Special offer

Is That Agent Qualified To Sell?????

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 01845411

So you got a good solid offer from a buyer for your listing.. You see everything is in order , that buyer is Ready, willing and able to buy that home that you have listed, the offer is full price, and you are sure that will make your seller very happy. We have to admit we do ask for every piece of information possible to make sure that buyer is definately qualified to buy before we even present that offer to, but have you thought to make sure that the agent on the other side of the transaction is qualified to carry out their duties as the agent??

Did you know the humans are the only mammals/creatures on this planet that don't fully listen to our instincts when we since that something or someone is not right??? There has been times that agents have brought their clients into my open house, handed me an EXTREMELY cheesy business card and after they have left, just because they way their manorisms, and the way they carried themselves made me suspicious, I would check their license status on the DRE website, and there was one time when this agent came in my open house that was practicing as an agent and was operating under a license that was SUSPENDED!!!

 Recently in the city of Corona, CA. the presses have been burning of this one agent that is VERY notorious for marketing himself VERY VERY well in that city, his face is plastered on everything, the side of his car, in the center of mall kiosk, Homes and Land Magazine, grocery store shopping carts, etc. etc.etc.  it just recently came out in the news that he was convicted of a felony in 2009 in the state of Nevada (though practicing real estate in California) for a mortgage scheme and alot of people lost their homes and a lot of money due to this man while netting a quarter of a million dollars for himself. This recently came to the publics attention and the to the DRE's attention as well.. His license is currently under investigation, and if there is any justice in the system that license will not be active for much longer.

It's a good idea to get in a good habit of not only screening the buyers to make sure they are qualified, but screening the agents as well. You can do a license status check on your states DRE website. Because a real estate agents reputation is everything if you don't have a good reputation maybe real estate isn't the right business for you, but if you do have a good reputation you want to do everything you can to protect, and you want to make sure that the cooperating agent is in good standing to make sure ALL parties involved in the transaction have a positive experience and can carry out their job in the most professional manner possible.

Posted by

Stacey Smith
Coldwell Banker-Residential Properties
949-350-8922
BRE. License #01845411


 If you are looking to buy a home or sell your current home in Orange County, Ca. please allow me to assist you. I work throughout most of Orange County but my area of expertise happens to be south Orange County and the Coastal cities. Locations I service include: Dana Point, Capistrano Beach, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Crystal Cove, Corona Del Mar, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, and Costa Mesa. I service all areas through out Orange County so please call me today and allow me to assist you! 

              

 

Please Allow Me To Assist You and Your Family in Finding The Perfect Home As Your Real Estate Agent!

 

 

 

Comments (58)

Jim Pierce - Realtor, San Francisco 94114
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Brentwood, CA

Just Google that agent's name. Or potential client. I did that once several years ago and the first thing that popped up was an S.E.C. page that said he had just been fined $800,000 and his passport was revoked. Oops!

Dec 09, 2010 05:24 AM
Cynthia Larsen
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Stacey - There is a good reason CAR added the DRE license # for both agents AND their broker on our purchase contract. It's because there WERE a lot of "agents" submitting offers who were not licensed. Do I check every agents license that submits an offer to me? YES I DO. Great post.

Dec 09, 2010 06:17 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I'm sure people try all sorts of stuff.  I have checked the site many times so see if the 'bulldozing' buyers agent is really licensed as long as they say.  Often times, not.  If they were suspended I'd report them right away as practicing.

Dec 09, 2010 06:56 AM
Dennis Neal
RE/MAX, Big Bear - Big Bear Lake, CA
Your Home Sold in 21 Days or We Sell It For Free

I think about this many times, usually in the middle of a transaction and sometimes the answer is NO they aren't qualified.

Luckily most agents I work with are qualified.

Dec 09, 2010 07:06 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

You know it is hard to believe they get away with it as long as they do, but the best way to hide something is in plan site.

Dec 09, 2010 07:22 AM
Cameron Novak
The Homefinding Center - 1000 Palms, CA
Real Estate Broker since 2008

Sometimes just Googling the person doesn't work as the negative information is several pages down the list of self promotion.  Sometimes you have to add qualifying items... like the words, "felony", "conviction", "revoked", etc.

Dec 09, 2010 09:00 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Stacey...Interesting topic.  Cameron has certainly added a new dimension.  I would never have thought to look up an agent with those qualifying terms.

Luckily I work in a small community and know almost every agent on the other side of my transactions.  We have a pretty vigorous grapevine and news would carry swiftly if someone had done something that jeopardized their license or their reputation.

I'm not sure what I would do if one of my listings had multiple offers and one was with an agent known not to hold up their end of the transaction.  I've found, in the few instances that has been the case in my many years of real estate, we've managed to make it to settlement and that's what counts.  If I wouldn't raise it if it were the only offer I don't think I would with multiples.

Congratulations on the feature.

Kate

Dec 09, 2010 12:01 PM
Bandele Oguntomilade, Top REALTOR
Bogun Realty and Luxury Homes - Woodland Hills, CA
Your Woodland Hills Real Estate Agent 818-825-6996

Stacey:  That picture is hallarious.  I certainly always check the DRE license for buyer's agents requesting to show my listings.  Occassionally, you discover someone is not licenced or they have been disciplined.  Usually, they are the people always trying to bend the rules or behave inappropriately in a transaction.

Dec 09, 2010 03:21 PM
Mike Baltierra
Rise Realty - Eastvale, CA
Full Service at Your Service Realtor-Eastvale CA

Tracy, it wasn't me, was it? I work in Corona. I know a few people here that I always suspected. The agents I know that have a bad reputation, I refuse to work with them.

Dec 09, 2010 03:38 PM
Anonymous
Nina

Thanks for sharing. As a new agent, I never would have thought to check the the license of other agent. Now it's on my checklist.

Dec 09, 2010 05:23 PM
#48
Stacey Smith
Keller Williams Realty - Aliso Viejo, CA
Your Orange County Beach Cities Realtor

Mike it definately was not you. If you would like to know the Press Enterprise website and search planning commissioner under investigation and you will find out who. I make it a practice to not name names, I just like to be able to pull the lessons out of experiences not go on an all out smear campaign against someone, I'm not a politician and I never will be. Plus they are doing a pretty good job of ruining their reputation they don't need my help.

Dec 09, 2010 05:28 PM
Anonymous
Peter Michelbach

Hi Stacey, brilliant post!

Reminds me of the power of the subconscious mind...or instinct as Marte #7 reflects, or Karla #38 spend the 'energy " doing the right thing, or Charita, #11 proceed cautiously...

But I also believe that on the scheme of things, we have to loock deep within ourselves to understand why something is happening and how to address holistically and responsibly the shadows - even if they are somebody else's, in a professional and loving way...to help ease the pain, to prevent damage and to create balance...

Congratulations - Peter from 'down under'.

Dec 10, 2010 12:18 AM
#50
Jenny Durling
L.A. Property Solutions - Los Angeles, CA
For Los Angeles real estate help 213-215-4758

So if you checked, and the buyer's agent was not a licensed agent, what would you do next?

Dec 10, 2010 03:16 AM
DeeDee Riley
Lyon Real Estate - El Dorado Hills CA - El Dorado Hills, CA
Realtor - El Dorado Hills & the Surrounding Areas

You are so right Stacey!  If we stand together we can help to better the bad reputation realtors have!

Dec 11, 2010 01:27 PM
Margaret C. Taylor
Century 21 New Millennium MD - Mechanicsville, MD
St Marys/Calvert/Charles MD Real Estate Agent

Hi Stacey,  This is a great warning post.  We need to trust our instincts and if any doubts checking licensure wouls be wise.  I have not done this yet.  Margaret C.

Dec 11, 2010 04:20 PM
Liane Thomas, Top Listing Agent
Professional Realty Services® - Corona, CA
Bringing you Home!

Hey Stacey,

As you pointed out, this guy is licensed in Ca, and his felony conviction was in Nevada. The way it works, (at least in CA), is when his license is up for renewal, he will have to disclose to the Ca Dept of Real Estate his NV conviction.  To the best of my knowledge, the only way CA will know about the NV conviction is if the licensee discloses it.

Since his renewal isn't until July 2012, my guess is he will continue to practice real estate until then.

It seems like there should be a trigger in place that upon any felony conviction in any state, the State that holds the license should be notified, and an immediate review should take place. 

Maybe time to call for a change in the licensing laws?  

Dec 12, 2010 05:07 AM
Stacey Smith
Keller Williams Realty - Aliso Viejo, CA
Your Orange County Beach Cities Realtor

Liane.. Wow.. How are you doing?? Its been a while.. How are you and the family doing?? I do agree it is time to reevaluate the licensing structure.. I think that is doesn't matter what state the felony was in the DRE needs to know, especially if that felony is linked to the real estate industry.. If they are not going to suspend his license (which I know if I was to do something like that I can't help but think they would take my license and torch it right in front of me.) They are going to allow him to continue to practice real estate, they should obligate him to disclose his conviction to all his potiential clients before they sign anything with him.. Because I know that if I was an average or highend homebuyer or seller I would NOT want to hire someone to work in my behalf that was involved in a mortgage scheme and was STILL currently under parole!  Its people like that that give US GOOD REALTORS a bad wrap!!!If they are not going to get their license suspended or removed until its up for renewal their conviction needs to be a MANDATORY DISCLOSURE ITEM!

Dec 12, 2010 05:26 AM
Jon Quist
REALTY EXECUTIVES ARIZONA TERRITORY - Tucson, AZ
Tucson's BUYERS ONLY Realtor since 1996

If I don't know the agent I do more due diligence. Fortunately I know almost all the good agents already! And I always have the buyer, never the seller.

Dec 12, 2010 05:59 PM
Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

We need to keep the crooks, convicted or otherwise, out of real estate. You could not get a license in Oregon with a conviction like that. You even have to reveal investigations.

Dec 14, 2010 11:54 AM
Marsha Cash
RE/MAX Advantage - Stockbridge, GA

That's a good point.  In my area, we have lost a lot of realtors, but there are also a lot of new realtors!  When people can't find another job, they get into real estate.  Never hurts to check them out.

Jan 27, 2011 08:48 AM