professionalism in real estate: There's A Problem With Your Feedback Request
- 02/04/14 05:03 AM
Dear Fellow Realtor®, You sent me an automated request for feedback. I have no problem providing you some brief feedback on your property. However when the feedback request arrived in my in-box there were a few problems. First the feeback form has a place for you to enter a photo of the property. It was blank. Second the form has a place for the price which was also blank. Oh and there was nothing in the bedroom, bathroom or any other field provided for a description of the property. If you can't take a few minutes to make sure the data is … (14 comments)
professionalism in real estate: What Happened To The Offer That Was "On The Way?"
- 03/07/13 08:48 AM
Excitement is in the air. An offer on your listing is on the way. Your computer is up and running, you've sent yourself an email to make sure the server hasn't crashed, the phone is working and your door is open for a drop off. And then, nothing. You check your voicemail and then you call the agent back. The answer is "oh my client decided to think about it" or "my client decided they didn't like XYZ". Fine I understand but why did you call and say the offer is on the way? Even more importantly since you called and said … (17 comments)
professionalism in real estate: Active Rain-It's All About The Secret Sauce
- 04/20/12 01:36 AM
KFC has it's secret herbs and spices. Coca-Cola has it's secret formula. Not as well known or publicized is Active Rains's Secret Sauce. What goes into the Active Rain Secret Sauce? Well if we knew the answer to that question we'd all be lounging on a beach instead of selling real estate. However there is one ingredient that is obvious. It's the willingness to share. This photo was taken on Friday April 13, 2012 in Dulith GA. Talk about an unlikely location. Let's get to what's even more amazing. These are all Active Rain members from around the country.Michelle Gibson-Wellington FLDebe … (52 comments)
professionalism in real estate: When Faced With A Dilemma What Do You Do?
- 01/17/12 03:15 AM
Years ago in graduate school one of our courses was Business Ethics. We were presented with a number of case studies to try and figure out what was the best solution to a problem. Over the years both personally and professionally the chance to make a choice between what might be "right" and what might be "questionable" have popped up.This morning the dilemma presented itself in the grocery store. In our household there are certain food items we purchase on a regular basis. As a result we know what the price should be. Today when checking the price on the Organic … (25 comments)
professionalism in real estate: Three Important Words Realtors® Need to Know in 2012
- 01/02/12 07:04 AM
It's painful but there are times when we need to pull out these three simple words; "I Don't Know." This past weekend a lender asked me for information on a condo association. My holiday brain wasn't connecting and I started to give him an answer off the cuff. Then it dawned on me the best answer was "I don't know." There was no sense sending him on a wild goose chase with incorrect information. Instead I asked for 15 minutes to look up the answer to what he needed. Sure enough if I had given him the answer that first popped … (62 comments)
professionalism in real estate: Acknowledging Receipt Of An Offer-It's Simple
- 12/17/11 01:36 AM
You put time and effort into putting together an offer for your clients. You make sure the other agent knows the offer is coming. And then you wait...wait...wait...and wonder? Did the offer make it to it's intended destination.It doesn't matter whether you have sent it by email or (gasp) by fax, having an agent acknowledge receipt on the other end is a simple gesture. If the offer has come by email it's as simple as hitting "reply" to say thanks I got it. If the offer comes by fax a quick text or email back is appreciated.After waiting for hours, having … (56 comments)
professionalism in real estate: Why I'll Miss The Redfin Scouting Report
- 10/08/11 01:16 PM
Okay Okay perhaps that is a stretch. I was among those who notified Redfin they had a major error in the reporting statistics for my sales. Do I think a national database of information on real estate agents is a reliable way for a consumer to determine who to hire to help buy or sell a home? No, there are more variables to finding the right agent than just a pile of numbers. In fact some agents numbers are so staggering you wonder when the sleep. However having just looked at the agenda for another conference where "experts" in real … (20 comments)
professionalism in real estate: If Folks Don't Value Your Time They Certainly Won't Value Your Relationship!
- 08/21/11 01:14 PM
The hardest word to learn in real estate is NO. When I read an agent say that they are available 24 x 7 I wonder why? There are very few professions where it is expected that someone would drop what they had planned on a moments notice. It's hard to set limits but when you do you will have a much more productive real estate career.
Time. Mine is valuable. Is yours? One thing that agents struggle with is being in control of their time. How often have you popped out to show property at the last minute? Or had to … (8 comments)
professionalism in real estate: Your Sarcasm Cuts Right Through The Current Heat Wave-Let's Stay Cool
- 07/22/11 10:51 AM
It's hot. It's humid and we are all suffering. Add the stress of a seller who wants their home sold now or a buyer looking to find the perfect home and what do you get? You likely get short tempers and normally cool agents looking to take it out on someone. Over the last few days I've gotten a few emails dripping with sacrasm that though I've been tempted to fire back an ugly response I've refrained. In a former life, or at least a few years ago my response would have been to lay into someone. A little bit of … (28 comments)
professionalism in real estate: Original Ideas-They May Be Few And Far Between So Give Credit Where Credit Is Due
- 05/24/11 12:15 PM
The great thing about the internet is the ability to easily share ideas. The bad thing about the internet is when you share ideas others pick up the idea and claim it as their own. Recently I ran across a website and author Brene Brown. She may already be known to some of you but following Internet breadcrumbs from Ree Drummond aka The Pioneer Woman, I found her site. Poking around I came across her "Free-Range Social Media" blog post and the philosophy about standing up and saying, "I will do my best to make my online space cruelty, cage, and … (26 comments)
professionalism in real estate: The Buyer Canceled The Contract Due To A Home Inspection-Now What?
- 05/16/11 02:33 PM
The buyer of your listing just completed their home inspection and has presented the seller with a list of repairs to be addressed. Among those repairs are the that the roof is made of FRT plwood and is failing. Then there is what appears to be mold growing on the baseboards and finally they discover a crack in the foundation wall. The seller decides they are not going to repair anything in the home. The buyer cancels the contract and leaves you with the inspection report outlining all of the issues. Do you disclose these issues to the next buyer? … (22 comments)
professionalism in real estate: Please Don't Tell Me The Offer Is On The Way
- 04/27/11 02:21 AM
Excitement is in the air. An offer on your listing is on the way. The fax machine is full of paper, the email is running, the phone is working and your door is open for a drop off. And then, nothing.What happened to the offer? You check the fax machine, you reboot your computer, you check your voicemail and then you call the agent back. The answer is "oh my client decided to wait" or "my client decided they didn't like XYZ". Fine I understand but why did you call and say the offer is on the way? Even more importantly … (119 comments)
professionalism in real estate: Did You Think We Wouldn't Keep An Eye On The Comp?
- 04/25/11 03:48 PM
Has an agent ever told you, oh but the listing down the street is going for "full price with no concessions" when you can't reach an agreement on an offer? It happened recently to one of my buyers and of course the home was bookmarked to watch for the closing to be posted. Today the home showed up as sold in the MLS. The comp didn't sell for "full price with no concessions" it actually sold for $5,000 less than list price with almost 3% in seller concessions. The house my client made their offer on is the exact same model … (40 comments)
professionalism in real estate: Do We Really Believe Everyone Should Work On Our Schedule?
- 03/08/11 08:39 AM
Every day on Active Rain there seems to be a post about how quickly, or not, agents get around to returning phone calls or how difficult it is to show a home without a lockbox. It makes me wonder, when did we get so impatient with each other? Don't get me wrong, I've been frustrated when I think it takes to long to get a response or when a home isn't available to show when I'd like it to. There was a time in the not to distant past that the only way to see a listing was to either … (32 comments)
professionalism in real estate: E.T. Phone Home-Realtors® Phone Ahead Please
- 07/24/10 12:47 PM
A couple of years ago I wrote an amusing story about going to preview a vacant home in Fairfax Station VA and discovering a naked guy in the shower. About that Naked Guy in the Shower This week however the story wasn't as amusing. Not once but twice this week the owner of one of my listings has been suprised by agents walking in on her without a call. The first one was bad but the owner was on her way out the door. She wasn't happy but she dealt with it. The second unannounced visit put her over the … (32 comments)
Lenn Harley Hits a Million Points Sitting Next to Margaret Rome. Here is a great big congratulations to a very very smart, real estate broker who we all know and admire at ActiveRain. What an accomplishment ONE MILLION ActiveRain Points. Lenn will say it is not about the points but it sure seems to drive so … (7 comments)
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Dear Fellow Realtor®,
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