"Teams" Driving Me Nuts! AND Charlotte's Stupid

[Wally Jones]

Charlotte,

I think Florida Realtors may have invented the Team concept! For the most part, I follow Blue's philosophy and limit my contact with the lender. But one of our local "Queens" gave me a hint a few months ago that I've since used to my advantage. I called her to see if the subject was on a lock box or if I needed to get a key and she let me know right away that such menial questions should be directed to her "girl". Well, I have since used that advice to get stuff I need from other local teams. "You know, your Queen said you'd be able to fax me a copy of that contract, or do I need to clarify that with HER again??" Zip, the "girl" has faxed me a copy almost before I hang up. Other than that, I pretty much ignore them and give them my client's phone number for questions on value, etc.

Hang in there, Charlotte, and send thank you notes to the few professionals you still encounter and let them know they're appreciated.

 

[bradellis]

Charlotte,

Payback can be fun. Charge a TON for the "final" that was not ready. I mean something like $25000. Send an invoice. Of COURSE you won't get it, but it WILL make them think twice before sending you out on stupid time wasting efforts. Maybe you can get them arguing among themselves- its always fun.

Brad Ellis, IFA,RAA

 

[Liz South]

Another hot button with many of us.
Twice in the last couple of weeks, I have talked to the Realtors Assistant (a.k.a Assistant Idiot) and attempted to schedule the inspection and have a contract faxed to me. Both times the assitant idiot has given a million ane one reasons why they can't take the time to fax the contract to me. What the heck is an assistant supposed to be doing other than the paperwork to facilite these "teams"? These assistants and teams need to be broken up. Unfortunately its just the example of too many cooks spoiling the stew. I also do not return calls to team members unless they are the listing agent on a particular property that I need info on.
By the way - why don't we start pressuring agents to be remotely honest and thorough in their MLS input data. :roll: I am sooo tired of info in the MLS being so grossly wrong that an trained baboon would know that its wrong. :lol:
Guess I'm just tired today - sorry about the gripeing.

Liz S.

Praying for more rain on the east coast

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

I do try to call or send a special 'Thank You' to the few Realtors that are honest and professional. There just seems to be so few left. I was first licensed as a Realtor in 1973. I also remember when most were honest and professional. (Yikes! I'm old!) I'm more sad than angry at what they have become. Too many have ethics below the proverbial 'used car salesman'.

 

[Blue1]

Lee Ann,

Sorry to hear that the Realtors in your area are still "wild." We too have those "wild" ones but, with a little careful "training" they can be made to "obey" on command. :lol:

You must also train your clients. This can be hard but is very rewarding. for instance: On a purchase, require the complete purchase agreement, home inspection, TDS and any other document BEFORE scheduling the assignment. The first couple of times when you don't schedule an assignment in a timely manner (because you lack the proper items) will be tough but, I guarantee from that time forward you'll recieve all the documentation you need when they send the order to you. Oh, and have them FAX you ALL the pages of the contract (just make sure you're up on your supply of FAX paper) This will get them in the habit of sending you ALL the addendums also.

 

[Charlotte Dixon]

I like the idea of sending those professional Realtors thank you notes. I know a few of those. They are the ones who return my calls right away, offer to hand deliver a contract to me if I can't read the fax, and stay out of the lenders' jobs of ordering final inspections and asking for status of an appraisal. They're the ones who look, speak and dress professionally and don't have 6 or so people on their team to make up lies for them. (i.e. she's on a settlement or on the other line). It's amazing how much more efficiently one professional Realtor performs vs. a whole team of comedians who don't know what the other one is saying or doing. This is the same professional Realtor who recommends me for ERC appraisals, mortgage work and private jobs. This is the same professional Realtor who tells me that the lock is kind of stubborn, you may have to pull on the door first then twist the key. This is the same professional Realtor who tells me that there is a dog in the house, be careful and if you don't want to go in, I'll meet you there or we'll make other arrangements. And, this is the same professional Realtor who says to me "Hey, you're the appraiser! It is what it is...I know that's a tough one and I'm confident you did the best you could"....It's a shame the professional Realtors are so few!

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

Awwwww, come on youse guys!! We need those REALTORS® and all their assistants to keep us busy!

Seriously, we need to find ways to "accomodate" our clients. Start with offering to facilitate a GRI class on "appraiser relationships".

Hour 1 - Common Misconceptions about appraisers.

Hour 2 - Understanding USPAP (it's not a medical term)

Hour 3 - How to do a CMA (Comparitive Market Analysis)

Hour 4 - Effective Communications and how to stay out of Jail

Lastly, don't hold yourself out as "holier than thou"....after all, the public views us as being as worthless as most real estate agents and used car dealers.

Thus sayth the old guy....a REALTOR® of some 34 years. And yes, I still have an active brokers license.

 

[Charlotte Dixon]

Mike, Sorry to burst your bubble, But....

A Realtor's continuing education class I attended in the spring was about just those things you mentioned. One of our most knowledgable, respected appraisers here in the area taught the class and made an excellent attempt in explaining what we do, why we do what we do, guidelines we must follow, and asked for imput from the class of about 75 hostile Realtors. This guy literally threw himself to the wolves. I'm a Realtor also; that's why I attended. I wouldn't have been in that guy's shoes for anything in the world. This appraiser/instructor started out asking "how many of you like appraisers?"...(wrong opener) They jeered him, made fun of him, chattered, got up and stood in the back, screamed out "I can't hear"...and "HUH" and "Oh, my Gosh".....on and on it went. At break time the instructor asked me how he was doing. I replied, "Good Luck!" After the break, some of the Realtors shouted out "How much to you give a garage?"...How much to you give a swimming pool?" and on and on, as they wrote down in their notes for future arguments 2 CAR GARAGE=$6,000. By the close of the class, I couldn't even hear what the instructor was saying because of all the story-telling and talking around me. There was just no way to control these people; they were there, not for the educational possibility, but as the enemy. It was just a terrible, terrible night, and I saw a lot of them for what they are.

So, Mike.......We tryed that!

 

[airphoto]

Charlotte,

The problem is that the appraiser gave those clowns credit for the CE .. should've withheld it on account of they're not house-trained ..

 

[TC]

I still have my brokers license so I can access the multi-list. It requires me to take 14 hours of education every 2 years, luckily I can “piggy-back” 7 hours of appraisal courses so I only have to take the 7 hours with agents/realtors. No doubt they see us as maybe not the enemy, but as an obstacle in the selling process. That’s fine, everyone has their opinion. But what really bugs the heck out of me is how they show up late for the class, take extended breaks, and leave early. I turned an instructor in for allowing that to happen, as he was a Realtor and turned a blind eye to people bolting the class early. As per usual, nothing happened.

TC