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. 

Home On The Market for Over 1500 Days!!! by Diane McDermott

I'm Just Going to Tell You Upfront, I'm Prejudice. by newbie blogger, Laurie Jarrett

You Have to See the Bad Homes to Appreciate the Good Homes by Tim Maitski

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, Michael Jacobs, with his post, Attention Home Buyers --- Your Offer to Purchase Your "Dream" Home is Not Confidential.  Michael, who is a local Los Angeles county Realtor, reminds us that, here in CA, offers are not confidential.  Listing agents and their sellers are allowed to share their offers with whoever they choose to. 

If they want to tell other prospective buyers what kind of other offers they have in an effort to get better and higher offers, that is their perogative.  Sometimes, it backfires on them and sometimes it works.  One way a buyer might be able to keep their offer confidential would be to request the seller and their agent to sign a confidentiality agreement.  I'd be curious to know if that has ever worked.

Then there was If a Seller Hides a Defect and the Listing Agent Does Too...  by Brenda Mullen.  Brenda's post was a rebuttal post to a comment I made about how sometimes listing agents are are simply accomplices to their sellers efforts to hide the true condition of their properties.  First and foremost, my comment was specifically referring to Realtors/agents who refuse to receive and/or acknowledge inspection reports because they don't want to have to disclose anything.  SERIOUSLY!!!

I was in no way saying that all agents are just as dishonest as those sellers who intentionally withhold the honest and accurate condition of their property because I know for a fact that some sellers are lying to their listing agents just as they are to buyers.  Brenda reminds us that getting a home inspection is an absolutely vital part of a buyer's due diligence that they can do.  Furthermore, when you get that inspection report back and there are some serious issues with the home, forward a copy of that to the seller and their listing agent (regardless of whether or not they want it).

Next was Tni LeBlanc with her post Bank of America’s Bogus War Against Short Sale Dual Agency.  Tni informs us of BofA's new policy regarding dual representation dual agency on short sales.  While I am not a fan of dual representation dual agency, Tni makes a good argument for it on short sales.  Short sales are hard enough already and Tni explains how dual representation dual agency can actually work for a short sale.

In spite of what I feel about dual representation dual agency, I actually agree with the premise of Tni's post about the hypocrisy of BofA's new policy.  I'm really not surprised by BofA's hypocrisy, if there was ever a company that absolutely wallows in hypocrisy, it's BofA.  Anyway, if you haven't heard of the new BofA short sale policy, check out Tni's post.

Lastly, there was Miss Mega Lister Is Still At It  by Brian Rugg.  Brian relays a recent scenario with another agent who solicited one of his active listings.  As we all know, this is an ethics violation and it needs to be reported.  Yes, we all know crap like this happens all the time yada yada yada.  The reason it keeps happening is because no one is doing anything about it.  We can all sit here and complain that even if we did file a complaint against Realtors/agents like this nothing would probably happen to the violating Realtor/agent.

Yes, that's probably true, for now, but I truly believe that if some sleazy Realtor/agent gets enough complaints filed against them, at some point, someone will take notice and something will be done.  It's obvious that the governing agencies that are supposed to be policing the industry are not doing their jobs so it's really important that we start policing ourselves. 

When you have the misfortune of being in a transaction with someone who is engaging in illegal and/or unethical behavior and conduct, it's our duty and responsibility to report it.  If you're not going to be part of the solution then you're just simply part of the problem.  

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.