Well, this week there were so many really great posts here in the rain by some of my fave bloggers as well as some newbie bloggers that I've recently come across. First and foremost, I just want to give a shout out to my fellow rainers for their gold star features that I was happy to "call the shot" on them.
Do You Recycle....Your Blogs I mean? by Brenda Mullen
No Commission for a Buyer Agent by newbie blogger, Mimi Foster
Realtors and Mortgage Professionals: Who is eyeing your slice of the pie? by Andi Grant
These were excellent posts that had some really great comments, which is one of the best things I love about great posts. With some posts, the comments can actually be better than the post. Check them out. Then there were some other equally great posts that I suggested but that the AR Gods must have missed this week when they were bestowing those little gold stars.
First there was newbie blogger, Sandi Nichols, with her post, Does anyone care about the tenants anymore? I liked this post because it really touched on a subject that is a bit of a pet peeve of mine. As an MLO who works with a lot of first timers, many of which who are current renters, I have been shocked and amazed by the horror stories I have heard about the way that these folks have been treated by their landlords when the landlord decides to put the home my clients were renting on the market.
Don't even get me started on the way that some Realtors (listing/buyers agents) have treated them as well as buyers and every other bozo who walks up to the door wanting to see the property. These are good tenants, who have taken very good care of the landlord's investment and who have paid their rent, every month, on time. This is how they deserve to be treated? SERIOUSLY???
Anyway, check out Sandi's post. One more thing folks, when showing tenant occupied properties, please try and remember that not every tenant is a PITA to you doing your job. They're just people who are stuck in a situation not of their own making and they deserve some respect and consideration. JMHO
Then there was Agent Violations - Report Them Or Ignore the Ignorant??? by Jane Grant. Jane brings up a very good topic: Realtors/agents self-policing each other. Jane wonders about reporting Realtor/agent violations when come across them.
For so long, I was the kind of agent who ignored agent violations because I believed in the whole karma philosophy, the whole what comes around goes around concept. I just believed that one day they would get caught doing whatever they were doing and they would eventually get what was coming to them.
But that never seemed to happen and so many of those sleazy, slimy folks just continued to do whatever they do with no consequences for their actions. Anyway, without going into details (that's a whole other post), I know longer believe that we should just ignore agent violations. We need to start policing ourselves. Who knows, maybe if we do, they public will begin to have a better opinion of Realtors/agents.
Next was Keisha Hosea with her post, A Realtor Without A Lock box Key? Where are Your Essential Tools Of Your Trade? Keisha asks a very good question: how can you practice real estate and maintain you're a professional if you don't even possess the essential tools needed to conduct business. While I understand that times are tough (really I do) and the costs of doing business continue to rise every year, however, the fact still remains, if one can not afford to do business, then they need to find another line of work. They are just simply doing their clients a disservice when they can not properly perform their required duties & responsibilities. Check out Keisha's post.
Then there was Making Termite a part of the Inspection Contingency. by Ken Barker. Ken brings up a topic that for many has been the obstacle in so many transactions - inspection items in the purchase contract, specifically termite inspections. As an MLO, I HATE seeing inspection items and/or repair requests in the purchase contract. Quite frankly, inspection items and/or repair requests do NOT belong in the purchase contract.
When buyers and their Realtors/agents include inspection items and/or repair requests in the purchase offer, they are literally inviting underwriters into the inspection reports. I assure you, the last thing you want to do if you ever want to make it to the closing table is invite underwriters into the inspection process. DON'T DO IT!!! I speak from experience when I say that; a lesson I learned early in my mortgage career.
Lastly, there was Don't Call the Listing Agent if your Buyer Agent isn't Around by J Philip Faranda. JP's post reminded me a little of the post I did this week called Choosing Your In-Laws, Brother's Half Sister's Cousin for Your Realtor is REALLY NOT a Good Idea. Both JP and I discuss the practice of buyers calling the listing agent to see a property because the buyers own Realtor/agent either can't or won't do their job and get out and show the property to their own client themselves.
I'm sure I'm going to piss off a bunch of buyers agents with this comment but I am of the attitude that if buyers agents can't or won't get out and do their jobs, you know, the thing that they expect to get paid for, then they have no business working with buyers. PERIOD!!! 
As always, I love "calling the shots". I'm pretty picky and selective about whom I suggest. I intentionally highlight my fave bloggers and then I look for new bloggers or bloggers that aren't on the feature board every other day. Anyone can suggest all the popular bloggers but finding the hidden treasures and gems is so much better. I hope you check them out and enjoy them as much as I did.
Comments (27)Subscribe to CommentsComment