I was doing my Thursday night bowling routine in Denver and one of my team members has just accepted an offer on her house that she has been trying to sell for over 1 year.  That is all good, but the Buyers want to spend a night in the house before they close the deal.

Have anyone ever had this type of request?  Are there rules that you give to the Buyers before their night in the house?  My friend has a dog and she isn't sure about leaving the dog with these strangers.  She hasn't closed the deal so she hasn't packed any of her personal belongings either.  She wanted my input on what to do and I need your input if you have experienced this situation and how you handled it.

The Kochster

http://www.tomkochrealestate.com/

I have heard that some Realtors have had great luck with using Face-book to present themselves and their services.  They have also found long lost friends from school and previous jobs.

Is Face-book worth the time to create and maintain?

What kind of leads have you received as a result of your Face-book site?

Are there any other sites that work for older people like me, you know the 45+ crowd?

Thanks for the help!

The Kochster

I always wonder what comments or catch phrases in a listing that is posted on our MLS that gets Brokers to read the listing, other then just the price.  One listing on a true fixer upper I used "Stinky little fixer upper that smells like money!"  I saw it in a publication so I used it and I think it explains the property perfectly.  Is there a website or publication that has different examples of copy for just this purpose???  Thanks for the help.

I need some help with this one.  A colleague in my office was going through a HUD settlement sheet the other day on a sale he was doing for his customer.  When he asked the lender why there was a back load on the loan the lender said I don't divulge that information.  The RE Broker said that the contact stated that the origination fee would not exceed 1%, but on the HUD the total going to the lender was 1.9%.  Can anything be done about that or who do you contact to report this type of behavior?

It's not enough to make disclosures to all the parties; you must put everything in writing. Having a paper trail describing exactly how a transaction was handled can make all the difference in the world if you find one of your transactions being questioned by a client or you state's real estate commission.

Documenting your disclosures can be as simple as keeping a ledger in your file on a given property that keeps track of what you said, who you made the disclosure to and when you made the disclosure. Or, you can write a letter or e-mail to your client or other interested parties confirming that you spoke with them, the substance of your conversation and when that conversation took place and print a hard copy with dates and time. In addition, it's a good practice to create a form that discloses your status as a broker or salesperson and the nature of your financial interest in the property for your client to sign or initial.  I have created what I call the "Contract Follow-up Sheet" and I would be happy to e-mail to anyone that would like one.  Just drop me a note TomK@TLRealEstate.com.

Finally, make sure your status as a real estate broker or salesperson is clearly reflected in any contracts you sign when you are purchasing or selling property for yourself in a personal capacity or when you are purchasing or selling property on behalf of your firm. Remember, the name of the game here is to disclose, disclose, disclose all information in regard to your personal interest in a real estate transaction.

It is Still Summer in Breckenridge!

Labor Day Weekend - September 1-3, 2007
This is the perfect weekend to see everything Breckenridge has to offer! Beautiful weather, activities and events such as the Great Divide Arts and Crafts Fair, the Summit Foundation's Rubber Duck Race and Sidewalk Sale Days will keep your clients excited and entertained.

Breckenridge Singletrack Festival - September 7-9, 2007
The Breckenridge Singletrack Festival is the first carbon-neutral mountain bike festival to take place in Colorado. The festival will bring mountain bike enthusiasts together at 9,600+ feet to enjoy mountains of riding on Breckenridge's numerous singletrack trails, fun games, cold beer, free clinics and green awareness.

Octoberfest - September 14-16, 2007
Grab your stein, put on your lederhosen, and get ready for Breckenridge's 13th Annual Oktoberfest! The festival has become a Breckenridge mainstay and offers Oompah music, Bavarian food, German brews and kids' activities. Join Breckenridge and Paulaner Bier for the best Oktoberfest in the mountains. The Octoberfest Package is an excellent way for your clients to save money while enjoying one of Breckenridge's premiere events.  Contact me for an additional information you might desire.