly recommend Jon Clark as a realtor, home watch professional and ultimate go-to-guy! “
Buyer/Seller – Greg & Linda Axenroth
“Jon stuck with us in a search for nearly two years. There were times that he was willing to make sacrifices that I never would expect a broker to make in order to get us the house. He gave us real, no b.s. opinions on every house we looked at. His experience in construction gave us insight we would not otherwise have had and not once, in the two years, did I ever feel like his interests were placed above ours. Two years in the search and he got us into the perfect house in the neighborhood we wanted, and I never thought it would happen.”
Buyer – Cory & Jennifer Brown
2 Oyster Dr – $ 634,500 – Chatham
This was one of those deals that simply fell into place. As the buyer would of course come through me, I made a modest adjustment to the commission in order to fit that square peg in a round hole.
“Jon was an absolute pleasure to work with. Not only did he procure a buyer quickly, but he was willing to take points off his commission to get the deal done! I have dealt with many brokers, and none have been willing to negotiate their commission and also be willing to help out with other costs such as septic inspection or upgrading smoke detectors. Very refreshing! Thank you, Jon!”
Seller – Paul Francis
“Jon was a pleasure to work with on the Cape. He was professional, responsive, and never pushy during the process. He was also very responsive post-sale when we had a few questions come up. We would recommend Jon and Nauset Management to anyone with real estate needs on the Cape.”
Buyer – Tim & Tracie Jewell
805 Great Pond Rd – $ 560,000 – Eastham
Great Pond was one of those occasions that while preparing the home for listing, it was already a hand and glove fit with a buyer I had been working with.
“Jon worked for us as a property caretaker. Knowing the house was being looked after by a professional was a real relief. When the house was put on the market Jon was our clear choice for the sale. He is honest, knowledgeable and straightforward. When the house was ready to be listed, we had other more pressing family matters to deal with, so Jon dealt with everything. The house sold before listing, for more than asking and all we had to do was show up and sign papers at the closing. I would recommend Jon to anyone, buyer or seller.”
Seller – Richard & Jennifer Rand
“My husband and I were referred to Jon by a family member. He knew what type of property we were looking for in Eastham and when he found a match, he called us right away. His attention to detail in the home buying process is stellar and he takes all of the heavy lifting off of the buyer. He made several referrals that we are using (i.e., insurance broker, pest control, contractors, etc. Jon also doesn’t disappear once the sale is completed; he is there with further recommendations or assistance as needed. Jon is a true professional in the real estate market, and we are happy to write this review for Jon and his business. Because of Jon, we have our second home on the Cape.”
Buyer – Bonnie Nectow
15B Standish Rd – $ 2,550,000 – Orleans
With a builder’s hat and a lifelong love for genuine unblemished Cape camps, saying goodbye to a long-time management customer and the only owners of this amazing property, I was heartened to make the acquaintance of the new placeholders who to this day have kept the home true to its original self.
“Jon has been our go-to guy for years for home watch during off-season and emergency response services during on-season. He established himself as a trusted, competent, caring individual with an added bonus of having a great sense of humor. When it came time to sell our beloved property, Jon was our first and only choice. Jon stepped in and within a week had not only listings across multiple outlets but a number of potential leads. On our first open house, Jon’s experience and ability to discern buyers from BSers was evident. Jon was in constant communication and much to our astonishment we had an offer which we accepted that same day. This may seem a random bit of luck, but I attribute it to skill, experience, communications and Jon’s complete and evident trustworthiness. Bottom line: you can trust Jon in the sale of a most precious asset, your home.”
Seller – Rob Oberteuffer Family Trust
“We recently worked with Jon, and it was, BY FAR, the best experience we have ever had. This was our 10th real estate transaction, and we had been completely underwhelmed by the real estate industry to date. It has felt like a very transactional business, lacking the personal touch, honesty and accountability that you would expect for such a personal and emotional experience. Jon changed all that. He is unlike anyone in the business from both a personal and emotional standpoint. On a personal level, there is no outer shell, you know what you are getting from the minute you meet him. Not only does this make for a pleasant experience, but when things get difficult, as they inevitably will during a transaction, knowing who you are dealing with, and that you can trust Jon, is invaluable. On a professional level, he has broken the mold of what we know to be the real estate brokerage business. Take a read through his website, about covering innocuous fees, coordinating cleanouts, taking care of things that he doesn’t want credit for and you only find out about later…. it’s all true. If you want an experience where your opinion is important, where you can trust the process and feel really good at the end, you should reach out to Jon. It was such a good experience that I now consider Jon a friend and will go out of my way every chance I get to find him more business.”
Buyer – Maura Fitzpatrick
6 Jackcin Dr – $ 615,000 – Eastham
Paying it forward, it would be the above-mentioned Sandra Alsante who would flaunt her good taste by sending my information to the Kalantzis clan who had decided to relocate out of state.
“Jon was a pleasure to work with. He is professional, responsive and down to earth. Jon understands the local real estate market incredibly well and was able to drum up considerable (!) interest in our open houses. The foot traffic that he created was above our expectations and he proved to be a flexible and straightforward negotiator. We enjoyed working with Jon and would 100% recommend him for selling a home on Cape Cod.”
Seller – Constance Kalantzis
“We had the great pleasure to meet and work with Jon. He represented us (the buyers) and the seller. He went above and beyond to make that sell happen. Couldn’t ask for better realtor. We will definitely use his services again. Highly recommended!!!”
Buyer – Elena Nikolova
29 Fox Ridge Dr – $ 955,500 – Orleans
After an amazing 20-year ride, I would say goodbye to one of my longer standing management customers who were able to enjoy an anniversary celebration in the very town that hosted the honeymoon before welcoming the new placeholders’ weeks away from repeating history with nuptials of their own.
“For 19 years Jon Clark has faithfully and reliably overseen our property in Orleans. Without his diligent oversight we would not have been able to maintain our second home and enjoy the benefits of a location on Cape Cod. Jon is a thorough communicator who always kept us apprised of any and all unusual occurrences while we were at our primary residence. He could be relied on if a storm took place and it required our attention. He regularly visited our Cape property and advised us of any unusual situation that needed attention. If a matter could be handled by him, he took care of it knowing that we were 5 hours from the Cape. Jon believes in going above and beyond the call of duty. He prides himself on putting his clients above all else. When it came time to sell our house Jon, who is now a real estate agent, was a natural choice to handle the sale of our property. He carried out the duties of an agent in the same efficient manner as he did as property manager. Jon is a true professional in every sense of the word. One can find no better representative for property manager or real estate agent than Jon Clark, Cape Cod resident and a property owners’ best friend.“
Seller – John & Patricia McIntyre
“Outstanding Service, Excellent Communication, Integrity and Transparency & an all-around great guy!… Just a few thoughts to describe our recent experience with Jon Clark. From our first meeting while viewing a property to the pre-closing walk through Jon demonstrated the highest level of integrity rarely, if ever, seen these days and made our home purchase a delight. When it comes to help with our homes, we all strive to find the “safe pair of hands” to place our trust. With Jon Clark and Nauset Management your search is over and the relaxing can begin.”
Buyer – Mark Ford
