How (not) To Drive Buyers Away in Real Estate
And maybe, just maybe doing a disservice when we do
Get to Know Us: The Things We Value
We believe real estate, at its best, is built on trust. Not on signatures. Not on contracts that tie hands before anyone really knows each other. Trust is earned through character, through doing what you say you’ll do, and through a sense of integrity that runs both ways.
When we meet someone new—someone thinking about buying a home—we look for connection. Do we like each other? Do we share values? Does there seem to be mutual respect and understanding? If those things are there, everything else follows naturally. That’s how real partnerships begin.
Unfortunately, the current trend in real estate is moving the other way. Many brokerages now insist that buyers sign a Buyer Brokerage Agreement before a single home is shown. They say it’s about protection or clarity—but what it really creates is distance. It turns what should be a human relationship into a contractual one, and it often drives good buyers straight into the arms of listing agents just to avoid pressure. That’s not good for anyone.
We take a different approach.
We use Showing Agreements, not binding Buyer Brokerage Agreements. A Showing Agreement simply says: let’s start with this one property. It gives us the ability to assist you professionally and protects both sides without forcing you into a long-term commitment before you even know if we’re the right fit.
Our belief is simple—if we do our job well, if we bring insight, clarity, and professionalism to your experience, you’ll want to keep working with us. Integrity, not obligation, keeps good relationships together.
Why Buyer Brokerage Agreements Don’t Work
If you read the Standard Florida Buyer Brokerage Agreement carefully, you’ll see that it heavily favors the broker and limits flexibility for the buyer. It sounds harmless enough until you get to the cancellation clause—a clause that gives the illusion of freedom but in practice does very little to protect the buyer.
The cancellation clause says you can terminate with written notice, but here’s the catch: it doesn’t release you from liability if you later purchase any property shown or introduced during the term of that agreement. Even if you find the home months later on your own, the brokerage can claim commission. And if two brokers were involved at different times, it can create disputes that put you, the buyer, right in the middle. Moreover, the language does not actually require a broker to honor your request to cancel. That’s the fine print no one talks about.
That’s not fair. It’s not practical. And it doesn’t build trust.
What works better is honesty upfront and freedom of choice. You should be free to work with someone who earns your confidence—not someone who holds your signature as leverage. We believe most people, if they truly understood what the Buyer Brokerage Agreement does, would insist on a Showing Agreement instead. It’s the smarter, cleaner, and more respectful way to work together.
What we know to be true is that not everyone clicks with everyone. Some people love the way we work; others want a different experience or energy. And that’s okay. How many Realtors do you know who would freely admit they may not be everyone’s cup of tea? Not many—but we deal in reality. We seek people who want to work with us, and we seek people we want to work with. When the connection is real, it shows. We follow the rules, but there’s a better way to do business: friends first, then trust, respect, and finally, commitment. This isn’t a reality show on HGTV—it’s real life, and it’s about serving you and your family with integrity.
Uh oh Instgram Break. We are fun. But we Know what we do!
Our Promise
We’re in this business because we love helping people find homes that matter—homes that fit who they are and how they want to live. We do that best when there’s mutual trust and respect. So we invite you: get to know us first. See how we work. If it feels right, let’s continue the journey together.
Real estate should begin with trust—not a contract.
3 out of our last 7 transactions were with buyers that expressly did not want to sign a buyer brokerage agreement with another agent before they found us. Our quiet approach led to two of our listings selling and one of the people coming to our listing, meeting us and liking our approach and deciding that a showing agreement made sense. I see the trend.
Love this approach — real estate works best when trust comes first, not signatures. Jabbour Luxury Group’s focus on connection, honesty, and respect is the kind of human-first strategy that actually keeps buyers coming back.