broker: "I am not an attorney" is NOT a quaint slogan. It is a fact of life.
- 06/28/10 07:09 AM
"I am not an attorney" is a phrase that is confusing to some consumers. I can understand that. They often do not recognize the boundaries and limitations of a real estate agent's job, or an attorney's job, for that matter. In North Carolina, we brokers cannot draft contracts. We can complete standard forms as offered to us from the NC Association of Realtors in cooperation with the NC Real Estate Commission and the North Carolina Bar Association. We can fill in the blanks, hopefully competently. On our standard forms, "Additional Provisions Addendum" and the "Repair Request and Agreement," we can enter desired repairs and … (6 comments)
broker: Raising the Bar? Forget the Bar! Let's extend ourselves to operating on a higher plane of achievement!
- 04/17/10 01:54 PM
Todd Waller wrote a post, "How High? Raising the Bar" that deserves more discussion. I applaud the effort to increase the level of professionalism in his firm. Really, I do. Lenn Harley reblogged,"How High? Raising the Bar" and the reader comments indicate that many commenters posted without reading Todd's post. That is my interpretation of their focus on the 4-year degree. I read Todd's criteria as saying there are other qualifying criteria that can offset lack of a degree. I think the underlined criteria are clearly meant to legitimately offset a diploma, if necessary: "Possess a college diploma (four-year degree), OR a broker's license OR … (40 comments)
broker: "My Broker Won't Let Me..." Oh, Grow a Backbone!
- 09/24/09 03:30 PM
The opposite of a third-party confirmation is the "Blame a third party" mentality. When I hear an agent say "My Broker won't let me..." to anyone, it grates on my nerves... When I hear an agent say it to a consumer, I want to shake them and bellow, "FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! GO TO SCHOOL! OR, GROW A BACKBONE!" It's an obvious sign of professional weakness, I think. Probably that one PHRASE is sufficient grounds for a smart consumer to fire their agent. The agent apparently has no foundation in the fundamentals of conducting business. You need to be knowledgeable and capable of clearly explaining the issue, and the … (4 comments)
broker: Nothing to say? Can't say it? Not allowed to say it?
- 12/02/08 07:00 AM
So many agents... So few bloggers... This one struck a responsive chord today: From Seth Godin today: "...Persuading someone to start a blog is evolution marketing. Lots of people have been brainwashed that they have nothing to say, or can't say it, or aren't allowed to say it." Bull's-eye! How many co-workers have ever glazed over when you mentioned blogging on real estate? I usually have figured that the issue is the fear of nothing to say, or hear that they 'just aren't good writers." And every now and then you hear the agent who says their broker won't turn them loose to … (12 comments)
broker: Celebrity Death Match Real Estate Agency: Larry the Cable Guy or Voldemort? And why?
- 09/10/07 03:07 PM
So, you contact every agency in town for to engage a REALTOR and you find that everyone is off for the day. And you need an agent. Well, there are two brokers working today: Larry the Cable Guy and Voldemort, aka, Tom Marvolo Riddle. And, this won't wait. You need a real estate agent NOW. Who you gonna pick? Let me seeeee.... We have a few qualifying questions. It's interview time. On second thought, I don't think it's so wise to ask Voldemort very many questions. He seems to get a little moody when tested. And Larry the Cable Guy will surely have more fun answers anyway. I mean, YOU can ask … (0 comments)
broker: North Carolina Real Estate, HEY, Y'ALL!! We're getting new paperwork!!
- 07/17/07 02:26 PM
In our team meeting today, we spent about an hour going over the 2007 edition of North Carolina Standard Form 2-T, Offer to Purchase and Contract. You know, if we would all just be good, we would likely have a LOT less paperwork to contend with. They have carried a lot of the sections from the Additional Provisions Addendum over into the Offer, to make them more accessible to the Broker and Buyer. We can get as much done within one form with one set of signatures. Seems good to me. A time frame for Buyers to answer a Seller's response to a Repair … (9 comments)
broker: REALTORS®Land Institute: "Under All There Is The Land" Count me in!
- 05/12/07 06:07 AM
I just finished two days of Land 101 at North Carolina Association of Realtors in Greensboro, NC. Good Stuff, I'm joining RLI, and I'm looking forward to getting deeper into 1031 territory at the first opportunity. Lou Jewell, the Landman, and Dale Fulk from Rogers Realty & Auction Co., Inc. taught, and it was extremely interesting just hanging out for two days with agents who handle a lot of land transactions. And great of Lou in particular to yield the floor to John Gardner, he of the wry sense of humor, a few times to hold forth on his experiences. Land is fascinating to work with, but … (2 comments)
broker: Do you have language skills... Or language resources?
- 02/15/07 02:59 PM
I was talking to my friend Ahmed Ammar today about building business, and addressing niches today. We got into languages and I asked him, "What languages do you speak other than English?" He said, "Arabaic." Me, "Well, you should be blogging an English/Arabic blog. And an English/Arabic newsletter. There are many people in our community who would find comfort knowing a broker spoke Arabic, don't you think?" He agreed. Now I want to see if he follows through and takes the challenge. Ahmed laughed hard when I couldn't tell him what a major language in India is. "Jeeze, Ahmed, I was born in the USA. Don't you know … (12 comments)
broker: First Time Buyers
- 01/05/07 02:20 PM
So, you've been doing this real estate business gig for a while. You have your scripts and marketing down pat. You know your MLS and your housing market. Showing homes is second nature and you can breeze through the features with aplomb. No sweat, no worries, right?
Well slow down a second... That young couple sitting at the table with you hasn't done any of it before. So they're excited. And they're sweating. And they're worried. They decided it is time to get out of the apartment complex they have been in for a couple of years. They know they want a starter … (7 comments)
"I am not an attorney" is a phrase that is confusing to some consumers. I can understand that. They often do not recognize the boundaries and limitations of a real estate agent's job, or an attorney's job, for that matter.
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