ethics: I want to tell you, but it isn’t my place or is it?
- 01/14/12 03:56 PM
I want to tell you, but it isn’t my place or is it? Recently one of my clients had an offer in on a property and they backed out based on the inspection. They just couldn’t come to an agreement with the seller on getting the repairs done which is something that happens all the time in real estate, so no big deal. But, what happens when the next buyer comes along and is ready to buy that same home. Well, somehow that new buyer found out I represented the previous buyer and they gave me a call and asked me … (40 comments)
ethics: Who are you following?
- 11/10/11 05:38 AM
We all need someone to follow when times are tough. I know when I am in trouble or need help I look to my close friend, family and most importantly God for direction. We each must have a moral compass in this business, but unfortunately everyone’s moral compass isn’t the same and that is why we have ethics courses every couple years. But, I truly believe if you follow the right light, those classes wouldn’t be necessary at all. … (9 comments)
ethics: Real estate is all about focus! Are you focusing on the big picture or the immediate payday?
- 03/27/11 11:47 AM
On thing I dislike about some agents is they are all about the deal. Deal? Deal? Really? It should be about the people, their future, and your future and not the deal at hand. If you focus on the deal, you are really just focusing on a paycheck and that leads to in my humble opinion moral and possibly ethics issues.
These are basically the same picture, just with different focal points Think about your future, think about what drives happy clients to keep coming back and referring their friends to you. It isn’t about how you got a … (19 comments)
ethics: How far will you go to get a transaction to close? Would you put your client at risk?
- 10/19/10 08:40 AM
The reason I ask this is recently I saw a short sale that was about to go to foreclosure because of the buyer’s bank making closing promises they couldn’t keep. But, instead of stepping aside and letting an all cash buyer step in and buy the property, the buyer’s agent stepped up and did whatever he could to make sure the deal closed and he got his commission check.
Now, the situation was that it was near beginning of the month and a few days before close. The buyer’s bank said they needed an additional 15 days to close, but … (72 comments)
ethics: Telling the truth and respecting your fellow agent goes a long way!
- 09/10/10 08:47 AM
On Friday, I got a call from an agent that was leaving town for a couple weeks, which I thought was interesting information to know, but thought to myself, how does this affect me? Well, he went on to say he has a client coming back in to town on Sunday that wanted to see one of my new listings and if I would be nice enough to show it to him.
I told him, “GLADLY!” and immediately thanked him for being honest about the situation instead of telling his client to lie about being represented just to see … (18 comments)
ethics: Please don't drink and show homes! Especially if you are the one driving
- 12/06/09 06:16 AM
I was hold a brokers open the other evening and I was happy when I sawa car pull up that looked to be an agent with his clients. But, what started out as happy for me ended up actually turning in to anger. You see I don't drink, never have and I have no problem with those who do. But, once you have had a drink, you better not get behind the wheel ofa car, because now your drinking can affect me and those around you.
This home was a vacant home so I didn't mind letting the clients and their agent look … (24 comments)
ethics: My advice for my buyers is don't give up and contact a lawyer!!!
- 11/23/09 03:11 PM
My buyers are buyers with a good credit score, but they just don't make a lot of money. So, they know the homes they are looking at are going to be on the lower price range of homes on the market and with that, there is going to be a lot of competition. But, when you find the home you want and your offer is the highest, and then still losing out, then I'm telling them to contact their lawyer. Here is what happened: My clients had found a home that they liked and was in their price range, but this home was … (9 comments)
This is the rant part of the fun night and I will tell you that I’m not a violent person, but I was about to become one if it wasn’t … (10 comments)
ethics: If we can’t trust each other, than how do we expect the public to trust us?
- 02/15/09 03:08 PM
Have you ever had a buyer that you know is working with another agent call you? Well, today I got that call and, though I didn't know the agent personally, I did know that this buyer was theirs because this same buyer had called me a few days prior to ask me some questions about the house. Fast forward to today when that same buyer called and said they would like to write an offer. I said, "Great, I'm glad you loved the property and I would love to see you living there. There is just one thing that I need you … (12 comments)
ethics: The pre-written price reduction – I think you just crossed the ethics line
- 12/25/08 04:24 PM
Now, let me say this before you get to mad. I've done many pre-written price reductions, especially when it comes to short sales. But, where do the actions of the agent and having a pre-written price reduction cross over in to an ethics violation? Today, I have to say I think one agent I have been trying to work with took the pre-written price reduction and posted it despite his clients' best interest. Why do I say this, especially when it really does benefit my buyer that is interested in this property? You see, today I noticed on the MLS that the house … (56 comments)
ethics: Do you think all buyers’ agents are stupid? Good luck!
- 11/25/08 02:12 AM
If you have never been on a listing appointment for an expired listing, then let me tell you when you finally do, you are in for a real treat. The one thing I can tell you about your appointment is that the seller wants to sell. Its your job to find out why it didn't sell and how to fix it all in less than 15 minutes, or it is too late and they move on to the next agent on their list. I went on a listing appointment last week on an expired listing and I have to admit I was … (9 comments)
ethics: Kicking Back or Kickback, I know the ethical choice, but do you?
- 11/22/08 03:17 AM
In the past I have been approached with many partnership ideas, but I know what it is that makes a true partnership. I give something and you give something in return that makes it beneficial to us both. That is how I approach real estate and my clients. I offer them hard work, dedication and ethics and they offer me a commission, referrals and in a lot of cases, their friendship. But, sometimes in real estate the difference between partnership and business kick backs are not that far apart. Let's look at one example of some of the things I do in business. … (84 comments)
ethics: Can you be fair and balanced in a multi offer situation? (If one of the buyers is yours)
- 10/10/08 03:10 AM
Over the past couple years I have closed many transactions where I am both the buyers and sellers agent and act as a neutral party for both in the transaction. It has worked out well and truly a win-win for both parties and both parties have walked away happy. But, what about a multi offer situation where one of the offers is yours? This is one situation that I have always handed the offers to another agent to present. I never wanted my hope to get both ends of the transaction to possibly influence the seller into taking the offer from a … (113 comments)
ethics: Will you call me back?
- 10/09/08 04:56 PM
Will you call me back? That was the question I was asked by a potential buyer who called me today. That wasn't their first question, but it was their last. The first question was can you help us get in to a home under $250,000 on a lease option, with $20,000 down, and monthly payments under $1,700 a month. WOW! My first thought was, not if I could find this person a home, but was how I soon I could do it! But, their last question piqued my interest, why would someone ask such a question? Well, I asked why they asked that … (11 comments)
ethics: What does that say about you as a city?
- 09/02/08 05:30 PM
Have you ever heard the statement, "You are so ugly that your mommy would have to tie a steak around your neck to even get the dog to play with you"? Well, can a city, or a part of a city, be that way? You know as an agent we can't steer our clients to certain parts of a city, but what about the city trying to steer people to that part of the city? Well, the City of Portland has just such an area. The Lents area of Portland, for the longest time, was really not a desirable place to live … (7 comments)
ethics: Did we catch them? No, but it did stop!
- 07/31/08 03:56 AM
Oh, I hate when people steal, and I hate it even worse when it is from me. But, I was on a quest; I was paying a reward for the capture of the thief. I wanted it to stop and I was pulling out everything in my bag of tricks to do it. Recently I wrote a post entitled "Smile for the camera before you go to jail!" In this post I was out to capture whoever was knocking down my signs and / or just out right stealing them in some cases. Well, after I put a teenager out there with my … (19 comments)
ethics: Smile for the camera before you go to jail!
- 06/21/08 12:37 PM
Recently I took a listing along a street in a very nice neighborhood, but something has been happening to my signs, they come up missing everyday! Now, I would say it was a neighbor trying to sell their house, but the three other agents signs don't seem to disappear. (Two belong to one agent and one belongs to another lady in her office.) I've had my signs cut up, thrown in the blackberries and just plain disappear and on a daily basis. Now, where these signs disappear from there is a dip in the road, so no one could see you take … (16 comments)
ethics: When greed and ethics cost a client money (OH, but don’t tell)
- 06/17/08 11:23 AM
I'm in the middle of a transaction that was supposed to close yesterday, not a big deal, just some last minute funding issues that will only delay the close by 4 or 5 days and with the way it has been lately, I will certainly be happy with that! But, when the listing agent's clients were introduced to their mortgage broker, their mortgage broker clearly wanted to make more money from the deal, rather than keep the clients best interests at heart. (Fiduciary responsibility?) What happened may you ask? The sellers were under the gun to find a new home, now that it … (22 comments)
ethics: A quote that I heard today that I can’t get out of my head
- 10/20/07 05:42 PM
"My mother was the travel agent of a many great guilt trips." This statement tells me that they had something to feel guilty for. I've always thought that guilt is only felt by the guilty. I truly want to live my life guilt and regret free, and hopefully my kids will be able to experience the same things in their lives. But, in order to do that, we need to teach them to understand the true difference between right and wrong. In real estate, we have to make decisions everyday, and I can say at the end of the day, I can sleep … (16 comments)
ethics: WE ARE DONE! You need to find yourself another Realtor!
- 06/11/07 05:29 PM
That is what I told a buyer who called me on the phone today. This person (I use that phrase loosely) wanted to see a home I had listed. I said "Great!" I then asked if they had been pre-approved by a mortgage broker. He said "Yes, for $270,000, but we have a question for you" I said, "OK - Shoot" They then asked me "Has this home ever been owned by a Mexican family?" I couldn't believe the question and I was silent for what felt like 5 minutes to me. They then broke the silence with "There is a way … (19 comments)
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I want to tell you, but it isn’t my place or is it? Recently one of my clients had an offer in on a property and they backed out based on the inspection. They just couldn’t come to an agreement with the seller on getting the repairs done which is something that happens all the time in real estate, so no big deal.
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