It seems everyone has an "expert" opinion when it comes to real estate. Too many don't understand the value of having an agent that is up to date on what is really happening in their market.

Robert - I do find I spend a larger percentage of my time overcoming bad advice from friends and family.

Great Job Randy! I love it!

so very true...

Cheers,
Uzi Husain
Arizona Realtor, serving Goodyear & The Phoenix metropolitan area

This is just a spin off on all of the online explosion, and How To, books. Regarding the suggestions you have, lots of people today do not see a doctor when they are sick and do not see a plumber when they have a drain problem.....they go online or buy a book on "minor surgery for dummies" or "unplugging your old and worn drain for dummies."

I love it!   Sort of the jack of alltrades master of none theory in action.  There are definite advantages of seeking educated opinions for specific needs.  A podiatrist knows very little about Veterinary Medicine!

Good job!

Randy,

Did I tell you this one? The roofer is now a LO and a Realtor and a appraiser.

My guard at my gate is a landscaper and a Realtor and my pool guy is a bartender...hope he dosen't mix my drinks with chlorine! Oh I forgot the al time best....my new LO is a captain of a crabbing ship in Alaska..I hope his ship doesn't sink as fast as all the deals he has and does that mean if the captain goes down with the ship then he is willing to go down with the deal?

Great post. We have all had to over come this expert advice. I think in laws give the wrost advice.

I did a post "Your Mortgage Advisor is WHO?"

you wouldn't believe how many people know more about a person's intimate financial state than I do! they know how to tell someone about their loan program, what rate is best for them and what they should require from me in points, closing fees, and whatever...

it makes my job so much easier when I get a client that is unprequalified that already knows that their 600 credit score will get them a 5.5% interest rate on a mobile home with a foreclosure on their credit 4 years ago.  I just don't have to spend ANY time researching and can get to the next big money commission on the next call from someone whose son, a barber in Turkey, has told her to get a $200,000 condo in Florida with 20% down when she has $30K in the bank....

things that make you go...hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

In the Marines, we called the non-legal personnel who dispensed legal advice "Sea Lawyers".  As now, we were advised not to pay attention to their advice and to use an expert in which ever field we wanted advice.  The same applies to real estate.  

Stephanie - Thank you

Uzi - Yes

Steven - They also run of ideas planted in their head from unqualified friends.

Neal - I do not think I would ever want to deal with anyone not good enough to do something full time.

Loretta - Thank you

David - It is funny what clients repeat sometimes.  When someone repeats obviously bad advice I ask them; where did you hear that?  It is usually from a friend or family member who has no experience in the business.

Randy, I truley hope to get to meet you one day, this way I can see your face and hear your voice as you tell of one of your transactions. You offer some really good advice, I hope people will listen. One day they will figure out that Real Estate Agents do not get their licenses from the botton of a ceral box and work very hard for what they do.

Lysa - Thank you for those kind words.

That was great Randy....well....NEXT!

i'd agree 100%

Sally - Thanks

J.R. - It seems to be getting coming up more every year.

Now come on Randy everybody knows that uncle Charlie sold and bought two houses, and he knows everything, so why they listen to someone else, just because they do this for a living.  Come on get serious, you can't compete with uncle Charlie.  There is just one problem with uncle Charlie, you ain't going to be able to find him when everything falls apart.

Good post, Randy. We really need to prepare a conduct contract with our clients to make sure we go down the list of all the things we do NOT want them to do, like buy a SUV after their offer has been accepted and their mortgage is being evaluated.

True, true, true. Thanks so much. I've bookmarked this page.

George - That is the problem.  Those giving the advice will disappear fast when things are going bad.

Don - Amazing how many times that happens.

Teri - Thank You

Randy,

Right On, Brother!

However, my last medical procedure felt like it was done by a plumber instead of my doctor!

Lucky :)

Yes, good post.  I also like it when you spend all your time either answering questions on the phone, or showing properties, then the buyer says "By the way my sister is a Realtor and wants to write the offer."  Yep, everyone is either giving info, or trying to get a piece of the pie.

Randy - great advice to the seller and buyers - I just went on a listing appointment yesterday that the seller actually said "my bank teller told me to list at $365,000" the home comps out at about $310,000 - gotta love it

Lucky - If you had it done by a plumber it might cost more. LOL

Kathy - I had one of those last year.

Thesa - I have a client whose tax man told her she should take the home off the market and wait a year, because it will go up another $100,000.  I need to find out where the tax man bought his crystal ball.

Randy,

"Butt" then you'd have the "crack" to deal with too!  (Stop me, please)

Hey, where do you get those cool cartoon things?

Lucky :)

Lucky - Too Funny.

The cartoons are clip art.  I get most of them from an old version of PrintShop software.

Randy... this is so very true and not only on your side of the fence, but with loan officers and lending. I think I used one of your same examples about the doctor thingy in one of my posts.

One thing I will say..  you do need to start some where and being new is the first place. But I think it either comes down to how that person is trained.... or how serious that they take their job. I find these to be larger issues than sometimes of the greater numbers in our business. But I do believe that it needs to be curbed overall. Good post...

Jeff - The secret is using a professional on all sides of the business.

Randy-I couldn't say it better myself!  What an awesome post!  Tell it like it is....

Midori - Thank you!  That was very nice of you.

Randy, This is so true!  I agree with you totally.  I recently had a Seller who thought he would be better at negotiating his deal than me (I have taken multiple negotiating classes and am a top producer with my company).  He contacted the buyer and guess what happened???  They were completely different personalities and we almost lost the deal!  Me and the Selling agent had to undo what had been done to get the house under contract. It is scheduled to close on June 8th and my Seller is not allowed to contact the Buyer!

Sheri - I have made a business practice because of things like that, to go over with buyers what is their role and responsibilities in the process.  I try to avoid this from happening as much as possible.

I will agree with you on two fronts, that we now must contend with "......Dummie" books, and the internet, but i also feel that there are some bad agents out there giving most of us a black eye who are in the biz.

I find this to be sad, but true.

John - There are bad folks in every industry.  Our industry tends to attract many because it is one of the few opportunities to go into business for yourself with a modest investment.

  This is a fabulous post  I spend so much correting the information PEOPLE are telling my clients that is completely wrong. I want to give all my clients ear plugs so that they can't listen to people anymore. With all teh Real Estate show on TV everyone is an expert ow and suprisingly the people with the least knowledge doubt us the most. Because we only go to school, get liciened, participate in continung educationa nd get designations. And they watch a show on Bravo LOL

    This unfortunately has lead a lot of peopleto think they can be a real estate flipper and then realize when it is too late that they are over their heads and headed to financial ruin. I wonder if there will be law suits against home improvement shows in  the future from people that lost money on flipping.In such a litigious society I expect those soon.

Sandra - I saw where on of the cable networks pulled some of their episodes because they were phonied up by the people on the show.

Great post, soooooo true!  I am currently working with several buyers and all of their friends are telling them the market is headed down 20-30 percent!  I wish I knew what they know.

Ana - They must have a good crystal ball

Randy:

Listen to this one, on outside advise,  It cost the buyer $5000, and maybe more in the future.

It seems that a fellow agent in the office had taken this buyer thur the process of pre-approval, finding the house that met the needs, a home inspection (the resulting negotiations to get things otherthan electical, heating, and plumbing fixed), appraisal (offer was right on the cusp). 

The agent called the buyer the night before to be sure the buyer know where to be for the closing and at what time.  Buyer was to take some time off from work and met the agent at the closing.  8PM the night before and all is well.

4PM and no buyer, 4:20PM and no buyer.  4:30Pm the aent calls the buyer to see if he is stuck in traffic.

No, he was not stuck in traffic; but on the advise of his neighbor ( a baker) he will not be buying the house.  The neighbor say that prices are still coming down and he should wait 6 months more.  The neighbor is a renter just like him.

Well the seller is getting the earnest money for none performance by the buyer, and if the house does not sell for atleast the same amount he is talking a lawsuit.  By the way the seller needed to sell to buy his next home.

Bob - I wonder what the baker will say now?  maybe he should have asked his friend the car mechanic for real estate advice.

Randy

Little did I know when I became a Realtor I would be reliving a phrase I just hated as a Behavioral Counselor.  "Oh yes, I took a year of psychology in school."  They make it sound like just that one year would qualify them for what I did.  If I had known that I would have saved myself about 11 years of school.  Now that I'm a Realtor I get the same thing. "Everyone tells me I should be a Realtor because people like me so  much." Or the one I love, "I have been thinking about becoming a Realtor because you guys make so much money."  We as individuals have at times a tendency to under play the value of what other do for a living, and if they are good at what they do they make it look so very easy everyone thinks they can do it. 

Roberta - Maybe that is part of the problem, I make it look too easy.

Randy

I bet that is the problem.  You make writing look easy so why wouldn't it be the same with Real Estate? I do enjoy your posts. :)

i really love all relatives and friends.

my favorite is when a buyer is looking for the right mortgage program and suddenly his fellow employee, in the next cubicle, who hasn't spoken to him in the last 10 years, becomes his trusted financial consultant. it's even better when their in a business, like waste management, which is obviously so closely tied.

now i'm the one who has to engage in the waste management business. 

Roberta - Thank you for those kind words.

Jay - It happens not just in the office but even on the trucks.

If you are in need of medical services seek a doctor and not a plumber. - Funny-thing is I am working on converting a FSBO who is a Doctor, One thing I said to him was "Would you let a patient take out their own appendix?"

Joe - I am sure you made him think about that.  Hopefully my whit works more than it back fires.

Very good post. I don't know how I missed seeing it earlier. It is amazing how everyone is an expert. I run into that frequently where someone is seeking advice from someone out of the local area. It would be like me giving advice on purchasing a home in HI!

Gary - I would not give market advice in Florida either.  I may help find a good agent and then get out of the way.

Every body wants to be an expert.  Tough business.

Ben - The tough part is that they not only want to be an expert many believe they are.

I like the hairdressers that give you real estate advice...when I am sitting in the chair and they are telling ME about the market, those moments are priceless!

Jennifer - I had a hotel worker who knows I am a Realtor do that the other evening.  It would have been funny if he wasn't so wrong about almost everything that came out of his mouth.  I hate to guess how many people he gave the same bad advice to.

OK Randy, now I'm getting it. My first blog boo-boo.  Still what a great find reading your blogs! Keep up the great work!  Aloha~ My husband and I absolutely love Hawaii and he would move there in a heart beat.

Diane Velikis

Aloha Diane - Welcome to Active Rain.  You can always visit the islands anytime.  It is a great place to vacation.

Randy,  We have all had to deal with the "experts" giving advice to our seller or buyer.  A listing I just sold was such a situation that cost the seller some money because they wouldn't adjust the price sooner because their "friend" advised them to keep the price high because people like to make offers and negotiate on the price.  We professionals know "how well" that is working in this market - overpriced listings do not entice offers.

It can be frustrating some times.

Great post, I love your ananlogies and plan on using them in the future :)

Dawn - Thank you, I have used them more than once.

Great post!  I think because of all the real estate shows on tv, people think they are real estate experts.  They don't realize all the legal ramifications.  Crazy. Thanks!

Loved this post!! I usually ask them - If you needed a surgery would you ask your brother in law to do it, just cause he read it about somewhere? Of course not, you've seek out the best of the best to perform the surgery. In this case I am the surgeon!

Valerie - Most do will not be around when the chips fall later.

Vincent - That is a good way to present it.

Randy, I recently read a post by Jason Crouch on clients getting advice from friends and relatives. This has prompted me to want to do a post on "deal Killers." I found your post while researching what others had to say on this subject. I liked your post. I may reference it in my post. Thanks.

BTW we all face this all the time. It's nice to see you put it in a humorous light.

Bill Roberts

Bill - Sometimes you have to see the humor.  The sad part is that I have seen several people get hurt following the bad advice.

Boy, do I have some stories to tell you all.  I'll have to post them in a blog sometime soon.  You'll be amazed.

Rob - I look forward to reading them.

We should all right a blog about the hairbrained advice our buyers have gotten.  I love the one about the buyer who didn't show up because his neighbor (a baker) told him it wasn't the right time....Bye bye earnest money...

Ruthmarie - At least they didn't get the advice from their plumber who is in bankruptcy.

Great post!  I love how family and friends seem to have better knowledge than the person in the profession!  If I ever have to go to the hospital for surgery, I will make sure I give the Doctor advice before he begins the surgery!  :)

Rick - If you are not sure what advice to give the surgeon, as your plumber.  LOL

So True!! :)

Rhonda - :)

Great post - I lost a sale on a 6.3million dollar deal once because the sellers friend (a self proclaimed real estate investing expert - in a different state) gave him some outrageous advice. Apparently full price offers aren't good enough if your an expert!!!

I did once ask my plumber where to buy jeans:)

Tim - I just had another one this week and had to use the chest pain and plumber scenario.  We are back on track.

I love the scenario part!  It's so true about our clients listening to people that have bought or sold a home once in their life-time!  Thanks for sharing this.

Alma & Vincent - The worst is those giving advice who have never even owned a home.

I had a guy call me about a listing that I have and asked for all of the details about the property.  Once he had heard all he wanted, he proceeded to tell me that if he decided to make an offer, he would do it himself to the seller to save on the commission.  I had to explain to him what the situation was because he thought that if he made the offer directly to the seller, I would not get a commission for the property selling.  He just thought the seller could forget about me and he would be the hero for saving the seller money!  Again, someone thinking he knows it all by listening to someone who doesn't work in the real estate field.

Carolyn - He would not have saved a dime and would not have been represented.  The friend who gave him that advice will probably not be his friend when things blow up.

Now if only they would listen!!

Sally - Some days it gets harder.  I am finding more and more amateur experts.  Those TV shows are contributing.

Very true...I sold real estate for about five years or so and am now in construction.  When in real estate...every buyer and seller seemed to know more than me.  They figured that I was young and not as experienced but did not realized that I had a good head on my shoulder and also had mentors helping guide me throughout the entire process.  My best example is where I listed a house about $15,000 over the value and the house sat for months even in a booming market.  It was a very unique house only fitting a certain buyer.   Wouldn't you know that the house finally sold within $2,000 of what I suggested in the first place.  So instead of having multiple offers the sellers had one offer that they had to accept since they were purchasing another house (another interesting story).  And of course in construction, everyone is an expert.  I have been in construction since my teenage years and my father has been in business for over 30  years and still to this day there are amateur experts!  Great blog and you just have to prove to your customers that there is a reason why you utilize the term REALTOR and it is not just something you purchased online!  Thanks.

Vincent - That is difficult to deal with.  The harder ones are the ones where they have no confidence and they are relying on bad advice from family and friends who do not know what they are talking about.