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.
How Bartending Made Me a Better Realtor by JP Faranda
No Really, An Offer Is Not Binding...Hello!!! by Nathan Tutas
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 His LA Agent was (GREEDY) trying to Represent Him 145 miles Away! by Kathy Schowe. Kathy relays a recent scenario she had with a new buyer who came down to Palm Desert from Los Angeles to buy a home. This is a similar scenario I see occasionally from some of my own borrowers.
It just boggles my mind when one of my borrowers tries to use an out-of-area Realtor/agent to purchase a home here in Los Angeles or Ventura county. It's the same scenario too, the out-of-area Realtor/agent tells the buyer to use local Realtors/agents to show them property and when they (the buyers) are ready to make an offer, to just call them (the out-of-area Realtor/agent) and they will write up the offer. SERIOUSLY!!!
I think we can all agree that this just goes beyond the line of unethical and yet we hear stories of this crap still happening all the time. What kind of Realtor/agent would advise their buyer clients in this way. AAARRRGGGHHH!!!
Then there was Andi Grant and her post, Has Social Media and Marketing Turned Realtors into Attention Whores?. Andi brings up a really good topic - over exposure and hounding marketing.
I have heard from many of my borrowers that they chose not to work with someone for the exact same reason - someone's marketing screaming at them everywhere they went. There are many buyers and sellers who are impressed with that type of marketing and are interested in working with professionals like that.
However, for every consumer who is impressed with that type professional, there are others who abhor that type of marketing and would not be interested in working with someone like that. No worries though because fortunately for consumers, they will always have other options and choices for Realtors/agents that they want to work with. This is a good thing folk because that means there will always be opportunities for those of us who have different business models and modes of operations.
Next was But the Other Agent (fill in the blank) by Charita Cadenhead. This continues what I was just talking about - we are all different and have different ways of working. Once again, this is a good thing because that means that consumers and buyers and sellers will always have choices when it comes to working with a Realtor/agent/MLO/ or any other professional in any other industry.
Yes, it's true that we are all licensed by similar licensing rules, regs and codes (or not in some peoples cases) but we don't all have the same business models or operate the same way or work the same special niches or types of clientele. It's because of this that consumers and especially buyers and sellers really need to choose their professionals wisely, even if they're referred to them. What works for one person many not work for another and the same can be said for us professionals.
Then there was Bill & Liz Spear (aka BLiz) with their post, Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) Negotiating. BLiz bring up a very good topic - quibbling over the sellers personal property that was not included in the sale transaction. SERIOUSLY!!!
For what it's worth, whenever I hear one of my borrowers whining about some personal property that wasn't included in the sales transaction, I just want to whack them upside the head and tell them to GROW-UP!!! However, what I will do is remind them that their Realtor/agent is licensed to negotiate the sale of real estate property and not used furniture/appliances.
Having said that though, don't even get me started on those sellers that market their properties in a certain way and then when the buyer shows up to view the property, there are post-it notes all over the place identifying all the things that are not included in the sale - PUUULLLEEEAAASSSEEE!!! That's a whole other post.
Lastly, there was Can you lose something you never really had? by newbie blogger, Dennis Burgess. Seems I've got a theme going on here. Dennis relays a recent scenario about how he "lost" properties for his property management company.
Personally, I am of the philosophy that you can't lose something you never had. In Dennis's case it's more a matter that he didn't win something that he tried to get. However, as I've been harping on this whole post, not every consumer is going to be attracted or impressed with someone who manages 600 properties.
While Dennis's success is impressive and deserves to be commended, there are obviously a lot of homeowners who are attracted to that type of business model. However, for everyone that is impressed by that business model, there will be those that aren't. Personally, if I was selling my home right now, I would not be going with some mega listing agent with a gadzillion listings. NOPE!!!
I would be looking at someone who has a proven record of sales (regardless of whether it's 20yrs or just a few years) who manages just a handful of listings and who will always return my calls in a timely manner. Someone who would personally handle my property and not delegate it to one of their gadzillion assistants who calls me back only to find out what my "problem" is so that they can pass it on.
Once again, buyers and sellers have so many choices and options and fortunately for them there are professionals out there that are just right for them and their needs. This is a good thing folks and something that needs to be celebrated and not something that should be discouraged and ridiculed.
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.
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