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Broker Price Opinion

By
Real Estate Agent with The Payne Group at Keller Williams Success Realty

How many of you do BPO's? I have been doing them for quite some time now and I am beginning to wonder if this is a huge waste of time.  It has been great for learning the market and view properties but it seems like they kick everyone back because they did not like the comps.  I try to find the closest comps for sales and listings. The sale comps are usually OK but they usually do not like the listing comps.  I had one BPO sent back because the listing comp, which was the exact same home, same floor plan, same builder was more than 10% higher priced than subject.  I tried to explain that  it is a LISTING comp and not a SALE comp because it was 10% or higher than the SALE comps.  If it were priced correctly, it would be a sale comp and not a listing comp.

At any rate, I have gotten some listings from this but it sure seems like the hard way to do business.  Please tell me what everyone thinks.

Posted by

Jeff Payne, Broker Associate
The Payne Group at Keller Williams Success Realty
www.KnowPayneKnowGain.com
850-392-1770 Office
850-890-0132 Cell

 

Comments (245)

Anonymous
Lorenzy Gordon

I am looking for someone in the state of georgia to assist in my bpo's work, i am a broker in Los Angeles Ca

please e-mail me @lagordo@pacbell.net with the information.

 

Oct 12, 2009 08:51 AM
#232
Anonymous
Tim Ventura

BPO's can either be very lucrative, or as Jeff suggests, a tremendous waste of time: one big factor that I'd recommend reviewing is the coverage area you have selected on your BPO company websites. If you live in a rural area where zip codes are larger, then it might be difficult to refine your BPO coverage, but if you're in or near a major city then you should take a look at the travel time you're committing yourself too by selecting zip codes to accept BPO's for.

Also, let me recommend visiting http://www.bpo-automation.com for information on automated order-acceptance & form-completion solutions to help grow your business and let you turn those orders around more rapidly. It's yet another in a long list of details that can make or break your growing BPO business.

Nov 17, 2009 04:18 AM
#233
Anonymous
Oneida

Hi Jeff,

I am just getting back into BPOs, this site was very helpful, will give you an update of my status.

Thanks,

Miami, Florida

May 26, 2010 10:07 AM
#234
Lisa Ludlow Archer
Live Love Homes-Keller Williams, Charlotte, NC Ballantyne Area - Waxhaw, NC

Jeff:

Are you still doing a good bit of BPO's? Would love to see your BPO form that you use.

Have a great day!

Jul 06, 2010 04:02 AM
Dale Hittle
Dale C. Hittle of GOLDEN RULE PROPERTIES in Glover, Vermont - Glover, VT

Every BPO Firm utilizes a platform that provide its "Form". The individual Vendor doesn't provide the "Form", only completes it to that Firms prescribed standards.

For the hundreds of BPO Firms, there are remarkably few Platforms.

Jul 07, 2010 02:23 AM
Frank Beckendorf
Beckendorf Realty Group - Abilene, TX

The fees I charge for doing them makes them worthwhile. I've done about 500 in the last two years...

Aug 10, 2010 01:10 PM
Frank Beckendorf
Beckendorf Realty Group - Abilene, TX

The fees I charge for doing them makes them worthwhile. I've done about 500 in the last two years...

Aug 10, 2010 01:10 PM
Dale Hittle
Dale C. Hittle of GOLDEN RULE PROPERTIES in Glover, Vermont - Glover, VT

Are you one of the intelligent and sharp minded people who write the impressive valuations?

Aug 22, 2010 07:54 AM
Dale Hittle
Dale C. Hittle of GOLDEN RULE PROPERTIES in Glover, Vermont - Glover, VT

Everyone of these Firms has what "they" say is the usual and customary Fee for a Drive By; an Interior; a Historical; a Market Consultation; an Occupancy Report; a Property Condition Report; a Loss Mitigation Report . . . . et cetera et cetera.

To put it bluntly, they will pay as little as possible while still getting a quality job performed. Only you can choose how little you will work for.

So I doubt that anyone has compiled a comprehensive chart of who pays what for each category of Report.  And remember, all reports ARE NOT created equal; nor are the Quality Control gymnastics that each Firm imposes.

But the Fees vary depending upon how hungry the Agents are in every area, and how quickly the Order has to be completed.  It's a free market.  I turn down many more Orders than I will ever consider doing. On some Forums, other Agents get upset when I mention what I am paid in my area versus what they might achieve in their's . . . . it has nothing to do with them.It's supply and demand; and in their areas, the supply of Agents exceeds the demand for these BPOs, so the price Firms have to pay falls.

I have my own Fees for each category of Report or Opinion and what they want doesn't really matter . . . . it's what I'm willing to accept when I go out and fulfill their needs; and MY Fees haven''t changed in nearly 14 years.

Remember, they could tell you whatever they want in order to get you to perform . . . . but if they never get around to paying you, then it really doesn't matter what they promised,now does it ?

Jan 18, 2011 08:19 AM
Diane Malagreca
Ditommaso Realty - Staten Island, NY

Everything is relative if you do not have a need for extra income do not do BPOs.  However, the most important reason for doing BPOs is to get your name in front of the Asset Managers.  However, you need to work with a direct Asset Management Company and not a third party vendor or BPO mill as some call them.  I did notice one response that a savvy agent went directly to the banks and is doing them for the banks directly, this is a smart route if you can get through the Gatekeepers. 

Also, you can learn how to do BOV Broker Opinion of Value on commercial properties that pay much better than the residential.  Of course the Asset Management companies will pay the agents less and take 75% of the fee, that's how they stay in business and after all business is business.

I find BPOs relatively easy to do, somewhat time consuming but the most important thing is ARE YOU GETTING REO listings from them and ARE THEY TAKING YOU AWAY FROM your book of business which should be the most lucrative part of your business.   Doing BPO work is an individual choice but the end result should be getting REO listings or viewing it as a part-time job.

In regard to one agent's post about agents taking BPOs for a modest fee and being the problem not the solution.  Great if you are financially independent or have serious investments generating cash, but let's face it most Realtors can use additional funds for either marketing expenses, living expenses or just gas money.  What crime have they really committed except for trying to make a living and working hard.  "Judge not and ye not be judged".

 

 

Feb 15, 2011 04:44 AM
Brooks Conkle
ForeFront Real Estate LLC - Mobile, AL

My view:

Doing BPO's in order to get listings is a waste.

Doing BPO's to earn extra income is definintely worth the effort --- you just have to learn to be efficient.

I've got a colleague who makes an extra $30-40k per year doing BPOs -- you just have to learn how to get them done without getting kicked back and how to do them quickly and effectively.

All this takes is education and dedication.

Jun 02, 2011 10:21 AM
Anonymous
Anonymous

I love doing BPO orders, for all that don't send them my way:0) however, I've seen them drop recently. I signed up for BPOREOMASTERS.Com which was a rip off.

I haven't seen an REO assignment in about a year. Any ideas?

Sep 17, 2012 04:56 AM
#244
Lou & Natalia Burns
Keller Williams Realty - McKinney, TX
The Burns Team

Don't be in too much of a hurry to do BPO's for either $$ or the pipe dream of getting a listing. Most companies out there ONLY do valuations and do not control the asset. In addition, many of these companies prey on agents by not paying them, i.e. Evaluations Solutions, BrokerPriceOpinion.com, etc. So if you want to take a chance and working for free, go for it. Hopefully you can get consistent business from a reputable and ethical company. Good Luck.

Oct 15, 2012 05:42 AM
Anonymous
Nicole

Hello, I am a newer agent and had a question about BPO's.  Do you need to be licensed as a Broker or is being a Sales Representative sufficient enough?  I work out of Oakville, Ontario, Canada and am having issues finding relevant information in regards to finding listings from Bank Forclosures  Thanks so Much!

Oct 17, 2012 04:39 AM
#246
Jenie Maragañas
http://reliablerealestatevirtualassistan.blogspot.com/ - Alameda, CA

Are you looking for a Real Estate Virtual Assistant who will do all your BPO (Broker Price Opinion) stuff?

Hi there,

My name is Jenie and Im a BPO assistant provider. Im here in the Philippines and I can say that im very expert on doing BPOs for those BPO companies. I have like more than 200 lists of BPO companies.

I pulled comparables, previous listings, tax information, do all the data entry, all the comments, and uploading all the photos and submit the BPO order by myself. 


If you are interetsed to know more about my service and how it works, please email me below of call my direct numbers.


Have a great day. 

Thanks, 
Jenie 
email: va.jenie@gmail.com / jensm.23@gmail.com 
phone: 646-535-1432 / (970) 316-2610 



Jan 18, 2013 09:59 AM
Andy Cano
Online BPO Services - Auburn, WA
Real Estate Assistant

Hi everyone,

My team and I are doing BPO for only $7.00/BPO. We have completed over 2000+ bpos. We served clients anywhere in the USA. For more informations, please visit our website at http://www.onlinebposervices.com/

Dec 14, 2013 05:54 PM
Anonymous
Dale C. Hittle
Gosh, that means the Team has generated $14,000 in income just doing BPOs. In between assignments and spending all that maoney, how do you find time to post on here ?
Dec 15, 2013 05:24 AM
#252
Anonymous
William Samples

Well I love doing BPOs and have done 13 for one company but haven't been paid yet. It is over the time frame and now my Office Manager is calling them to force them to pay for completed BPOs. I enjoy doing them and can make a great living doing them. Just have to find the best of the best honest paying companies and I can make a living doing BPOs. I remember my first one. It took 8 hrs to please them but now about an hr or so. I can usually complete them in 30 minutes so you do the math. I am a Single Male with no kids. I can live comfortable and still have time to travel. Get someone to take great pictures and I do the rest of the work. Comps are big but if you have to expand to get correct comps to the Sub then do so. It is about giving fair and honest prices to future buyers, sellers, or investors. Hope this helps.

Apr 12, 2016 06:41 AM
#253
Anonymous
Dale C. Hittle

[quote=William Samples]". . . have done 13 for one company but haven't been paid yet . . ."[/quote]
Getting paid . . . . can that be very important when you enjoy what you're doing ?

Apr 12, 2016 08:49 AM
#254
John Giammarco
Liberty House Realty - Nashville, TN

Has anyone here completed BPO's for BrokerPriceOpinion.com and are you owed money? 

I too have been a victim of BrokerPriceOpinion.com/First Valuation. I didn’t appreciate completing the BPO assignments on time with no quality control issues and then not getting paid.  How frustrating!

Fortunately, I have teamed up with REOPro Default Professionals and a debt collector to help those of us agents who have been burned by these fraudsters.

If you can provide me a spreadsheet of the orders you have completed and how much you are owed along with some type of proof that you were assigned the order. I can help you recover money owed to you.

Read more about this at http://reopro.ning.com/forum/topics/firstvaluation-com-and-brokerpriceopinion-com.

 

Please either send me an email at JohnGREO@gmail.com or call me at 615-424-0961, I will be happy to answer any questions you have and help you recover the money that you earned and deserve to be paid.

 

Mar 29, 2017 11:37 AM