honesty: Do you think THAT is how you can "earn my business"? - 10/29/09 03:09 PM
I had a website company call me today... They wanted me to buy into their system. Since I have two closings in the next two business days, my time might be called a little crunched...
So, I asked for the quick version...
Two hours later we were approaching the "what is … (8 comments)
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honesty: Snarkaluffagus Anonimitous... Back Noise - 10/01/09 08:54 AM
While at New Media Atlanta last week I was introduced to a new tool toy. BackNoise. I think the easiest ways to describe it are as follows...
Back Noise: baak_noiz, 1. Useful tool to gauge reactions to speakers or other aspects of an event, allowing event participants to freely exchange information … (7 comments)
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honesty: Real Estate Agents Annoy Me... - 08/10/09 08:53 PM
I showed a client 17 properties today. We had narrowed down a list of 35 properties to 20... 3 of which turned out not to be available, although listed in the MLS as Active.
I called 10 agents this morning because they required a call before showing, including 3 that had … (17 comments)
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honesty: That isn't the strategy for a better deal... - 07/12/09 11:59 PM
I had a buyer call me recently. He wanted info on a property I had listed. It wasn't what he was looking for, so I asked what he was trying to find... Reluctantly, he shared a little with me.
I knew of another property that was listed with another agent. I … (6 comments)
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honesty: How can there be success without failure? - 07/03/09 11:52 PM
It is an easy question, but I think it is VERY appropriate as we meander into the 4th of July holiday.
How can there be success without failure?
Our forefathers built a country that changed the world. On these shores, anyone could succeed. The Horatio Alger story could be real. A … (11 comments)
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honesty: Broker Fees? - 06/25/09 10:15 PM
I’ve seen an annoying new trend. Buyer and Seller “Broker Fees”. It may go by various names, but amounts to the same thing… what Clark Howard would call a Junk Fee.
These are quite different from the other fees that may be involved in a real estate transaction, and there are … (9 comments)
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honesty: I don't care WHAT the instructions are... you WILL submit the offer... - 06/03/09 12:01 PM
I am getting pretty tired of seeing...
Offer will not be submitted to seller unless buyer prequalifies with ___ Mortgage.
Let me give you a clue... Yes, you WILL submit the offer. It may be rejected by your client, but you will submit the offer. If you don't, feel free to … (15 comments)
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honesty: My House is Worth What? - 05/09/09 09:28 PM
I can't think of a question that I am asked more...
What is my home worth?
And there as many answers as there are times the question is asked. There are a lot of sources for the information...
Appraisers
Real Estate Agents
Automated Valuation Models
And the results come in many … (0 comments)
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honesty: Pre-Listing Inspections for Sellers? Good Idea? - 05/01/09 07:33 PM
One morning last week I dropped by 590 Baltimore Ave in Lilburn to meet with the sellers and the inspector. They were having a pre-listing inspection performed to make sure that everything was in perfect condition.
It is obvious from just walking through that the property has been well cared for … (6 comments)
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honesty: Cheap sex and real estate... - 04/28/09 10:31 AM
I don't know why, but I was reminded this morning about two very different people, one quote from both, and how cheap sex is like real estate success... for some.
Back when I first got into real erstate, a local "power agent" told me that the goal was to list as … (8 comments)
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honesty: Another intemperate thought... real estate related... - 02/14/09 10:27 PM
I don't recall where I saw it, but I ran across a comment by a real estate agent about how prices are getting out of line... they are just crazy low. It was something to the effect of "I can't wait until these crazy prices go away and we get back … (6 comments)
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honesty: That's a mighty nice crop of PVC you got there... - 02/11/09 04:27 PM
I actually got the call a couple of weeks ago... but didn't file it in my brain as a blog topic until today. I was driving back from a meeting (ok, it was really mall walking with my boys) and passed an abandoned townhome project. Sticking out of the ground … (6 comments)
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honesty: I turned down a listing today... because it was the right thing to do... - 02/07/09 12:49 PM
I just got back with a meeting with a potential client. We had a great time chatting about the market, her house, the area and where she wants to move back to. We shared stories about family and friends. In fact, it was less a meeting than a long awaited meeting … (46 comments)
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honesty: Government spending is NOT the answer, Part II - 02/07/09 12:38 AM
I wrote about why I don't think government spending is that answer to the current crisis, but there is something that I didn't include in that post... because it deserves a post all of its own.
And it comes down even more specifically why the government should NOT be the source … (30 comments)
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honesty: Moving day for kids... OLD memories. - 01/26/09 11:56 PM
When I was a kid we moved a few times. The first one doesn't count (I was 1... didn't care). But, when I was 6 we moved across town in Jackson, MI. Since my Dad was a teacher, we moved during the summer, because that was when there was time.
It … (4 comments)
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honesty: The best agent to use is the one that tells me the highest price... - 01/22/09 11:27 PM
This is one that really chaps my hide. I understand it from the consumer perspective, but at the same time, it is still a giant misconception.
As a consumer, it is always a good idea to talk with a couple of agents before selecting the one to list with. But the … (27 comments)
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honesty: Keep the Mystery alive... or not - 01/14/09 12:37 AM
Many agents and sellers think that one of the ways to create interest is to give the listing an "air of mystery" by tightly controlling how much info they release... thinking less is better.
Let me tell you... that isn't a good idea, unless there is a VERY small group of … (7 comments)
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honesty: Shouldn't I have seen a bubble? - 01/10/09 11:08 AM
I received a comment via email on another blog I posted about Price and Value. Here is the comment:
I could not figure out how to post on your blog. I would have been the only who would question or challenge your post.Those real agents who in agreement with your blog,were … (3 comments)
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honesty: Value and Price... related, but like second cousins... - 01/08/09 08:50 PM
Ok, I have written about it before, but it is time again to talk about why "I bought it for 20% under list" means absolutely NOTHING in the world of real estate.
This is a common misconception... but still a misconception. As an agent, I hear buyers (investors or peoplelooking for … (44 comments)
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honesty: Frankly Fun! Part II - 01/08/09 10:26 AM
So I started the story yesterday... And I want to pay it off.
Let me start by saying that the blogger that shook them up is Frank Llosa. He is one of the most forward thinking and technically astute brokers in the country... he has even built his own MLS that … (7 comments)
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