I'M CALLING MY OWN SHOTS! Plus a Few Others that the AR Gods Missed this Week

 

Well, this week there were so many really great posts here in the rain by some of my fave bloggers as well as some newbie bloggers that I've recently come across.  First and foremost, I just want to give a shout out to my fellow rainers for their gold star features that I was happy to "call the shot" on them.

Go pound sand and other words of encouragement. by Elizabeth Cooper-Golden

These were excellent posts that had some really great comments, which is one of the best things I love about great posts.  With some posts, the comments can actually be better than the post.  Check them out.  Then there were some other equally great posts that I suggested but that the AR Gods must have missed this week when they were bestowing those little gold stars. 

First there was newbie blogger, Sinead McAllister, with her post, SELLING A HOME WITH TENANTS.  As an MLO who works with a lot of current renters who are looking to buy their first home, I hear the horror stories of what it's like to be the tenants of a home on the market. 

I know, I'm sure you all have horror stories of trying to sell a home with tenants in it and I assure you, I sympathize with you.  Some tenants are horrible to work with but not all tenants are tenants from hell.  Some tenants are actually wonderful tenants who are being treated like crap by not only their landlords but also by the sellers listing agents too.  Don't even get me started on all of the buyers agents who disregard showing instructions or the bozos that knock on the door at all hours of the day and night asking if they can see the home.

Anyway, the point is, many of these folks have a contract with the seller and most of them have done nothing wrong except pay their rent every month, on time, and be great tenants and then they get treated like crap because they want to be treated with some respect and consideration regarding showings.  Anyway, Sinead makes a really great suggestion for working with tenants and it's a really good one.  I wish more sellers thought about this.

Then there was Giving Out a "Good" Referral by Connie Goodrich.  Connie relays a referral story that she had recently.  Connie's story illustrates why it's so important to qualify anyone that contacts us about utilizing our services regardless of whether they're a referral or not.  Just because someone was referred doesn't qualify them as someone we should be working with.

Connie outlines how we, as professional, can qualify a referral before we ever send that referral out.  As professionals, we have a duty to qualify our referrals before turning them over to hopefully, someone we know, trust and respect.  Wouldn't we want someone to do the same before turning over a referral to us?  

Next was Norma Toering with her post, Real Estate Landmines---Surefire Deal-breakers and Undisclosed Discoveries.  Norma brings up a topic that is a huge problem here in Los Angeles county - undisclosed property defects and/or flaws.  Norma advises buyers and their Realtors/agents to do their due diligence in order to avoid any future surprises or property "landmines".

With our market absolutely saturated with so many short sales and REO's whose sellers flat out lie and deceive regarding the condition of their property and their listings agents who play dumb and refuse to acknowledge inspection reports (if you can even get them to accept one because they don't want to be obligated to disclose), it is absolutely vital that buyers and their Realtors/agents do their due diligence during the inspection contingency.  Check out Norma's post for her suggestions.  

Then there was How Many Realtors Does It Take To Sell A House? by Pam Miller.  Pam tells us a story about a scenario that happened to her recently.  Pam's scenario reminds me so much of what it's like working with so many Realtors/agents around here.  I'm not just talking about the Realtors/agents that go on vacation with no backups either.

Before going on vacation folks, make sure you have a reliable backup and furthermore, make sure your broker is going to be willing to support your backups as well as your clients.  As for Realtors/agents who work on "teams", correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the whole purpose of being on a "team" that there is more than one person available to serve the clients.  Isn't the whole benefit of buyers and sellers working with a "team" that there is a "team" available to serve their needs? 

Why is it then these "teams" seem to be the people that tend to disappear the most during a transaction?  Why is it that no one on the "team" ever seems to be available when you need them?  Good grief people!!!  How many Realtors/agents does it take to sell a house?

Next was Bill Travis with his post, NOTHING IS NEGOTIABLE ANYMORE.  I liked this post so much, I reblogged it.  Bill illustrates how potential negotiations are derailed before they even begin because of ridiculous requests from listing agents and their sellers.  What makes this nonsense even worse is that some of the requests are not only illegal (RESPA violations) but unethical as well. 

While this kind of conduct is so typical of REO bank sellers and their REO listing agents, this type of conduct from listing agents and sellers for short sales and equity sales can be detrimental to the sale of the home.  As long as buyers and their Realtors/agents tolerate this crap from listing agents and their sellers, this crap will continue to go on.  When we see these types of violations, we need to report them because by reporting them, that is the only way it's going to stop. 

Lastly, there was Can This Blog Be Fixed? by Gene Riemenschneider.   Gene asks a very good question and one that I myself would like to know too.  As I have stated before, I personally consider it the community's duty to help out members who need help with their blogs.  Anyway, check out Gene's blog and offer him some advice on ways he can resolve his blog issue.  

 

As always, I love "calling the shots".  I'm pretty picky and selective about whom I suggest.  I intentionally highlight my fave bloggers and then I look for new bloggers or bloggers that aren't on the feature board every other day.  Anyone can suggest all the popular bloggers but finding the hidden treasures and gems is so much better.  I hope you check them out and enjoy them as much as I did.

 

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Donne Knudsen
Mortgage Loan Originator - C2 Financial Corp.
NMLS# 249822   /   DRE# 01364050
805.2069123

E-mail   My Blog

Serving low-medium income individuals and families as well as first time buyers with their mortgage needs including down payment assistance

Los Angeles County  --  Ventura County

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