realtor life: Do We All Need To Take A Chill Pill?
- 03/18/14 10:11 AM
Every day on Active Rain there seems to be a post about how quickly, or not, agents get around to returning phone calls or how difficult it is to show a home without a lockbox. It makes me wonder, when did we get so impatient with each other?
Don't get me wrong, I've been frustrated when I think it takes to long to get a response or when a home isn't available to show when I'd like it to. There was a time in the not to distant past that the only way to see a listing was to either … (64 comments)
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realtor life: Three Important Words A Realtor® Needs To Know
- 01/08/14 06:48 AM
It's painful but there are times when we need to pull out these three simple words; "I Don't Know."
This past weekend a lender asked me for information on a condo association. My brain wasn't operating on all cells and I started to give him an answer off the cuff. Then it dawned on me the best answer was "I don't know."
There was no sense sending him on a wild goose chase with incorrect information. Instead I asked for 15 minutes to look up the answer to what he needed. Sure enough if I had given him the answer that … (74 comments)
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realtor life: Daylight Savings Time-Another Reason To Dislike The Time Change
- 11/04/13 09:21 PM
It also screws up our SentriLock boxes. Last night buyers had a planned a late walk-through on a listing. About 10 minutes after they were scheduled to arrive the buyer's agent called me. Appears instead of 9PM when the lockbox is scheduled to go to sleep for the evening it shut down at 8 PM.
The agent got on the phone with SentriLock who confirmed yes this was the problem. The only solution to change the time clock in the box was to put special time code put on my Sentricard and for me to go to the lockbox to get it … (6 comments)
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realtor life: Do You Make Up Your Own Interpretation Of A Real Estate Sales Contract?
- 09/23/13 10:39 AM
It doesn't matter how many contract classes I attend there is always something that comes up that leaves you scratching your head.
Our Virginia Real Estate contract states specifically that the "seller will have all utilites in service through settlement." However for some reasons many agents interpret this to say through the day of settlement stating the buyer doesn't need to have them turned on until the next day. Surprise your buyer could find themselves sitting in the dark the first night in their home.
Most utility companies do a switch over between 9-5 Monday through Friday. It is very easy for … (20 comments)
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realtor life: It's Not The Last House Your Realtor® Showed You
- 09/13/13 06:22 AM
It's a culmination of all of them.
You've been working with a Realtor® for months off and on. You've even written a few offers but none of them worked out. One day a new listing comes on the market and you call your Realtor® to show it to you. Sure enough you write and offer that's accepted. And then someone whispers in your ear, you know your Realtor® didn't do much work for you, you should ask for some of their commission.
You decide the quiet whisperer is right and start pestering your Realtor® for a commission credit. You are sure the Realtor® … (23 comments)
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realtor life: Expecting Instant Gratification From Your Blog?
- 09/12/13 10:41 AM
At least 3 or 4 time a week I catch a blog from a "newbie" to Active Rain who wonders why after a month their phone isn't ringing or their in box isn't being filled with prospects. Unfortunately many of those same Realtors® give up and decide that blogging isn't going to pay and move on to something else.
In looking through my archives I was reminded of this video by Chris Brogan and a blog post he wrote in 2010 entitled "Inch by Inch" says it all. Success doesn't just drop into most of our laps. It comes from having a … (26 comments)
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realtor life: Fair It's A Word We LIke To Throw Around
- 09/08/13 10:03 AM
I wonder how many times growing up we used the word fair? That's not fair Johnny got more than I did. That's not fair Suzie's mom is letting her go to the concert. My newest favorite, "it's not fair this house went under contract before I got to write an offer on it."
Unfortunately the only thing in life that is fair is the place you go to eat fried snickers and ride the Ferris Wheel. Yes it's disappointing in a fast moving market to lose out on a house. There are a lot of reasons it can happen. Hesitation on … (9 comments)
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realtor life: A Sure Sign You Might Be Lost
- 09/01/13 03:54 AM
Is when your boat ends up in the woods.
While out scouting properties along the Potomac River this morning I spied this boat just off the river. Made me think about all of the explorers who first went up and down the river in the Mason Neck area looking for places to fish, hunt and build their homes.
Hope you are enjoying your Labor Day weekend and don't get lost along the way.
… (7 comments)
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realtor life: What Do You Mean The Sellers Are Taking the Thermostat?
- 08/31/13 07:28 AM
You tour a home for sale and you see the owners have installed on of those fancy electronic thermostats. You write an offer, have your home inspection and then the listing agent tells you the owners will be taking the thermostat and replacing it with a basic model.
Does it convey as part of the HVAC system or does it go with the owner as a wall mount electronic device? In Virginia we have two contract paragraphs which depending on whether you represent the buyer or the seller you could claim applies.
What would you say in your area? Stay of go?
… (68 comments)
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realtor life: When The Conversation Starts With
- 08/27/13 10:35 AM
"I've been a Realtor® for x years" chances are I'm going to get a lecture on why what I've asked for is wrong.
First of all I have no bone to pick with agents whether they've been in the business for 1 day, 1 year or 30 years, however the length of time you have been an agent doesn't mean you are always right.
In this case the statement was followed with "and I've always done it this way." Unfortunately the way they have always done it could have easily come back to haunt them if another agent wanted to play hardball. … (16 comments)
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realtor life: Go Ahead And Make A Deal-But Not With My Commission
- 08/19/13 11:30 AM
There are some buyers who choose to go it on their own. For whatever reason they don't want anyone else to negotiate for them but they do want a deal.
Recently one of those unrepresented buyers contacted me about seeing one of our listings. However before seeing the property they wanted me to agree to reduce my commission so they could make a lower offer. Here is the bottom line. The commission is not the yours (buyer) to negotiate.
Let's see if I can explain this. The listing agreement spells out the commission to be paid at settlement. The listing agreement is … (30 comments)
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realtor life: Using Your Blog To Make A Connection With Prospective Clients
- 08/17/13 10:04 AM
A few weeks ago an email arrived from a military family outside of the area who needed help. They had just received orders to the Pentagon and had less than a month to move. The problem? They had no time to make a house hunting trip and needed someone who would help them find the right home for their time in the area. Could I help them?
We made time to talk on the phone and discuss what they were looking for and I started searching the MLS. After sending them a few options we narrowed down the areas they liked … (47 comments)
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realtor life: If You've Got An Itch
- 07/21/13 02:22 AM
The scratch it.
Anyone new to Northern Virginia finds it hard to believe when I tell them that within a 10 minute drive from my house in Belmont Bay you can find me hanging out with horses. This fellow resides at the Lower Potomac Field Station operated by the Bureau of Land Management.
The Meadowood Recreation Area offers 6 mile sof hiking and horseback riding trails, two fishing ponds and 800 acres of forest and meadows. The stables and indoor arena are used for the Simple Changes Theraputic Riding Program. The BLM has held wild horse and burro adoptions on … (17 comments)
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realtor life: Keeping Your Cool When The Temperatures Soar
- 07/16/13 10:32 AM
It's hot. It's humid and we are all suffering. Add the stress of a seller who wants their home sold now or a buyer looking to find the perfect home and what do you get? You likely get short tempers and normally cool agents looking to take it out on someone.
Over the last few days I've gotten a few emails dripping with sarcasm that though I've been tempted to fire back an ugly response I've refrained. In a former life, or at least a few years ago my response would have been to lay into someone. A little bit of … (20 comments)
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realtor life: Yea Right Colonel Brian D Kent I'm All Over It
- 07/09/13 11:25 AM
There are times when you get an email that just flat out makes you angry. I realize it's a scam and would never fall for this. However almost daily we hear about someone who has been sucked in by a scam that has cost them thousands of dollars if not more.
Since I work with dozens of military families every year, many recently who have served multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq this is about as low as a scam can get in my opinion.
"Hello my good friend ,
I am Colonel Brian D. Kent, an officer of the … (6 comments)
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realtor life: A Moment of Serenity In A Hectic Day
- 06/12/13 10:01 AM
Sometimes when you are out looking at homes you see a scene that calls your name. Today this garden had my name written all over it. Even though it was close to 90 degrees the waterfall tucked behind the shrubs, koi and covered patio made it seem cooler.
Hope you found your moment of serenity today.
… (23 comments)
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realtor life: The End of Vacation Blues
- 06/02/13 10:02 AM
It's time to come back to reality. There is nothing better (at least for me) than my annual late May road trip to the Outer Banks in NC. The car knows the way and my group of friends can't wait to get our feet in the sand.
It's time to leave the chair for the next lucky person who get's to spend their week listening to the waves.
Have a good week.
… (28 comments)
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realtor life: Does Anyone Else Hear Tiny Tim Singing?
- 04/23/13 08:31 AM
Everytime I drive past the tulips blooming in my neighborhood a familiar song starts playing in my head. Finally I couldn't resist so this afternoon I took a walk to enjoy them close up. Nope I didn't attempt to tip toe through them but I did enjoy a few minutes of watching the bees fliting through them and a pair of Bald Eagles that flew past.
Just another wonderful day in Belmont Bay.
… (18 comments)
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realtor life: Does It Convey Or Not-Strange Comments In The MLS
- 04/22/13 10:19 AM
The MLS is often full of surprises and you never know what you might find.
It's not unusual to see a comment in the MLS that says a favorite light fixture does not convey. I advise my clients prior to listing if a light isn’t going to stay to take it down, pack it away and replace with something appropriate. It saves time and possibly a misunderstanding later on. So that section of the remarks wasn’t a surprise.
Then the remarks when on to say the owners planned on removing some of the exterior landscaping. Though there are no hard … (20 comments)
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realtor life: There's A First Time For Everything In Real Estate
- 04/15/13 06:16 AM
Today was a real estate first. At least for me. Call it a habit from being brought up to be security conscious but after my clients and enter a house I lock the door behind us. It's never been a problem. Until today.
The home is a foreclosure with a very fancy combo lock on the front door. After we were all inside I threw the deadbolt to the left and we toured the house. When we went back to the front door I realized by turning the lock I had reset the combo and there was no way to open the … (49 comments)
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