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Rookie Mistakes and Broker Responsibilities

Please forgive me, new agents, but I've just got to get this off my chest. I don't mean any offense to you directly. After all, it wasn't that long ago I was one of you. My real complaint tonight is not so much with you as it is with those who hire you, train you and supervise your work. An event happened with one of the members on my team that illustrates that there is far more hiring going on than training and supervision!

Without going into a lot of detail about the counter offer we received from a rookie agent, the proposal was completely off the wall, inappropriate on it's face and patently contrary to standard listing contracts and MLS broker listing rules. In essence, it was an invalid counter offer. There's only one way it ever made it out of the brokerage - a seasoned agent never saw it!

We've all had experiences like this, not just getting these kind of offers or counter offers, but finding ourselves in the novice's position of having to write an offer or counter offer without broker training and supervision. To this I say two things:

1) Broker, if you're not going to train and supervise new agents, don't hire them. If you do, YOU are the problem, not the rookie agent.

2) State licensing and local MLS boards, it's time to pass a rule that a rookie agent cannot write an offer or counter offer for their first 12 concluded transactions without an appropriate reviewing agent's signature on all the offers, counter offers and contracts of those transactions.

Rookies, I'm on your side. You deserve better!

Posted by Ron Moore The Home Team Pros on 08/19/2008 06:44 PM

Comments (10)

new agents, rookie agents, brokers, training new agents, rookie agent mistakes

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10 Comments on Rookie Mistakes and Broker Responsibilities

AUG

2008

Rookies don't make all of the mistakes in Real Estate. Even seasoned agents have their flaws.

Ron, I am sooooooooo with you. I strongly believe that all agents, not only new ones need to be educated and trained and supervised. No just in the beginning, but on a continuing base.

Anne

I agree! I've seen some very poorly written offers with some very critical information missing. Sometimes we get so busy that we can all forget to add someting that is a must or leave something out that should be included. We should all have someone review what we do, even the most seasoned professional. Four eyes are better than two.

Ron~ There is no excuse for the Broker in charge to allow these agents to be thrown out there like that without help with writing these offers, m ro without supervision, period.

Angelia, you're right. A lot of agents who have not been properly trained make the same mistakes year after year. A 25 year veteran may just have 1 year of experience 25 years in row. That's why I say, DON'T HIRE IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TRAIN!

This industry is so much about learning from your mistakes by falling on your face. Rookies & experienced Agents alike make those same mistakes. Unfortunately when a Rookie makes a mistake it is harder for them to find a way out. Even on the lending side, my first few years I was fortunate to have someone guide me out of the maze that made the process a whole lot better.

I have noticed that as an industry we are more educated and more experienced then ever, it mainly has to do with the fact that we are experiencing tougher then normal deals that makes the learning curve that much faster.

We just dealt with this today and it is very frustrating when an agent asks questions that are illegal to ask!

Unfortunately, some agents and brokers who have been around a long time sometimes just don't bother to do things correctly - especially if they know the agent on the other side will fix the problems or give them reminders. I see agents submitting offers on REOs without even bothering to read the bank's special requirements and attaching no addendum or preapproval or anything else to the offer.

In the case of REOs, the listing agent will likely not have time to help everyone individually and will toss the improperly submitted offers and deal only with those done right. So it's just a waste of time to submit them if you aren't going to pay attention to the requirements stated right in the listing! Fortunately, most of the agents I deal with are very professional, and maybe we don't appreciate them as much as we should until we get one of the other kind!

You are right on but there also too many "seasoned agents" who are too careless or lazy.

AUG

2008

Ron, I agree with you whole hardedly. It is the Broker's responsibility to check all agreements for final approval. After all, agency is between the Client and the Broker not between the Client and the Agent. The Broker is ultimately responsible.

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