Sarcasm Wins Business

Posted at 12:33 PM, Aug. 8, 2008

OK . . .so I've been feeling like a beaten down rag doll in this market. I've screamed, I've cried, I've quit, I've had a mental breakdown, and then I laughed and took a break.

I started venting with a great friend and fellow realtor and I thought of how funny it would be to post a role-play you tube video of all the things I'd LOVE to say to clients or unprofressional realtors (unprofessional? No, Really?) from time to time.

"Oh really, you don't say...hmmm, your house has been on the market for TWO MONTHS and you've had NO offers, eh? And, you say it's your realtor's fault, hmmmm. Well, MAYBE you shouldn't have bought a house you couldn't afford two years ago and now you're asking TOO MUCH MONEY. MAYBE, it's because your lazy *butt* won't get off the couch and clean it up a bit so it doesn't smell like dog *pee* and look like a tornado hit. MAYBE it's because you're expecting a *darn* miracle from an elf named Sam."

The *words* signify a clean version of what I'd like to say so you can fill in the blanks with your word of choice. wink wink

So, in the end -I have a funny tshirt company and decided to print a few of my sentiments on the front of a shirt and wear it proudly.

Turns out, they're great conversation starters. Turns out, it's a great way to seem like you're a professional realtor with a great sense of humor in trying to survive the market and people want to work with you.

So, it turns out -it's a great way to get new clients who want to take advantage of a great buying opportunity.

You can order them from my site in assorted colors, styles, shapes and sizes and they're shipped directly to you. If you'd like your logo or name on it -this can be done as well. Just email your logo with company policy approval guidelines if necessary and/or your name to Sales@SnoodyBoody.com. More sayings and designs on the way.

If nothing else, remember to breathe. Remember to laugh. And, if you drink...have one or two or three, but not alone. Start a support group and meet once a week at 5pm...at the bar.

Remember there's more to life so don't forget to LIVE a little. Happy Selling, Colleagues!

10 Common REALTOR Short Sale Mistakes

Posted at 3:21 PM, Mar. 14, 2008

1. Listing the property at an amount that insures the property will go to foreclosure. (Not negotiating a big enough discount)

2. Failure to disclose that the sale of the property will/may require the lender's approval of a short sale in the MLS.

3. Allowing a listed property to remain on the market after the owner has filed bankruptcy. You must talk to the bankruptcy Trustee to leave it on the market.

4. Failure to have the seller disclosure form completed correctly.

5. Failing to understand that the lender cannot/and will not make a determination until they have received all the hardship package information. (With supporting documentation from the owner)

6. Advertising the co-op at 3% or any number on the MLS. The lender will always determine the actual commission which will be paid. I recommend you put 50/50 for the commission slot in the MLS unless you already have approval from the lender.

(My personal opinion is that the buyer-broker should actually get the full commission and the listing agent take a discount if required. For instance, if I'm the Listing Agent, I'll take 2% if the lender only pays 5% instead of 6%, and offer the 3% to the buyer-broker. It's good business etiquette.)

7. Failure to understand the role of the Loss Mitigation Department and how to best interact with them. "Give them what they need to get what you want."

8. Allowing the property to remain on the market AFTER foreclosure. Watch your listed property and know what stage it's in at all times.

9. Lack of understanding of the foreclosure process and not being familiar with the documents and state and Federal laws, which are applicable.

10. Failure to get the training needed so you don't make the above listed mistakes!

We keep hearing about a "slow" market, blah blah blah. Well, if you really are that slow, there's no better time to improve your realtor skills and knowledge than by taking some time get education on your weak areas. We always need to keep educating ourselves. The only constant is change. Many of us are seeing a side of the market we have not yet experienced so jump in and learn! There are many FREE seminars out there that are extremely helpful. Be the best realtor you can be for your clients, then you will still have a real estate business in 3 years.

Good luck!

Lazy Realtors or Title Reps: What do you think?

Posted at 12:13 PM, Feb. 28, 2008

I have been extremely frustrated by the fact that title reps or any other partners that provide realtor services (lenders, home inspectors...) have not been successful in organizing realtor tours for our listings! 

I have had 2 cancel in the last 2 weeks because they tell me that 6-8 realtors cancelled out.  IS it the truth?  Are realtors getting lazy and not wanting to get this feedback for their clients who are jumping realtors to sell their house?  Or, are the title reps getting lazy or sick and tired of working with realtors?

I don't know the answer, but all I know is that perception is reality.  If my sellers see me doing activities in pursuit to sell their home, they will not fire me and hire a new one to sell their house.  In a recent article I read, over 50% of sellers go through 2-3 realtors before selling their house.  I believe it because I'm getting some of those listings! 

Through this frustration, I asked myself the same question I always do when I come across a road block:  What can I do to get the feedback I need for my sellers and to get realtors to see my awesome listing.....fast?!

I came up with an idea, started calling realtors myself to organize this, but realized that I needed help.  My time should be spent prospecting and following up with existing clients, not calling realtors to organize this tour and manage the feedback.  So, I went to 4 people who work for realtors (2 title reps and 1 home inspector, 1 lender).  What I heard was a bunch of whining, complaining, and BUTTS....in the name of the "devil's advocate." 

Here's my 3 questions to you:  1) What do you think of the idea and 2) would you participate by devoting an hour or so a week?  3) Isn't it worth testing with your realtor database if you were a title rep, lender or home inspector to rise above the competition and offer a VALUABLE service for us to actually keep clients and sell houses?

Without further ado, the idea below was created in an email format with constant contact.

THE IDEA:

12 guaranteed showings + 12 surveys & You didn't have to call for feedback

How would you like to get 12 showings on your listing within 1 month, GUARANTEED!? 

AND, get a complete survey of the visit faxed to YOU - WITHOUT having to contact the agent for "showing feedback"? 
I WOULD!  Are you with me?

Did you know that about 50% of all residential property listings sell with the second or third listing agent? 

There are several reasons for this, but one that keeps coming up when I go on listing appointments is that the seller does not think the agent is WORKING TO SELL THEIR HOUSE.

Let's help each other!  We must continually change with the economy, technology advances and all the other factors that exist in our industry.

So, this is my idea of the latest and greatest Realtor Tour!  You don't have to sit through a boring meeting, caravan around for HOURS just to have some jerk leave the tour before they saw your listing and most importantly -waste half of your day.

What You Do:

• You will get 3 listings in one neighborhood to visit per week for 4 weeks ( You can do that in an hour/week!)
  
• Complete the surveys of the listings you saw and email or fax back to me by the end of th week.
  
• Once I get your three surveys, you will get 3 surveys from 3 realtors who all left their business cards on your clients counter top at different times/days AND 3 surveys to hand your clients!

Afraid you're going to lose the  listing because it won't sell due to:

• Price?
• It's too cluttered?
• Needs some paint or to be cleaned?

We can help each other by getting those surveys in to your clients, encouraging them to make the changes you already know must be made or you're out the money it cost you to put up the sign, print the flyers, market the home for sale...etc....only to have them jump agents.

Interested?  What if one of the agents had a buyer for your listing??Contact me with your listing MLS # (s), addresses, a comp sheet and any notes that you would like us to know.  The listing agents who view your listing will be armed with this valuable information as they preview your listing.

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That's it!  What do you think???  The realtor partner could manage this "virtual" realtor tour instead of spending all that time organzing realtor tours that get cancelled.  They would get our feedback surveys and as soon as we fax/email our surveys for the week in, we get the ones for our listing that we can pass on to our seller.  And, we didn't have to beg, steal and hollar to get the surveys!!  Feedback please!  Am I crazy or what??  Just trying to be PROactive and I'm open to other ideas.