Do you have $40,000 to give away??? Agent Negligence Suit in Process - 11/30/06 10:50 AM
 
How far does a fiduciary duty or responsibility extend? As a listing agent, it can go pretty far. As this lawsuit amply displays, we are more than "marketers" and have significant responsibilities in working for and with our listing clients. We need to be constantly assessing and evaluating our actions and responsibilities to all of our clients or, we may find ourselves scrutinizing our E&O policy to see what's next.
Negligence Lawsuit over Gas Shutdown Reinstated An Ohio appellate court has considered whether a real estate broker breached his fiduciary duty by failing to notify an absent owner that the gas … (17 comments)

Would you walk on this roof???? - 11/24/06 06:07 PM
A listing of mine sold recently in Arlington, VA, that had a very nice and expensive tile roof. I was minding my own business or whatever it is that Broker’s do at the office, when I received a call from a very peeved and frustrated Buyer Agent. He was accompanying the Purchaser for the home inspection. The Purchaser and the Inspector were at an impasse about the roof: the Purchaser wanted him to go up on it and insure its’ integrity and stability; the inspector refused citing personal liability if any of the tiles should happen to break while he was … (6 comments)

Happy Thanksgiving!!! - 11/23/06 12:01 PM
 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!  May you always have much for which to be thankful!!!          MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY, MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP,MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS,MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNERSTAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS.GOBBLE TIL YOU WOBBLE...   … (8 comments)

New Math on the Old Commission? - 11/17/06 08:03 AM
As recently reported in the Washington Post, with the ever increasing public access to housing and other MLS data, it’s not surprising that more sellers are asking more questions about the services provided by prospective listing agents. More often than not, savvy homeowners are dumping loyalty to their former selling agent, the residential “farmers” who bring a pumpkin in the fall, a calendar in December and flower seeds in the spring. Property owners are more regularly starting to ask tough questions about service levels for how much fee.
It seems like more than a few Realtors are changing their strategies as … (17 comments)

Employment Opportunity: Bi-Lingual Executive Assistant - Real Estate - Arlington, VA - 11/14/06 05:25 AM

I need help!! 
Exciting opportunity to work in a growing Real Estate office in Arlington,VA, that wishes to provide a higher level of service to the Spanish-Speaking Community. If you demonstrate the interest and potential, we will assist you in getting your own real estate license and train you to be an effective Realtor. Hours of work will vary. A majority of the time will be on weekdays, but will also include some evenings and some weekend afternoons.
Interested candidates will: be friendly and truly enjoy helping others; have a good sense of humor, be neat in appearance and wear professional attire. … (2 comments)

Relocation Companies: Necessary Evil or Just Evil? - 11/11/06 05:28 AM
For many years, the relocation service providers have waxed and waned right along with the rest of us. While Realtors, in general, have made strides to keep pace with technology enhancements, consumer preferences and improvements in the process of how we list and sell properties, relocation companies seemed to have enhanced only in being a more pointed-pain-in-the-neck.
Has anyone ever figured out how they merit a 35% referral fee? Granted, sometimes, there is a service needed in assisting families from moving from city/state to another, but if Realtors had been doing their jobs effectively and consistently all along, we could have … (7 comments)

Only volunteer what you know - 11/07/06 07:31 AM
It doesn’t seem to vary much with experience levels, but there are just too many agents out there trying to be something they are not. Being a chronic service volunteer for more than 35 years, I know about wanting to help others and, I have also learned when not to help.
At least monthly, you can pick any number of real estate industry journals, flip to the legal section and, see that some, usually - but not always, well-intentioned agent being successfully sued by a financially injured buyer or seller for warranting something they had absolutely no definitive knowledge about. In … (1 comments)

Softly International: A Bed for Every Child - 11/05/06 02:39 PM
 
Hi All
Wish us luck! This is part of what I call Life After Work! If you haven't heard of Softly International, please check them out at
www.SoftlyInternational.org
 
      Benefit Concert for  
      Softly International
   “A bed for every child!”
 
       Broadway and other Love Songs:
 The Good, the Bad & the Ugly – Act II
 
           Presented by: “Inspiration”
 
     Sunday, November 5, 2006 – 7:00pm
 Tickets: $20

Concert location: Unity of Fairfax Church, 2854 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA  22124
Directions: I-495 to I-66 West; Exit @ Rt. 123 North; Left Hunter Mill Rd; ¼ … (2 comments)

Who really owns this property? Or why you need title insurance, Part III - 11/03/06 07:17 AM
Several years ago, I was sitting at the closing table with my sellers while the buyers’ agent was trying to convince his clients that they really needed to purchase the owner’s portion of title insurance, which in this case amounted $975. They said the title search completed showed that the property was clear of liens and encumbrances, the seller had signed a document stating there were no mechanic liens; they didn’t need it.
My seller clients had been sitting there quietly listening to the conversation. When the buyer agent finally gave up, the seller said, “I’m sure you understand this is … (11 comments)