I had an interesting talk with another Realtor over one my listings. He showed the property with his customer and asked all the questions about the property. Later that day, he called me and very politely asked me if I would write the offer for him.

I was speechless for a moment and then remembered what Brokerage company he was with – you know the kind, the ones that the Broker hires multiple agents, teaches them nothing and hopes to get a transaction or two out of them while they may or not be paying either a transaction fee or a desk fee or whatever kind of fee.

I kind of lost it for a moment and said, “If I write your contract for you, there will be no commission for you. If you don’t know what you are doing, then either find out what to do or get out of the business“. He proceeded to tell me that other agents have written contracts for him, as he hasn’t had time to learn.

No wonder our business is going in the direction it is going, no one wants to learn to do it the right way. So my fellow Realtors, stay safe, and be careful. Until next Monday….

According to the Seller…

Disclosures, they can be good and they can be bad! Why bad you say, the more the Buyer knows the better she/he can make an intelligent decision. I would say a Yesssssss…But?

So what’s the problem. I have heard other Realtors say….This home will easily appreciate in 4-5 years! I would say that statement is false as they don’t know that for sure. What about …The roof is brand new……What is brand new to you it might be 1 year old to me…it might be 4,5,6 years old. Think about what you are saying. I catch myself falling into the same situation.

We ask our Sellers to fill out the Seller’s disclosure and caution them to disclose every aspect of the home since they have lived there. We caution them that if you don’t disclose, they may be liable if they hid something and it could easily cause them problems in the future by not disclosing. So we show the property and want to impress about our knowledge of our listing, and we open our mouth and promptly insert our foot or both feet into our mouth. So if we don’t know, rather than getting into difficulty, we can merely say….I will ask the Seller and get back to you…..and then make sure you do….saying, According to the Seller………..so as to distance yourself from the answer.

Until Next Monday…

Matey

Check and Recheck

Okay it is Mid-March and you should be well on the road to your 2021 residential sales goals.

                              Home sales are UP in Florida over last year: 18%                                                     Median Sales Price is UP in Florida: 15.1% from $265,000 to $305,000                     Dollar Volume is UP in Florida…way UP: 48.1%  from $6.6 Billion to $9.8 Billion  Inventory of Active Listings is DOWN 51.1% from 82,983 to 40,620                                Months Supply is also way DOWN 52.9% from 3.4 to 1.6…that’s LESS than 2 months!

As I mentioned in one of my other blogs, financing is becoming easier for all.  The outlook for 2021 looks very positive.  So my Fellow REALTORS, check your business plan, recheck your goals and get moving…the real estate future looks bright…especially for us in Florida.

Until Next Monday,

 

Please pay at closing…

This week I received an interesting contract for one of my listings, well what I mean is there was a phrase in the contract that I had never seen before. It was in the additional terms in the FAR/BAR contract. It goes like this:

Seller shall pay, So and So Realty $395.00 processing fee, at closing, as per Fla. Statute.

So I write back and ask what Florida statute addresses the Seller’s responsibility to pay a $395 processing fee at closing.

What was explained is the Fla Statute that requires the preserving and maintenance of documentation by the real estate companies for 5 years. It is interesting that there was not that explanation in the above so it looked like the Seller was obligated to pay that. And in the explanation it appears that this company was receiving the fee from both Buyer and Seller. 

So my fellow Realtors, here we go again, and the way I look at this is…. an additional way to supplement your commission. Amazing!

Until Next Monday….

Professionalism…What exactly does it mean?

Professionalism…this word has been used, abused and generally dragged around, up and down. What exactly does it mean? Does professionalism mean knowing your product, your customer and what to do?  Does it mean to observe what professional conduct is and how to achieve it?  Does Professionalism mean continuing to make yourself aware of  the new laws, common courtesy and respect for our fellow Realtors and the public we serve? If we really stood in front of a mirror and began some serious soul searching, we would be surprised. No matter how long we have been in a profession we can always learn! The market changes constantly, people change and we need to change, continue to learn, continue to strive to be the best.   It’s not how much money you make, or the car you drive, it’s how you are perceived in your profession and that’s what it comes down to….yours, mine and our profession. Let’s all make an effort to make our profession better, and in the process, be good to each other!

Until Next Monday,

Lulled into total laziness

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Interesting article in the Miami Herald today, about commission splits and how much work is really done for what we get paid. We know it’s a violation of anti trust to discuss commissions, but I am talking about the work that is done. I see many Realtors that obtain a listing and then do nothing. I have several Buyers for Miami condos. Each one has different objectives in what they wish to purchase. All are concerned with the viability of the Association budget. So wouldn’t you think the listing agent would obtain all the information about the financials of the Association, rules and regulations and anything else that would help the Buyer decide, No…that is left up to the buyer’s Realtor. The listing Realtor figures that they obtained the listing and now it is up to the Buyer’s side to do the rest of the work. Amazing, but since this is a good market, they are lulled into total laziness and it takes several emails, text messages and calls to elicit any information at all. So my Fellow Realtors….stay safe in these times!

Until Next Monday…

A New Year….A New Beginning!

2021: It’s a new week, it’s a New Year and a new beginning for all of us.  This is the time, for all of us, to discard the negative and look forward to the positive in our life and the lives around us! Don’t look back, just look ahead. I am reminded of many credos about looking ahead but especially the ones from the old Al-Anon.  They go like this:

Just for today, I will live through this day, I can’t solve all my problems at once, not looking back or forward…today. Just for today I will be happy, being positive. Just for today, I will face reality, correct what I can and accept what I can’t.  Just for today, I will improve my mind.  Just for today, I will make an effort to be kind and courteous. Just for today, I will improve my health. and just for today, I will have the courage to do what is right and take responsibility for my own actions.  These are amazing thoughts and actions to live by.  We just have to remember them every day.

So my fellow REALTORS, thank you for reading my blogs, and for the comments, they mean a lot, as it reassures me that I am not out there alone in my thoughts and actions. So the time is NOW…2021 is a new year…2021 is a new beginning…2021..it should be a great ride!

Until Next Monday…

 

My wife wants me to handle the sale…say what?

I am sorry I have been absent these last few weeks but I have been busy and I know that’s no excuse. I have a question to ask my readers….I wrote an offer for a Buyer on a residential property. I went to the tax rolls and obtained the Seller’s name. Seller was a male with no other name in the Owner’s area. Seller signed the offer and we are on our way to due diligence as we go through inspections, while Owner is there and I saw children’s toys in one of the bedrooms. I asked the Owner if he was married, he said yes. Ok all, here it comes….I say then, your wife needs to sign the contract. He says my wife says that she wants me to handle the sale. That’s fine but they were legally married and the listing agent says as long as the wife signs the closing documents, all is good, and the listing agent says she spoke with several attorneys and they agree with her. So all, I have spoken to several real estate attorneys and they agree with me as the wife has an interest in the homestead which is what this is. What do all see throughout the state?

On another note, May you all have a wonderful and joyous holiday season and may the New Year 2021 ring in happiness throughout the year. 

Until next week….

 

What Would You Do?

I have to apologize as I missed the last couple of weeks. I have 2 different buyers and I can’t begin to tell you how frustrating it is. They are both looking for condos but one wants close to new or renovated and the other wants similar but a little less money. So I have found and submitted 5 different offers for one and even at full price, the other Realtor shops my offer or says they are not presenting for 2 or 3 days after I have sent my offer, hoping to get a better offer or all cash. My customers are pre-approved, but guess that’s not good enough. Even if I know and the comparables don’t lie, the property won’t appraise. So I use an appraisal contingency that may be why even full price doesn’t do it. So my fellow Realtors, What Would You Do (WWYD)? Is your market as crazy as ours? I hope not, maybe the virus is making us all nuts….stay safe and wear your masks!

Until Next Monday,

 

 

 

Common Courtesy…Not so common

I am sure we are all going crazy about this time of year. However…what happened to manners or common courtesy? In researching for property for several customers, I text, call and email to no avail. No one responds. Take that back 1 out of 5….yes I am a nut as I am keeping track, it is so frustrating. Part of the problem is many Realtors do not include all the information in the MLS. That in turn requires me to call, text and email…all with minimal responses. I have customers with specific needs, and those needs are not outrageous: Does the association have reserves? Do they take animals and if so is there a size restriction? I could go on for days. Many don’t call you back because they want to sell the property themselves. I understand that, but they forget the concept of cooperation, and the simple underlying fact that they are there to sell the property and not hold back any other Realtor wanting to see/and or sell the property. We are an amazing profession and for the majority of the time most Realtors are more than happy to show their listings, but I must just run into the minority.

So my Fellow Realtors, stay safe until next Monday.