In reference to an article I read in the April 8th, 2007 Parade Magazine that came with my Los Angeles Times Sunday newspaper. The article was concerning what the 'journalist' felt was ending the 'myths' of buying and selling real estate, and I am particularly addressing the first 'myth' as to why a licensed real estate professional is not required. Did you read it? Sure there are lots of informed people that read Wall Street Journal, Time, Newsweek, etc., but I bet the majority of our real estate customers looking to sell a home, or buy a home, read magazines such as Parade much more often than off the rack news magazines. Its free. It comes in the newspaper. What is it with the media? They can't wait to sour the real estate market with anti real estate professional material. The one bit that got me was how the only quote concerning why there is no need for a licensed real estate broker in a transaction was from the CEO of ForSaleByOwner.com. Hmmm...what could he say? He is selling his product. Why is there no direct counter quote offered by the author of the article from a member of the National Association of Realtors, or even any real estate professional to give readers an informed choice of opinions? Keep in mind that she says 15% of all transactions are FSBOs, but does she also have research showing how much of that 15% turns to a Realtor after trying to do it on their own, and realizing it is an awesome task? Then I looked at one of the comments from readers of the same article on the magazines website. (Thanks to the people who rallied against the inaccuracies of the text, but there was one that made me cringe.) Its what uninformed people will think, nodding their head in agreement with what the article says. They believe Realtors study for an easy test, pass it, and away a real estate agent goes. Let me tell you. The studies, the investment, the research, the schooling, the dedication I have done and still do is not any small amount of work. Home sellers should understand that there is more to just putting up a sign on their lawn. Having a Realtor assist them is a protection for them and their investment, and we know how to do it because we are continuously trained and held to extremely high degrees of professional behaviour. People looking to buy a home should realize that the negotiating process to get the best home for their investment takes a trained person knowledgeable in the market to handle the transaction.
She does say to those who plan on selling their home without aide from a licensed professional will expect to do a lot of work. I will give her that. Its true. Its a lot of work. But its work that only Realtors are completely capable of handling to reduce the risks involved in buying or selling real estate.
Why are so many people worried that there are people making an income handling a major transaction such as selling a home? Aren't they making incomes off of people, like real estate agents, who are their customers in the business they work or are trained to accomplish?
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