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Loss not forgotten...

By
Real Estate Agent with Fathom Realty Washington LLC

I was looking for an agent the other day, in my same MLS, but about 135 miles away. I had sent a successful referral to this agent last year and wanted to send her another. The big problem, I can't find her.

  • I called her cell phone, no answer
  • I called her brokerage, the managing broker signed her license off 4 months ago
  • Asked if she went to another brokerage, broker was really rude
  • Looked on the MLS under agent search nowhere to be found, I wonder why the broker was so rude?

This happens all too often these days. Agents simply disappear from the business all too often. These are not just weak agents; these are agents who had a great business and a keen sense of salesmanship. These agents have often become trusted friends.

People say "It's just less competition!" when a good agent leaves the business. I believe it's sad that a good, sometimes great agent;

  • Could no longer make ends meet.
  • Won't be there for a great cross sale
  • Won't be there to take my referred customers

The financial companies are not the only ones that have been hurt in these poor economic times. Just look around your offices...

Authored by Paul S. Henderson, Realtor ®, RE/MAX Professionals, Dupont & Lacey, WA.

(http://phenderson.net) or http://www.lacey-washington.com

©2008 Paul S. Henderson, All Rights Reserved

Posted by

 and courtesy of 

Paul S. Henderson, Residential Real Estate Broker 

Tacoma Washington 

Realtor ® BPOR, CRS, GRI, CDPE

Fathom Realty WA LLC

Serving

South Puget Sound in Washington State

 

 

 

 

Paul's Service Area


 

 

As a Residential Broker and Relocation Specialist, I sell homes in or around ,Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Steilacoom,  University Place, DuPont and Hartstene Pointe in Washington State.
Please visit my website at http://www.hartstenepointe.com to search for information 
(all information is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed or warranted in any way)

Referrals are always welcomed and appreciated, Thank-you!

(As a member of the NWMLS, this blog post is intended to comply with NWMLS rules as pertaining to blogging.)

isspfmtysmily

iaa

 

Comments(19)

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Richard Shuman
The Only B.S. I Have is from the University of Massachusetts - Lake Mary, FL
Real Estate Broker - Orlando Area - Love Referrals

great post - we hate to see good agents not make it. The bad ones seem to stay forever!!!

Oct 29, 2008 12:13 AM
Julie Chapman
Julie Chapman Broker - Ormond Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Shores, Florida

Paul,

As a Broker, I am watching companies that have been in business much longer than mine closing and a large percentage of agents going part time. 

Oct 29, 2008 12:13 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Richard, Isn't that the truth...

Julie, Whole offices are having their office door closed...

Oct 29, 2008 12:16 AM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Paul, have you checked her license status with the State Real Estate Commission? Maybe the Broker was rude because she changed companies. Hopefully, she is still in the business.

Oct 29, 2008 12:34 AM
Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate
M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hi Paul, How are you today?  We are hearing the same stories here.  Good agents are disappearing.  It is just too difficult for some to make ends meet, or they are just burned out on the business. I agree, it really is very sad!

Oct 29, 2008 12:34 AM
Kathy Fey
Fey & Associates - Dacula, GA

An agent client I work with told me that in her board in a major city (don't want to disclose location)only 40% of the members paid their dues this year. 60% is a huge drop out rate. 

Oct 29, 2008 12:35 AM
Stanton Homes
Stanton Homes - New Home Builder - Raleigh, NC
Design/Build Custom Home Builder in North Carolina

My former contacts are disappearing too...

Oct 29, 2008 12:53 AM
Team Honeycutt
Allen Tate - Concord, NC

Yeah I am a new agent, but some people in my office have left! I hope I can make it!

Oct 29, 2008 01:07 AM
John Cannata
214-728-0449 http://TexasLoanGuy.com - Frisco, TX
Texas Home Mortgage - Purchase or Refinance

Paul - You made a good point.  I have actually used that phrase before "less competition".  But that is because I have seen some individuals as not handling a process correctly or turning our business into a joke at times.  You make good points that there are some individuals that just could not make it but that does not make them bad people.  We certainly did lose many good loan officers and Real Estate Agents due to our current environment.

Oct 29, 2008 01:10 AM
John Cannata
214-728-0449 http://TexasLoanGuy.com - Frisco, TX
Texas Home Mortgage - Purchase or Refinance

One more thing... Aren't you up incredibly early?  It was about 5 am when you wrote this, right?

Oct 29, 2008 01:11 AM
No longer
Altavista, VA

Paul good thoughts!  I don't understand why a Broker has to be rude when an agent leaves it is unnecessaryand for me I believe in the golden rule.  Hopefully you will find your friend maybe try the state licensing board for your state to see if she has went inactive many of them have license lookup online.  Good luck!

Oct 29, 2008 01:26 AM
Brian Belcher
RE/MAX Executive - Charlotte, NC
Charlotte Realtor

Thanks for the post. It's a lot to think about.

Oct 29, 2008 02:01 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Brian Thank-you also

Hope, Michael, Our MLS, just went state wide so I'm pretty sure she's gone from where I want to send the referral, I'll check with the state also thanks. I might have caught the broker at a bad time also...

John You caught me, I use to post late at night and found that I missed several of my friends on the east coast. I get up early and work on e-mails to my clients over-seas and to the east... 

Allen Looks like your working with a team. This will no doubt help you through this slow period...

Penny As a home builder, you must be having an even worse period of adjustment...

Kathy Our renewal period is in January, this is when the majority left last year...

Sandy The last time I saw it this bad was the three months after 9/11...

Oct 29, 2008 02:22 AM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

There are so many reasons why people leave, though. Don't presume that they are not making it. For example, just a few that I know about from the short three years I have been a Realtor:

  1. Went to another brokerage due to poor negotiations at current bokerage. Not yet set up at the other brokerage.
  2. Retired from the business.
  3. Moved to another state.
  4. Died.
  5. Murdered.
  6. Married a rich spouse and chose not to work anymore.
  7. Had a baby and decided to be a full-time mom.

Regardless of the reason, brokers who lose a great agent obviously are losing money. In this market, that could make any broker a little grouchy, as well as not getting any sex last night or having his favorite sports team lose on the last play of the game. LOL

Oct 29, 2008 07:19 AM
Richard Stabile
Re/Max Real Estate Limited - Oradell, NJ
Bergen County New Homes Builder Realtor

Paul:

I lot of agents can't cope with this market. Good agents and Not so good.

It is hard times for the industry and our economy.

Richard

Oct 29, 2008 01:40 PM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Jim, I didn't consider some of these...

Richard, all too true...

Oct 29, 2008 11:39 PM
Caren Wallace
Premier Property Group LLC - Tualatin, OR
Portland Caren Real Estate

This is a sad story, it is a shame that a good agent left the business. Maybe there is something else going on in her life.

Oct 29, 2008 11:45 PM
Gene Mock
Associate Broker ~ Premier Team, KW Realty - Leesburg, VA
GRI, CRB, CRS, ABR, CIPS, TRC, SFR, SRES

how about a positive spin on this -  she hit the lottery and is sunning on the beach in Maui :)

Oct 29, 2008 11:49 PM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Caren,Gene, If all the people who are leaving the business won the lottery, Maui would look like Manhattan Island LOL ...

Oct 30, 2008 02:12 AM
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