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SMARTMONEY MAG SMEARS REALTORS - MY FEES ARE NEGOTIABLE

By
Real Estate Agent with Inactive

SMARTMONEY MAGAZINE article by SmartMoney Magazine Staff Published July 7, 2009

The tone of this article is wrought with shameless self promotion for the magazine and the named sources that are quoted in it. The writer(s) also make reference to quotes from un-named sources in a very unprofessional job of reporting. They are creating a story and their story in untrue.

My Fees Are Negotiable - While this is a true statement the context in which it is made is misleading at best and factually wrong. For example, the writer(s) make the claim that the number of brokers sharply increased during the housing bubble and 'that same surplus of brokers is still out there competing for even fewer listings.'

Poor fact checking in an overt attempt to defame Real Estate Brokers.

It should be obvious that there is a glut of properties on the market. In my local market we have an inventory that will take 5 years to sell off. Yet the writer claims that there are 'fewer listings.'

Write to your State and National Association of Realtors.

See related blogs.

Posted by

George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465

Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

Janice Roosevelt
Keller Williams Brandywine Valley - West Chester, PA
OICP ABR, ePRO,Ecobroker

Will have to read this one, it does sound like very poor journalism.

Jul 12, 2009 05:09 AM
Stephen Kappre
KW Hometown - Mantua, NJ
Helping You Home

Sad. Did they also mention that sooo many agents are no longer in the business? And their first point, about the agent suggesting an open house ... in my experience most agents know open houses are often useless. The fact is the clients usually request them. After reading just that first point I stopped reading.

Jul 12, 2009 05:15 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

In our market it's fewer agents and more listings.  Only just checking with NAR would have confirmed that membership has decreased.

Jul 12, 2009 05:38 AM
Raymond Stoklosa
Eleven Oaks Realty - Austin, TX
CRS, ABR

We all know real estate commissions are negotiable, and listing agreements state so in bold type in California.  But let's be clear when we say commissions are negotiable we don't mean that we must work for whatever a seller or buyer wants to pay us.  And it certainly does not mean we must rebate any portion of our fee for the privilege of representing a client.

Every service provider determines the amount he or she charges for their services.  The client can decide whether to pay for it.  That's life.

Jul 12, 2009 05:52 AM
George Bennett
Inactive - Port Orford, OR
Inactive Principal Broker, GRI

Hi Janice, It appears that the writer had a personal bias and was intent on finding and citing only the sources that support the writer's bias.

Jul 12, 2009 10:00 AM
George Bennett
Inactive - Port Orford, OR
Inactive Principal Broker, GRI

Steve - No they didn't mention that particular detail no any other details that didn't support the writer's personal bias. It was clear after reading item 1 in the writer's list of 10 things your real estate broker won't say that this was a smear job. The real estate broker's won't say these things because they are not true.

Jul 12, 2009 10:05 AM
George Bennett
Inactive - Port Orford, OR
Inactive Principal Broker, GRI

Hi Silvia - Clearly the writer had no intention of fact checking his/her work or asking anyone at NAR for feedback.

Jul 12, 2009 10:06 AM
George Bennett
Inactive - Port Orford, OR
Inactive Principal Broker, GRI

Hi Raymond - Our listing agreements state this as well and if they weren't then there would be charges brought against brokerages for price fixing.

Jul 12, 2009 10:09 AM