A New Year means a change - A New Beginning.  Well, that is what it means to me anyway.  I wish to all of you a year of health, happiness and prosperity.

I have actually been anxious to put 2007 in the past and start over.  It seemed that last year was one hurdle after another.  If it wasn't health problems to knock me down financially it was one step forward and two steps back with my career.  Very suddenly my prayers were answered and things seemed brighter than ever.  I look forward to the new location of our brokerage and our many projects in 2008. 

For each and every one of you that is dedicated to this career in real estate, I wish for them every success in the year ahead.  So, back to work today!  HAPPY NEW YEAR 

 

Lately I have been running across things in the field that really rub me the wrong way.  Some realtors just do not help our profession keep a good name.  Some of the things that I refer to are:  placing a sign in the yard and a lockbox on the door without a listing contract, doing near nothing for an older couple for near 5 months and refusing to let them out of the contract, and listing a property and never putting it on the MLS.

To tell or not to tell?  I have never been one to like a tattle-tale and therefore never report what I see.  How does these acts reflect on ones' broker?  Myself, I have had two brokers (past and present) and both have made sure everything is done according to the rules and ethics without exception.  Are they not being placed in jepordy with these actions in reference to listings?  These agents are independent contractors but that is not the definition of the words.  How can they be so disloyal to their brokers?  (I am assuming the brokers are unaware)

I am writing this for two reasons.  #1  I think this deserves a blog.  #2  I hope enough people see this and when they run across the same actions they will have the spine to do something about it.  I have not had this "spine" and sometimes I wish I could be the one to speak out.  No wonder people are turning to FSBO's! 

 

Last week I completed my GRI and it did give me a feeling of accomplishment.  Please let me encourage you to go for your GRI designation if you haven't already done so.  This was a well prepared and delivered course and I feel my gain of knowledge was well worth the money, time and effort.  In a former life with a former broker, there was a young man who encouraged me to keep moving forward on this designation along with furthering my skills on the internet.  The e-PRO course helped me quite a bit in addition to some pointers he gave me along the way.

Accomplishments are something that cannot be taken away and I have had more than my share.  Loaded with too many problems I could not control over the last year, I was feeling quite the failure.  Then a co-worker pointed out to me that no one else is capable of beating you down.  I then pulled myself up by my own boot straps and realized that the accomplishments, knowledge and awards that one earns thru life cannot be taken away.  Thus, I encourage all of you to take part in these classes if at all possible.  And thanks to that "Charlie Brown" in my past life.

  

 

 

 

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First, we all should know the legal definition of an independent contractor is a person or business who performs services for another person under an express or implied agreement and who is not subject to the other CONTROL or right to control the manner and means of performing the services.  The main factor is CONTROL.  A person can only be evaluated by their RESULTS.

I would take this to mean in the real estate world that results would be measured in sales and listings and service to clients.  Absolutely would not mean how you part your hair, take too many breaks, talk back to the copier, etc.

Today I wish to share a part of my past life in hopes it will help someone out there who wonders about their legal rights as an independent contractor.  I started as a lowly agent, working up to a supervisor of a state having complete responsibility of everything that went on in relation to sales by that company in that state.  Oversee independent contractors?  Yes, many.  No problems there.

Later years took me to the highest level of management and I had alot to learn about what could happen with independent contractors.  I had been there two days when a lady came into a meeting with our president and two of our legal beagles.  She stated it would take a million for this to go away.  This was because a person had mailed written material to another that had two out of twelve jokes containing slight suggestive material.  The guy who received that mail was set for life.  From that day on I saw independent contractors sue the company for violation of the independent contractor rights.  $50,000. here and $100,000. there.  I have seen them sue for the principal of the thing and the meager amount go to charity.  Snide remarks and one on one evaluations and terminations were money makers for the independent contractor.  I was called into a litigation for termination of a manager and fortunately my staff had kept good written records.  Then I was told to answer yes or no if I had ever commented on any part of that persons anatomy.  My counsel advised me to say yes as I had voiced that I wondered if his Elvis hair was real.  See how touchy that can be and yes, my company had to pay a small amount like $30,000. for my comment to my assistant.  It never got out but he was smart and knew everyone talked about his hair.

Independent contractors have legal rights and today that cool lady who wanted the cool million has been appointed a judge and is one of my closest friends.   

Is there ever just the right time to change brokers?  I have recently made a change and have really been feeling bad about the confusion and loss it causes.  There had been an offer thrown out to me and I had responded that if I did make a change it would be about two months down the line as I felt an obligation to my sellers to try my best to market and move their property for them before jumping ship.

However, the change was made prematurely and there is no question that listings stay with the brokers.  In my case, this created some phone calls and upset with everyone losing so much from the transition (at least that is my opinion).  Some sellers think something bad has happened to the agent and this concerns them.  Some become disgruntled as they dealt with an individual and not a brokerage.  Some just want their place sold.  Some become so confused about the upheaval that they just pull the listing.

The sellers lose the person who was dedicated to marketing their property, the broker loses all the exposure and the loyalty that the agent has displayed over the years in addition to a percentage of the listings they had. Buyers stay with the agent they have been working with as they do not wish to start over in their search for property.  I truly feel that the sellers and the brokerage are the ones who have to back-track the most as the agent rides off to greener pastures.

I fully realize there is never going to be a way to change this.  Agents go to where they can make the most folding green and to the realty who has the best "fringes".  Though my change seems to be the perfect fit, I can't seem to quit thinking about all the people who were affected.  I have determined that THERE IS NO PERFECT TIME TO CHANGE BROKERS!

TIME 

 

 

Recently recovering from some surgery which took me away from my real estate for awhile, I found myself looking at different lead sources.  Some were for buyers leads and some for sellers.  I ran into people who took your first $40. and you never heard another word from them.  I spent money on a website that promised me first position in my location for as long as I was paid up.  Guess what?  I found that another realtor in the area was also #1.  We got out heads together and challenged.  They did make it right with the other realtor and apologized to me saying it was an error. 

I could go on and on about the blind paths I have been down, but make a long story short  --  I am still looking for a decent lead source to help me get back to where I was before.  I realize most  good locations are taken, but maybe someone could give me a push in the right direction.  I would like a pay per lead type of thing.  Can you help?

Recently I decided to use the Real Estate Home Show to market a condo that had not drawn alot of traffic.  I must say I am impressed with the listing video that they run and I assume the TV slots will be equally as good.  If there are those of you who have not had the opportunity to view one of their videos, please feel free to go to REHS.TV and then to Branson, Missouri.  This would seem to be a good marketing tool for the out of the ordinary property or one of those that needs an additional push.  I would so much like some comment in relation to this from those who have used it.  Seems we spend alot of money heading down blind paths, but this seems workable.  Help me out here.

I have talked some of my four footed friends. I have two Schipperkes and friends that have some as well. I thought I would include a picture of the little friend. This is a picture of Rosie she is a three year old pure breed. She belongs to my friend Russ Rosencrans The dogs name is Caladonia Tarbaby Rose as you can see they are just cute, and they look just like a black bear. 

 

It has been brought to my attention that the link to my website did not work.  Duh, I typed in .com instead of .net as it should be.  Please try again to view the Pet Friendly site.  Thanks and I do apologize.