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.
C'mon agents. We can do better than this! by, newbie blogger, Eric Michael
Dear Mom and Dad, Please Love This House by Margaret Woda
I Don’t Want to Bother My Agent by Tom Branch
I Would Hate For Someone To Think I'm Unprofessional Because I'm A Good Dad... by Nathan Tutas
"I Don't Negotiate" by Mary Hutchison
Why listen to the first REALTOR, when the next one will tell me what I want to hear? by Bryan Robertson
I Would Like To Thank Those Who Thanked Me! by Nathan Tutas
How the Heck Do I Get Back Into Blogging and Commenting??? HELP!!! by Ken Barker
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 10 Ways to Screw-Up Your Message by Glenn Phillips. When I first started reading this post, I knew I was in trouble because the first four ways were things that I was sooo guilty of. However, after discovering the last six didn’t apply to me, I felt a lot better.
While I’m not going to go into what Glenn’s post is all about, suffice it to say that we’ve all probably been guilty of some of these things from time to time. In my own defense, as an MLO here in Los Angeles & Ventura counties, I am bound by law to disclose so much stuff to my borrowers about the loan process and the terms and conditions of the loan program they have applied for. Most of this stuff is so foreign to borrowers, especially first times and I do try and explain it the simplest most laymen terms.
Then there was newbie blogger, Mike Cooper with his post, REO Attorney Mills May Be Putting Your Buyers in Harm's Way. Mike brings up a very good topic and one that has been becoming a very disturbing trend for quite awhile and that are the REO mills. This includes the REO listing mills and well as REO attorney mills and REO escrow mills.
These are the companies that do nothing but Fannie & Freddie REOs or REOs for the big, national, retail banks. These companies are absolutely horrible to work with and so often practice sloppy, unethical and downright illegal processes and practices. Furthermore, they subject the buyers, their Realtors and their lenders to some of the most despicable and atrocious conduct and behavior with such an obnoxious attitude of “it’s our way or the highway”.
I just recently closed an transaction that was actually an AR success story. I have tried to blog about it so many times now and every time I try to, I end up deleting it because it’s such a horrible story. My borrowers, their Realtor and I were absolutely dragged through #%!! by Freddie Mac and their REO listing agent (who was MIA throughout the entire transaction and we were left dealing with unlicensed morons assistants) and their atrocious REO escrow mill.
Next was Did you ever “niggle” something? by James Dray. This was a bit of an odd post, not sure I even understood the point but based on my own interpretation of the post, I personally think our industry needs professionals who “niggle” more times than not.
As I said, I’m not sure what the point was of James’s post but if being detail oriented or “dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s” is to “niggle” something, then I’m not sure I would find someone who “niggles” their transactions or business a fault or flaw that needs to be corrected or done away with.
I don’t know, blame on it the day job, I guess. As an MLO here in Los Angeles & Ventura counties, “niggling” is part of my job description in order to get my borrowers to the closing table. If I didn’t “niggle” my files and transactions, my processing GODDESS and my underwriter would be kicking them back to me to requesting I complete the “niggle” process before turning them in.
Then there was Doug Rogers and his post, No Dear Buyer, You May Not Ride In My Jeep. I loved this post because while I am not a Realtor showing property to prospective buyers, if I were, I would probably be incorporating a very similar mindset and practices to my business.
Without going into Doug’s reasons and justifications of why he doesn’t allow clients into his car, suffice it to say that he makes some excellent points about managing his business this way.
While some of the commenters make valid points for why they don’t manage their businesses this way, their comments are just classic examples of just how we are truly free to run our businesses in whatever way works best for us and our clients. Because I assure you, there are buyers out there who like to drive their own cars for the exact same reasons that Doug states he won’t put buyers in his car.
Lastly was Your Buyer Doesn't Care! by the blogging team of Bill & Liz Spear (aka BLiz). LOVED THIS POST!!! Was actually cracking up throughout most of it because everything that BLiz stated are things that I have heard from practically every single client I have ever had, especially the past few years.
While sellers constantly complain about all the stupid stuff prospective buyers say (you won’t get any argument from me about that, buyers do say some really stupid stuff) however, buyers most certainly don’t corner the market on stupid comments.
I assure you, so much of the stuff that sellers say is just as hilarious and fodder for buyers after leaving their properties and discussing whether or not there is a chance in #%!! of making an offer on the sellers property.
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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