Jim - It took me about 3 times to get burned by a buyer to learn to NEVER take them to see a house without 1. Buyer's Rep Agreement AND 2. Prequalified Letter.  I don't want any more of those time stealers!

I would be interested in a nice way of putting that to a client without causing friction or making them angry

Linda Scanlan  I think all too often we learn by doing, and making mistakes.  If not it is just a new definition of insanity.

Todd Moeller  Just present the facts to your clients honestly, and truthfully!  That is always a good start.  Those times in life where someone told us "This isn't going to hurt!"  Was really a lie!  If someone were to have told us, that it going to hurt a little, but the pain would go away quickly...that would sit better with us.  OK, how else can you explain to a person there home is only worth 235K, and not 260K?  The answer is objectively, and factually.  Why any other way?

I'm guilty of not using them...we have been pretty lucky. I mostly list so I really do not worry about them..but I encourage me buyers agent to have them signed.

Neal The Real Deal Bloom I thik we are all used to coloring outside the lines, but when you have to watch budgets, and protect your own sanity, it makes sese to redifine the way we do business.  years ago we'd sit down and qualify the buyers...I've not done that in a long... long time!

Jim, Another great teaching tool. You must have shamed agents into not commenting on this post. LOL

Gary Smith, Realtor  I think we are ll guilty of this I know I am.  Given the current market conditions it is now imperative to do so.

LOL. So why don't you tell us what you really think!?!

Jim, we have to adjust for the times. I like the point (I think many have missed it) that if homes are 120 DOM then why a 90 agreement....

Great points Jim. "You must be green Before I turn on the machine"

Lisa Hill (Multi-Million Dollar Producer  Lisa I also place myself in the group!  Have you ever heard the story about why we should journal?  Once things are put into writing or paraphrasing into a Blog that ideas are no longer abstracts and intangible, but solidify the resolutions. Similar to writing a business plan.  Writing allows us toobtain  clarity, focus, and resolution.

- CHARLES McDONALD  I agree fully!  Times have changed a lot!  In this market we should be taing 120 days or longer listings.

Keith & Robin Perry Thanks!  I know there are a lot of readjustments to the way we do business in a changing market.  These ideas allow us to be more productive, have more free time, and give us a good quality of life

Some agents need a little slap on the wrist from time to time...and many agents need to be slapped over and over again because they keep doing the same thing! :)

Kelly Sibilsky~Lake Zurich RE/MAX REALTOR® I think we all need to be reminded sometimes that we need to return to the basics.

Pretty pestimistic view of the current market. Things aren't so bad here ....guides have changed, but people still need home and loans. Maybe things are much different in Atlanta.

The current market here is not good right now.  115000 Active listings.  Selling maybe 4500 a month!  Over 7000 a month expired listings + withdrawns.  No it is not a great market right now.  But Atlanta has low prices and low taxes, chances are that we will turn around much quicker than most markets.  We did not have the run ups in prices as most markets.  We have 4 seasons and no snow.  You can golf year round.  You can buy a lot of home for the money, withholding taxes are a lot less than New York also.  Property tax is about $2500 on a 350K home.