Excuse me ... will you please show me? ...

While this post isn't super thought-provoking (afterall, tomorrow is tax day, so we are likely all spent anyway!), this post is something many of us Real Estate practioners likely encounter, and I think it boils down to a question of ethics.  It has happened to me over the years a handful of times, and most recently a couple times...

Have you ever been showing a home, AS A BUYER'S AGENT, and had some prospective buyers show-up without an Agent and ask you to show them the property?

Fellow Agents - What is the RIGHT thing to do in your eyes?  How do you handle this?

Members of the public - Do you do this?  How do you expect us to respond?  How have you been responded to in like situations?

I always politely explain that I am with clients and that my clients must receive my undivided attention at that time.  Furthermore, IF my clients did not care for the property, I explain that if they do not have an Agent they are welcome to contact me, and I provide them a card.  IF my clients DID like the property, I do NOT give them a card and explain they will need to contact the listing Agent for a showing.  Afterall, ultimately our fiduciary responsibility is to a client, not a customer.

Looking forward to hear what YOU think.

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For any of your Buying or Selling needs in Southeast Michigan / metro-Detroit, please visit http://www.DoorToDreams.com today!

Listing Short Sales: my NEW personal policy | What do you do??

Like any industry, and any profession, lack of change or adapting can make a slight to significant impact on one's business.  There are a few things in our current market / economy that make me cringe, yet I hear/see them EVERY DAY and they are becoming more and more common ... "lease with option," "Buyer with credit issues...," and "short sale," just to name a few.

Whether representing a Buyer or Seller, short sales are time-consuming and can be frustrating.  IF the listing Agent is on-top of things, representing the Buyer can actually be a decent experience.  That seems to be the minority of the time (in my experience, anyway), but I digress ... this post is about representing the Seller.

Because these are SO time consuming and labor-intensive, and MAY or MAY NOT result in closed business, I have a new personal policy, and am STRONGLY encouraging my Team to implement the same so as to not waste their valuable time:

Prior to taking a Short Sale listing, I am now going to do ALL of the following:

1.  Be sure the Seller has secured, completed, and returned a hardship package, and/or whatever paperwork that particular lender or lenders are requiring.

2.  Find out EXACTLY how far behind the Seller is on their payments.  NEWSFLASH - if they are current or only a month or so behind, get ready for a   L O N G   R I D E !!!!!!

3.  Have a Letter of Authorization signed by the Seller giving me permission to speak with the bank in their stead.

4.  Collect a non-refundable, upfront fee of $500 to $1,000 depending on the situation and how many financial liens are on the property.

NO EXCEPTIONS!

CURIOUS WHAT YOU THINK!  Am I missing something?  What do you do?  How do you handle Short Sale listings .......... or do you?

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For all of your Real Estate needs in Southeast Michigan and metro-Detroit, please rely on Derek Bauer's, Door to Dreams Team at Real Estate One.  Please visit our website for more at, http://www.DoorToDreams.com.

House Swapping --- huh?

Today I received contact from a client of mine who saw House Swapping on a morning show and asked me if it was a good idea for their home.  Hmmmmmmmmmmm

I explained that I was not familiar with House Swapping (I understand it for vacation or temporary purposes - but permanent??), I had no experience with House Swapping, and that I would have to look into it and get back with them.  Here are just a few websites that talk about House Swapping:

http://www.onlinehousetrading.com

http://www.house4trade.com

http://www.goswap.com

http://www.domuswap.com

Have you had experience with this?  Good / Bad?  Advice?  Anxious to hear what you have to say.

Do you do Buyers, Sellers, or Both?

I find that year upon year, my business is divided almost 50/50 between acting as a Listing Agent and as a Buyer's Agent.  Today I was reminded for some reason that over the years I failed to gain the business of a couple prospective Buyers because I didn't solely work with Buyers.

In hindsight, I think these particular individuals would have been more problematic then not, so all's well that ends well.  However, if I were a consumer, I would want my Agent to be active on BOTH sides of transactions so they best understood the issues, the negotation process, what weighs on the minds of Buyers and Sellers, etc.

Now, if I am getting a divorce, I don't want a patent attorney representing me ... but if I'm buying a house, I want someone that is active in Listing and Selling and knows both sides.

What about you?  How is your business split?  What is your take on this and that of your clients?

Is this GREED, or am I way off-base on this one???

I am in the process of putting together a lease with an option to purchase ... VERY likely these folks will purchase the home in less then 6 months.  I represent the Seller, the Tenants/Buyers have their own Agent, and I am doing all of the paperwork!

Today, I get an email from this Buyer's Agent wanting to confirm with me that they will receive 1/2 Month's rent worth of compensation for the Lease, and then 3% once the Tenants exercise their option.  I responded and basically said, well if that is how you want it done, I suppose we can, but I feel that is quite greedy.  This Agent went on to say that is their Broker's policy and I should call the Broker if I have an issue with it.  Not something I have time for, nor care enough to get involved in ... I didn't argue, I just stated I felt that was greedy.

I will be collecting 1/2 Month's worth of rent upon Lease signing, and will take x% commission as agreed-upon when it sells, LESS that 1/2 Month's rent that they had already paid, ONLY A FEW MONTHS PRIOR.  In my mind, it is just not at all fair that the Seller dual compensate an Agent for the same party.

VERY curious to see how you, my colleagues and ARers, feel about this!  Who do you think is right in this case?  How would you or how do you handle this very same situation?

What is the perception of DETROIT in your area?

You can imagine how unimpressed all of us in metro-Detroit and elsewhere in Michigan are in the way our City and even State look today given the Mayor's recent felony charges.  We have had enough challenges over the years and this surely doesn't help!  Detroit has made so many strides in recent years, we have some great Sports Teams and facilities, a riverfront, casinos, and more!  Dennis Archer, Detroit's former Mayor, did some spectacular things.

For those of you out-of-the area, how is Detroit perceived in your area?  I know us Michiganders are VERY interested in hearing.  We really have an amazing state, with lots of beauty and resources.  It's a shame we have to be in the negative spotlight again...

I need to get into shape!! Do you?

I have battled extra weight my entire life and it is nothing for me to fluctuate 30+/- pounds in a given year ... gain it, lose it, gain it, lose it.  I am always finding excuses to not exercise.  Have you ever said aloud, or to yourself, the following?

1.  I need to workout, but I'll start tomorrow
2.  I need to workout, but I have way too much work to do
3.  I need to workout, but I'm too tired
4.  I need to workout, but it's too late to drive to the gym, the weather is too bad, etc.
5.  I need to workout, but I feel sick so I'll wait until I feel better
6.  I need to workout, but I have to get on ActiveRain, or this website, or that website
and on, and on, and on...

WELL, FOLKS, THE EXCUSES STOP FOR ME ... NOW!  I knew I had gained weight lately, and since the batteries in my scale died about 6+ months ago, I haven't been weighing myself.  Quite honestly, I didn't want to.  I don't feel as good as I should, my clothes don't fit like I want them to (in-fact, I want clothes in a smaller size), and I'm sick of it!  My sister said something today that is going to stick with me.  She said, "God only gives us one body..."

I WANT/NEED TO GET INTO SHAPE, DO YOU?  I am looking for other like-minded individuals ... those that have been waiting and waiting and waiting to get started.  Are you that person?  What are we waiting for??

I HAVE CREATED A NEW GROUP ON HERE ENTITLED, "GET FIT 2008," AND IF YOU ARE IN THE SAME BOAT AS I, PLEASE JOIN!  Here is a link for you  http://activerain.com/groups/getfit2008

Let's get fit, improve the quality of our lives, and develop some new friendships and business relationships!  Now we can use ActiveRain as a springboard to get fit ... not an excuse not to!

I will be updating this daily with my log of activity and progress, as I plan to get on the treadmill morning and night.  This will keep me inspired and accountable ... hopefully it works for you, too!

Posting my daily progress here    http://activerain.com/blogsview/438263/Progress-Daily-Log

Proud to introduce, the "Door to Dreams Team" !!

   

I am extremely proud to announce and introduce the Door to Dreams Team at Real Estate One!  We are a Livonia, Michigan Real Estate Team consisting of 4 Agents, with a wide array of experience and skill sets.  We service both Buyers and Sellers in numerous communities, we welcome and appreciate your referral business, and take excellent care of our clients.  Allow me to introduce each member so you can see how we may be able to best service you or your referral...

You can click each Team Member's picture to access their ActiveRain page if you want to send them a message - each are NEW to ActiveRain, so please do welcome them:

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Mariana brings a lot to the table, and is of great value to the Team.  Her witty charm and knowledge are sure to impress you, as will her honesty and integrity.  Mariana makes it a point to listen to her clients and find the right solution for them.  Mariana is very outgoing and when others say it can't be done, Mariana will prove otherwise.

Mariana was formally educated overseas and hails from Romania, where she received a degree in Economic Science from the University of Economic Studies in Bucharest.

Prior to becoming a Realtor® nearly 6 years ago, Mariana was a business owner and continues to utilize the skills she learned in that capacity to further assist her Buyer and Seller clients today.

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Susan is a very hard worker as a model, Sign Language Interpreter, and more.
We are very excited to have Susan's bubbly personality. 

Susan has a BA from Madonna University where she played four years of soccer, and graduated with high honors.

More about Susan will be coming soon and we welcome her!

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As Team Leader, Derek oversees the fine members of the Team, in addition to working with many Listings and Buyer clients of his own.  Derek attended Ferris State University and received a B.S. in Business Administration with a Minor in Communication, and a focus in Marketing and Business Law. 

In 1997, Derek immediately went to work for Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), the world's largest process and technology consulting firm.  Making a decision to cut-back on the travel, Derek held sales and business development roles in both a .com company, and a Fortune 700 company, and was a top producer in both organizations.

Derek has received numerous awards for sales volume and customer service, has been recognized as a top Realtor® in a national publication, and most recently was a guest lecturer on Real Estate and Technology at Central Michigan University.

You can rest assured that when you hire Derek's, Door to Dreams Team, you will experience the best in service, resourcefulness, friendliness, and results!

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Thank you and please do keep us in mind when any of your friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, or otherwise are in need of professional services in Buying or Selling!

Agent Photos on Listing Yard Signs ... YAY or NAY??

I try to think out-of-the box as much as possible.  Some things I do because that is the way they are expected to be done ... other things I do because no one else is, and/or I find it unique or cool.  My business card is not a show-stopper, but I do receive compliments on it.  I am frequently asked, as I am sure you are, "Why do Real Estate people put their pictures on their cards?"  To which my canned answer is, "I believe we do it because the nature of our business is so personal ........"

But pictures on the sign?  I see it a lot.  That is something I don't do, and can't ever see myself doing.  Maybe if I was movie-star gorgeous ... but that ship sailed ... heck, it wasn't ever at the dock!!!  Actually, probably not even if I was movie-star gorgeous would I do that.

Agent's photos on signs ... yay or nay?  What do you in your business, and why?  Do you think you get or would get more business if your photo was or was not on the sign?  I'm anxious to hear...

What about you, the public?  What do you prefer to see?  What appeals and doesn't appeal to you?

Are you selling yourself ... Or just the Broker??

I very often have Agents tell me (or ask me why) they just don't understand why they didn't get a particular Buyer or Seller client ... afterall, they spent 30+ minutes talking about how great the company they work for is, how large the company's presence is, how impressive the company's list-to-sale ratio is and/or the company's ratio of asking price to sales price, etc.

"I just don't get it ... they went with someone else ... from the same company I work for!"

Hmmmmmmmmmm - guess you did a great job selling your Broker ... BUT, how much time did you spend selling yourself?  Selling the value YOU can add?  The skillset you can bring and how you are different/better?  Of course the company you represent is important ... if you weren't impressed and sold on them, you likely wouldn't be working there (at least I hope not).  However, YOU are the go-to person, TO the Seller / Buyer, FOR the Broker.  Therefore, they best be equally or even moreso impressed with your individual skills, then those of your Broker.  IF they are impressed with your Broker, but not you, your officemate may get the call, the business, and the paycheck.

This happened to me my first year in the business, but after I learned what was happening, I changed.  So, I have first-hand experience with this.

I hope some NEWER AGENTS, and/or some that may be struggling right now get some value out of this post ... and I look forward to hearing the insight of others, so that all of us can continue to learn from one another ... 

Please post your thoughts on this...

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For Southeastern Michigan / metro Detroit Real Estate, please visit http://www.doortodreams.com