It has been a long time and maybe a Refresher is necessary so we can explain where we are coming from with our Real Estate Representation Business.
Over a Decade Ago - we purchased our first home. Paris and I were taken by the agent that represented us and did not disclose some very pertinent facts related to a few things:
- Our Agent's relationship with the Seller
- Known issues with the Plumbing at the home we wanted
- Steering away from New Construction (they were not cooperating at the time)
- Only showing us listings from this agents office (explaining that nothing else was available
Topic 1, Our Agents Relationship with the Seller: Yes it is very important, when someone is related to another in this business it has to be disclosed, when the seller has a real estate license it has to be disclosed - disclose, disclose and disclose some more.
Topic 2, Known issues with the Plumbing at the home we wanted: Come to find out the main Sewer Pipe of the home had been band-aided in the past several times, when the seller was asked, he said it was fine. When we asked our representative, he told us he does not know of any plumbing issues and that is would be fine. But fine it wasn't - after we moved in we called a plumber because we were ankle deep in CRAP - The entire main needed to be replaced. The plumbing company knew the agent and seller, even told me that our agent had called them recently to rooter out the pipe so the water would flow temporarily.
Topic 3, Steering away from New Construction: Back in the day the MLS was based on a Dot Matrix printout that each office was able to get each and every morning. Inside of this black and white typewritten catalog of homes were different homes for sale in the different cities. So you really did need an agent to search for real estate. At the time that we started looking for homes, we encountered Stevenson Ranch, we visited the models and loved them. We thought we would hire an agent as well to have a look at used homes. This agent told us that we did not want Stevenson Ranch and that it was plagued by bad construction and may TAX implications. (We were Young, listened and did not verify from any other source)
Topic 4, this is a definite no-no: This as the appearance of evil written all over it. But the searches were not Internet based as they are today. You can visit any one of the Real Estate Search sites that we have put together and pay for, to view every property that is listed for sale - ours and everyone. We had no way of verifying what was for sale and what was not. When we encountered a property by driving around - we would ask our agent and he would tell us that it was in escrow or sold.
It all ended well - I was able to get paid back the thousands of dollars I needed to spend on the replacement of hte main. But not without a lot of Tears and stress. But it did finally happen. In order to understand what I was up against, both Paris and I went Real Estate School. So we became "learned" in the craft of Real Estate. At least in a very "surface level" way. It took the accumulation of the past 11 years to really understand how this Real Estate thing functions and hundreds of Transactions Later, I might add.
During that time I was full Time LAPD - Paris was the Agent in the Trenches conduction a Full Time Real Estate Business. Paris was tried by fire and her negotiation skills exceed anyone I have encountered to date. It is not Paris' negotiation ability with our Clients that I am speaking about. In fact we are not negotiators with our clients we are "informational" we are question answerer's, informers, and protectors with our Real Estate Clients.
I would feel confident and bet everything on Paris' ability to negotiate with any other agent in this Real Estate Industry - she is Brilliant and has most outgunned straight out of the shoot.
Speaking of Shooting, a passion of mine, I retain my reserve status with the LAPD and am certified as a Handgun, Shotgun, Glock, Radar, Laser instructor. I am currently assigned to Emergency Operations with the Motors - I teach them the block of instruction that involved the integration of the shotgun and pistol with the Two wheeled police motorcycle. I had the pleasure of working with Glendale Police Department Motors just recently. After meeting the Glendale Police Department Motors I have to say that "motors are motors" no matter where or with what agency they are the same, which is a true blessing.
I hope this sheds some light on REMAX's Paris911 Team, which is headquatered in the Santa Clarita Valley California. I would ask that if you are looking for any real estate information you just drop a dime and speak with me toll free at 877-977-REMAX / 877-977-7362 or shoot me an e-mail at remax@paris911.com.
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