sellers: Redneck Realtors on the Loose-Someone Help them PLEEZE!
- 03/14/10 10:53 AM
This is a blog from about 6 months ago but based on what I saw today whilst showing..it's completely relevant. You might want to get a mirror and check this out for yourself! Like it or not we are called upon to portray to the world, our professionalism. That extends to your hair!! This may sound trite, but as I look through some of the profiles of my colleagues on this and other sites, it seems we may have a problem!! We're stuck in the 70's and 80's with our hair and make up ladies! And guys..this can run for you … (4 comments)
sellers: Thanks for showing-now where's the FEEDBACK!!!!!!
- 03/14/10 06:19 AM
Miss manners I'm not and PC definitely not, but there is one thing that gets my goat on a regular basis in this industry. I don't believe it's a particular brokerage although some from specic firms are worse than others. I'm just venting a little here but I think it's integral to our business and professional appearance to give feedback after a showing. We're all very busy people. The last thing we need to do is track an agent down only to remind them of the style, color, street..whatever..of the listing they showed! Feedback is key to providing our sellers the … (4 comments)
sellers: Do Posting Your Listings on AR Help to Sell it?
- 03/13/10 07:37 AM
Is it me or does anyone else love AR because of the vast information and networking. But since I live in the south, I don't really feel a particular pang of love toward those listings from say, Sheboygan WI or Santa Fe, NM. I'd love to hear your feedback on why we do post our listings on AR. Is it for higher Google placement? Do they really draw buyers to your homes? I haven't done it yet but want to give my listings maximum exposure and feel that we do with the plethora of other sites for listing purposes only.
For over a year now my office has been preparing for the coming storm. Some of you are already beginning to see the rip currents but still havent' experienced the tsunami. DOOM GLOOM...Nope..not if you're prepared. What is the storm? The sarcastic side of me raises my eyebrow that you'd believe the media for one moment that the worst is over! Oh, but you say..I'm already doing great this year. Yup you will. So what's ahead. Now I'm no lender, market analyst or any such learn-ed creature. I'll tell you what I've been told and see if you agree … (30 comments)
sellers: This ain't the Bible Belt...it's the Buckle! Buying a home in the South
- 03/11/10 05:24 AM
Well some of you saw my previous post on Green homes so you're no stranger to the fact that I'm not PC when it comes to both life and Real Estate. And surprisingly my clients appreciate that. It's like going on a date and people tell you not to talk about religion or politics. Again surprisingly, those things come up during showings, listings and throughout real estate transactions with other agents all the time here in Greenville, Travelers Rest and the Upstate. People moving from out of state are exposed to a great culture shock. We're NICE here! Neighbors will come say … (5 comments)
sellers: PREAPPROVAL is CRUCIAL!!!
- 03/08/10 04:29 AM
Every week I get calls and emails from people out looking for homes who want to see them NOW. And I get showings from agents for their clients. Problem is...not Pre-Approved! What is up with that. You buyers agents should know better and for you clients, there are three key reasons why your pre-approval is so important.
1. A pre-approval is just that, taking your basic info and making sure that your credit is ok to go forward with a purchase. The benchmark of today's lenders is a score of 620. If you're not there, most can offer some kind … (3 comments)
sellers: IMPORTANT Advice for Your Investors and FHA Guidelines
- 11/30/08 06:04 AM
If you're working with investors buying or selling properties, or if you're an investor yourself, be aware that it's becoming more difficult to move these properties. In the contentious lending arena in which we find ourselves, things used to be easier...not so now. It's the old 90 day rule. We all should know as REALTORS that you cannot sell a property within 90 days if lending is involved due to transfer of the deed. Cash can still happen. Used to be that we could write a contract during this 90 day period and close on the 91st and all was well. … (4 comments)
sellers: Why is Duel or Designated Agency so Hard for Buyers to Understand
- 11/30/08 03:42 AM
Well I guess because the wording of the actual contract is lawyer talk! In South Carolina and here in Greenville, the Buyer Agency agreement is a 4 page jumble of marbles in the mouths of normal folk and even to most agents. Explaining it is another issue. And even when it's explained and you find yourself in that scenario, it can really spook a buyer. We love to sell our company listings and help our fellow agents, but the buyers think we're steering or leading because we tell them we're in Duel or Designated Agency. Of course we're not! We just happen … (7 comments)
sellers: Pricing Right in Today's Market
- 10/18/08 11:47 AM
We're all trying our best to keep up with rising and falling prices in real estate in our markets. Not to mention keeping up with the daily lending changes and laws. Let's not even talk about the DOW. So how do we make sure we're representing our sellers the best but still being completely honest in our pricing of their homes and makeing sure they understand that we're doing our best. After all, it's not OUR fault the market is wanky...we're trying to make a living too! #1 Instead of always looking at actives and solds for the past months, take … (6 comments)
sellers: Postive Networking Means ... SHUT UP!
- 10/15/08 06:27 AM
We're REALTORS. We love to talk! We love to talk about houses, markets, inventory, flips, you name it. But when it comes to networking the most mundane person you meet at the Chamber meeting is the person who tells you all about his business. BLAH BLAH BLAH When you were trying hard for that first date, what did you talk about. YOURSELF. And guess what? Then you shut up and let the other person talk about THEMSELF. If they said something you didnt' like, they were off the "cool" list. But if you really were into that person you listened hard, … (2 comments)
sellers: The Sky is Falling..Oh Wait..It's Still There!!!
- 10/14/08 01:34 AM
I was on vacation when the doom and gloom bust of the market fell. Know what? I decided to ignore it. I've been told this cycle happens every election. This heated debacle between McCain and Obama have exacerbated it no dout. But the bailouts didnt' help either.
I had several people try to explain to me exactly what was going on and why everyone was freaking out. The media frenzy made it worse (that's another blog). So me being the media junkie that I typically am...I ignored it! Only heard about it while on vacation. Heard every investor and media … (1 comments)
sellers: So Long..Farewell! Take a Break for YOU!
- 09/24/08 12:59 AM
It's been two and a half years...long working hard working years. A toddler, three flips and countless clients later..it's time. I've been putting it off for so long just to get that one last transaction in. But the end is near. Today is my last day. I'm not sad, I"m exhilarated! I'M FINALLY GOING ON VACATION! No I'm not stopping real estate. Just taking a break from phone, fax and blogging for about two weeks. Even my toddler needs a break. So it's off to see the "Rat's Castle" in Orlando and then to go on the "Rat's" big boat for … (2 comments)
sellers: I LOVE the Buyers In this Market Right NOW!
- 09/18/08 12:03 PM
Yeah ok..not all of them. But for the most part we have REAL buyers, buyers who are qualified, have good credit, nothing to sell or something under contract, and want to move NOW! Some of these buyers have been cultivated for nearly a year. Some just recent. But everyone in the past three weeks has been awesome to speak to, enthusiastic about the future - and trying not to watch the doom and gloom of the mainstream media. In other words people...there ARE still deals out there. I'm listing one for my pastors's son hopefully next week. You have to talk … (1 comments)
sellers: Greenspan Predicts Housing Crisis Ending Early 2009
- 08/13/08 02:11 PM
NAR Predicted end of this year and it does seem there are a few more buyers out there...but just a few. Former Federal Reserve Chair Allen Greenspan is predicting that the end will be more like mid 2009. But get this...he says the way to end it...to increase the number of home buyers by admitting more skilled immigrant workers. I say NO WAY. Let's get Americans off their tuff's and get them working instead of collecting social insecurity and let THEM buy homes. Well not under the next Presidents administration..no matter who you're voting for. I wish it were that easy. … (14 comments)
sellers: What do you REALLY want to Read??? Blog Suggestions?
- 08/01/08 12:49 PM
In the past few months I've blogged everything from listings to quirky stories to AR Help queries, to pooping in the potty. It seems that the Featured articles are so random. So I really want to know: I"m sure the AR community is filled with so many REALTORS who have so many stories. We don't want the operations and logisitics, the guts, what we want is the heart of these stories..am I right? I have so much in my brain and I'm a natural writer..If I wrote what is in my head they'd kick me off this site for sure. I'm … (12 comments)
sellers: A Poo Poo Driven Life-Realtors and Toddlers
- 07/30/08 02:04 PM
We've reached that milestone that happens to every parent and child on the planet. It begins with a vehement NOOOOO and usually ends in tears. That's what you get as a Realtor trying to grow and maintain business...with a toddler. My son turns 3 in October. While his vocabulary has increased and the verbage laughable day to day one thing remains constant....diapers. So this weekend, no clients, potty training! We will make a big production of throwing away any and all diapers..gawd help me! We've just recently moved into a big boy bed and if that isn't change enough, this one … (5 comments)
sellers: Steps to Save Your Buyers Thousands on Their Purchase
- 07/21/08 11:18 PM
When you analyze those successful agents who have helped homebuyers purchase a home for thousands of dollars below a seller's asking price, some common denominators emerge.Negotiating skills are important, on behalf of the agent, yes. But there are three additional key factors that must come into play long before you ever submit an offer. Make sure you know, and THEY KNOW, what they want . . . As simple as this sounds, many home -buyers don't have a firm idea in their heads before they go out showing. Typically, there are actually two homes competing for their attention: the one that … (3 comments)
sellers: Not a Real Estate Crisis, Not even a Mortgage Crisis...He Who Smelt It Dealt it!
- 07/16/08 08:24 AM
(*&^( Trickles downhill or so the saying goes. So in response to an earlier post about it being a Mortgage Crisis and not a Real Estate crisis, I would agree. Except it goes much farther than that. In fact our industry is exemplified except for the greedy agents and mortgage brokers who really DID take advantage over the past few years...but how many of them are YOU? Didn't think so. No my friends the (^*(^ trickles downhill. The true mess is our dependency on foreign oil, foreign captial to fund our companies, and foreign labor to do what we wont'. … (6 comments)
sellers: Not a Real Estate Crisis, Not even a Mortgage Crisis...He Who Smelt It Dealt it!
- 07/15/08 11:19 PM
(*&^( Trickles downhill or so the saying goes. So in response to an earlier post about it being a Mortgage Crisis and not a Real Estate crisis, I would agree. Except it goes much farther than that. In fact our industry is exemplified except for the greedy agents and mortgage brokers who really DID take advantage over the past few years...but how many of them are YOU? Didn't think so. No my friends the (^*(^ trickles downhill. The true mess is our dependency on foreign oil, foreign captial to fund our companies, and foreign labor to do what we wont'. I … (4 comments)
sellers: Friends SHAGGING while I'm trying to get pics of the SELLER's HOUSE!!
- 07/15/08 09:00 AM
No I'm serious... I go to this eloquent 5100 sq ft home on 24 acres with a 24 stall horse barn and full riding facilities to take pics for my seller. His "friend" has been staying there for a while while my seller has been updating this home to sell. I tell him I may have a buyer and want to send the buyer some pics of the home, land, pool ect so they can see how beautiful it is. I knock on the door..the "friend" anwers in just his shorts and tells me that he's informed the seller that today … (5 comments)
This is a blog from about 6 months ago but based on what I saw today whilst showing..it's completely relevant. You might want to get a mirror and check this out for yourself!;)
;)
