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Part Time Realtors/Mortgage lenders-How well do you serve your clients & do they know upfront?

By Jay Beckingham

Mortgage and Lending with Christensen Financial Mortgage 385907

May 09, 2010 12:37 AM

Last first.

If you are a part time Realtor/Lender

Do you disclose this to your clients upfront?

Should you have to?

Like it or not there will be times, possibly crucial times in a transaction, when you are just

"not available"

It may sound cruel to put it this way, but you are at the job of which you have chosen to spend most of your day, for whatever reason.

Did you discuss this with your client "up front" and explain to them how you can "effectively" deal with this situation.

If you didn't , personally I think you should have.

Do you really think that you can keep up with all the crazy changes going on in our industry as a part timer.

Once again, personally, I don't believe that you can.

Your clients are making one of the largest decisions of their lifetime.

Do they deserve more than you can give?

All things considered I do not believe that in our industry, at this time, that a part time Realtor and/or mortgage lender/broker can effectively give his/her clients the service that they truly deserve. Further, considering that arguably the industry didn't necessarily do right by our clients for many years I can only draw one conclusion.

Right now,

They deserve more.

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Sally K. & David L. Hanson

EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI

WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

I would think anytime....anywhere...clients and customers deserve the attention of full time, full service realtors and lenders...it may be their choice for someone for "dabbles" or it not employed full time...you have to wonder why.

May 09, 2010 12:39 AM

Jay Beckingham

Christensen Financial Mortgage - Port St Lucie, FL

Seniors ROCK!

Sally & David,

when you, as a client have a choice between a full time professional, and one who is not, to me the choice is obvious.

once again, do part timers disclose that that is what they are? should they have to?

Jay

May 09, 2010 12:43 AM

Loreena and Michael Yeo

3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX

Real Estate Agents

Jay - There are times that I'm unavailable, serving other clients, or attending to personal time. I think simply because you need to be at your "day" job has no merit in needing to disclose (only from this standpoint).

I know because I was once a PT agent. I was far more available on the phone than I was now because I have alot less business to deal with.

However, that being said, my clients (at that time) knew I was PT.

You asked the question and I could only answer it based on my situation: Yes, I think it is very important to disclose it. Put yourself in the client's shoe. Don't you think it's necessary to know that this service provider you hire cannot fully engage in his/ her business? I know I will want to know that.

Treat others the way you want to be treated. That's my motto in my business. Then we each have our own answers.

May 09, 2010 12:56 AM

Anonymous

Charita Cadenhead

Jay no disrespect intended when I say this and if I might borrow your own words "It may sound cruel to put it this way", but once again this berating of part-time agents just comes across as arrogant, self-"righteous and demeaning. An attempt to lift oneself up while putting someone else down, if I may put it that way. I hope you aren't offended, just as you probably hope part-time agents are not offended by your remarks. In the most sincerest way, I mean it when I say I don't mean to offend you - just enlighten.

I know to many, I may sound like a broken record, but these very same questions that you ask can probably be posed to more than 1/2 of the population of full time agents and generate the pre-conceived responses you expect from "part time" agents. Although I put in 60+ hours a week in real estate, some might consider me part-time. So I take it to heart that you imply that I give less than my best.

Part time just may very well be a frame of mind.

I'm having "Service Unavailable" issues so I can't log in,but I fully wish to identify myself (AR Member Charita Cadenhead)

May 09, 2010 01:10 AM

Jay Beckingham

Christensen Financial Mortgage - Port St Lucie, FL

Seniors ROCK!

Loreena,

personally i think we need to put things in the perspective of what our industry is doing at this time. i've been involved in lending for over 30 years and reflecting on that, it's been quite a while since i've seen so many dramatic changes, all at once, combined with such scrutinization of the borrowers, as well as the special nuances involved with foreclosures and short sales.

wow!

there are certainly those who may be able to deal with those changes more effectively than me, although i do not consider ignoring them as an option, but i'm finding that full time plus has been necessary to keep pace.

Charita,

i always love the responses which involve personal attacks, "arrogant, self rightous, and demeaning," an attempt to lift oneself up while putting someone else down."

thanks for the assessment. if you truly think that's what i was doing, and found it distasteful, than the manner in which you responded is certainly interesting. kind of a giving you a taste of your own medicine type of thing.

please read the comment above. i have been involved in transactions this year where the part time agents were just lost and unaware of changes that have occurred. changes which had a dramtic effect over their clients. once again it is my opinion, just that an opinion, not a personal attack on anyone, that in today's marktplace it is extremely difficult at best to be a part timer, and if you are you should disclose it to the client, and have a plan as to how to effectively communicate what is necessary.

jay

May 09, 2010 01:58 AM

Charita Cadenhead

eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL

Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Jay my overall point is that your "issues" with part time agents is not specific to part time agents. These issues exist across the board whether part time or ful time. My response served it's purpose (how your comments may be viewed) in your words "kind of a giving you a taste of your own medicine type of thing."

May 09, 2010 02:47 AM

Jay Beckingham

Christensen Financial Mortgage - Port St Lucie, FL

Seniors ROCK!

Charita,

the "issues" are common to all, but the ability to effectively deal with them differs between part timers and full timers. in most cases full timers, careerer's are better and more effective. period.

now our jousting has come to an end.

jay

May 09, 2010 03:03 AM

Mike Saunders

Retired - Athens, GA

Just what the heck is a part time agent, anyway? We all have other commitments that will make us unavailable at different times. It's not a matter of hours, but of commitment and service. I have been in more transactions with full time agents who are just lost and have no clue than part time agents.

I know several part time agent teams that are extremely effective. The people I find trying to rationalize against part time agents are usually those who feel threatened by them. And no, I am not a part time agent, have never been, but, am looking forward to the day when I can be even more discriminating in my client base and be effectively part time. There are too many courses left ungolfed.

May 09, 2010 04:24 AM

Constantine Isslamow

RE/MAX Eastern Realty Inc. Brokerage - Peterborough, ON

"Training and Accountability"

If we don't service our clients, someone else will.

May 09, 2010 06:16 AM

John Novak

Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV

Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate

Hi Jay - It's not the time we put in, but what we put into the time that really counts. Some people are more organized and efficient, others can spend 12 hours a day on something and get nowhere. I agree that clients deserve our very best, but it's about knowledge and productivity, not hours.

May 09, 2010 06:31 AM

Chris Wechner

CW Health Inc - Waterford, MI

A TON of people overlook that one, John.

May 09, 2010 01:35 PM

Jay Beckingham

Christensen Financial Mortgage - Port St Lucie, FL

Seniors ROCK!

Mike,

two groups that i feel have difficulties. first, those who have a full time job. second, those that are retired or not really involved, except maybe marginally.

a part time agent, or really not what i would consider part time, per say, is an agent who intentionally restricts hours or is selective with clients, but does stay involved in the learning curve and updated to changes.

Constatine,

i agree.

John,

i don't totally disagree, but my opinion is that in this market, that more time may be necessary, just to keep up. also, if you're not a full time agent or lender let your clients know up front. let them decide if it is important to them.

Chris,

touche'

jay

May 09, 2010 11:24 PM

Joan Mirantz

Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH

Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire

IMO....Clients need to be told up-front about your avaiability. As far as the changes...I certainly think that a part time person could be on top of them.

If an agent or loan officer is "lost" it's because it's not a priority to them to know...wanting to do your job well and doing all you can to achieve that it what matters. Full time doesn't necessarily correlate with that.

May 11, 2010 10:58 AM