I'm in the back of my office working away on plans for 2010. Marketing tweaking, video watching, article reading (absorbing a la the sponge) and anything else I can think of to be more productive and, overall, better for myself and clients in the coming year.

In walks an agent from a nearby office in a nearby town to pick up an offer from one of our agents (not me *sad face*). Our office is not huge, so as I work, I can hear every word they're blabbing about. I'm trying my darndest to not pay attention when a particular rant about "cutting commission" came up.

Do I listen? I don't need to know her thoughts. I. Just. Can't. Help. Myself.......

This agent will not cut his/her commission because, and I quote (hence the quotation marks), "I don't ask them to give up half their paycheck." Fair enough. You win. I'm in your boat lady (or man).

But then I fall out of it. And I'm a poor swimmer apparently. Rational wisdom is followed by this: "And some of them want me to upgrade and have all 9 pictures from the MLS on Realtor.com. I'm not doing that. 4 is enough. I'm not spending $1,400 a year on upgrading Realtor.com. You know who's going to sell this house? The MLS. Some local REALTOR with an interested buyer will sell it."

I'm thinking to myself, That's a heck of a marketing presentation! I won't cut my commission, but I'll be damned if I give you any more marketing than the worst discount brokerages. This isn't about commission, I don't care.I charge what I charge to do this work and everyone's happy in the end that works with me. Some don't want to pay that and work with other agents to varying degrees of happiness and success. This is about service.

If every one of this agent's clients heard him/her talk like this....approval rating would surely plummet, just like I did falling out of his/her boat. Someone throw me a life preserver.

One great thing came out of this though......I have a great lead-in to begin blogging on 'the rain again and a mantra for 2010. Someone else will do the WORK if I don't.   

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Jim Ludes is a REALTOR with Century 21 Coleman-Hornsby in Grundy and Will County, IL. If you have a question about real estate that he might be able to help with, email him at Jim@JimLudes.com or call/text at 815-712-7786. If you'd rather observe from afar or become friends first, check him out at:

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Post is included in group: Chicago-Northern Illinois Real Estate
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3 Comments on Someone else will do the work

DEC
28
2009
1,951,415 Points 478 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Mmmmm.  Time for the Devil's Advocate to offer some thoughts.

Seems to me that the matter of commission and # of photos should have been covered when the seller engaged the listing agent. 

While it's not something I would discuss in an office, particularly an office other than my own, sellers who expect the listing agent to reduce commission and use expensive advertising (R.com) should have made that a condition of the listing agreement.

It's entirely possible that the seller engaged the agent with a low commission and the agent advised in their marketing plan that R.com was automatic with 4 photos. 

The time to clear these things up is before not in the duratio of the listing agreement.

 
3:04pm • #1
222,333 Points 9 Featured Posts

I would have to agree with Lenn on this one.  Those are things that should be addressed up front.  The icons look great BTW.
5:27pm • #2
DEC
29
2009

Jim,

Rarely do I cut commissions. You get what you pay for. You want full service, be prepared to pay for it.
12:34am • #3


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Jim Ludes Grundy/Will County, IL REALTOR

Coal City, IL

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Century 21 Coleman-Hornsby

Address: 2445 E. Division Street, Diamond, IL, 60416

Office Phone: (815) 634-2600

Cell Phone: (815) 712-7786

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Here you'll find my musings about real estate related topics. Some personal opinion, much local market data, and some local happenings in Grundy and Will County, IL.


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