Dec. 13, 2006 - Suit over Pinal County fissures |
The Arizona Republic's online edition today had an article on a homeowner suing a builder, her agent, the listing agent and more or less whomever she can think of because of fissures that have opened on her property. Fissures have been an issue in Arizona in the past; water such as that coming during the summer monsoons exacerbate the problems. These fissures are caused in part by the pumping of ground water - as the water is removed from the ground, the ground sinks.
You can view some older photos of fissures on this environmental geophysics site from Arizona State University, and an information article on the University of Arizona's Water Resources Research Center site.
One interesting note from the Republic article ... according the real estate brokerage, the buyer waived their right to have a professional home inspection conducted. There's no assurance an inspection would have uncovered the fissures, or even the possibility - the state is very much behind on fissure mapping - but that's not to say the possibility would not have been discovered either.
(c) Jonathan Dalton, 2006 / Jonathan Dalton's Arizona Homes
|
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
View more entries tagged with: Earth Fissures, Pinal County, Queen Creek, Arizona Real Estate |
Dec. 13, 2006 - A Realtor's True Value |
Real estate is a service industry. In fact, you hear the word service bandied about almost constantly - we provide better service, just wait until you see our service, top-notch service, world-class service, limited service, room service ... well, the wife may question me on the latter so we'll move on.
In truth, there's no objective way to measure service. If a real estate transaction goes smoothly, the client walks away convinced on the excellent service they received. Communication may be a more useful term than service, as those buyers and sellers who don't hear from their agents tend to be the ones who believe they received terrible service. (Try using a family member in a real estate transaction and see how often you really hear from them, whether they treat you like their other clients.)
Given that there's no objective way to measure service, it's difficult to measure the true value of a real estate professional. Again, in a smooth transaction, there's little to judge by (although it easily can be argued the transaction went smoothly because of the agent's work ... or maybe it wasn't smooth whatsoever, but the client doesn't know any different because of the agent's efficiency and knowledge.)
But not all real estate transactions are smooth. In fact, there almost always are one or two challenges - some minor, some major - along the way in any real estate transaction. It is in these times that an agent's true value comes into play.
For example, one of my listings is in the midst of an extended escrow. Why? Because the buyer was unable to qualify for his loan as the closing date approached because his FICO score had dropped. A less experienced likely would have tossed in the towel and started the search anew for a new buyer. Instead, the buyers' agent and I have spent the past 10 days working on alternate solutions to complete the escrow. Again, why? Because my seller wants to sell and the buyer has nowhere else to go. It's the right thing to do. And we have the knowledge to pull it off (if we can get the lender to sign off on the solution.)
On another potential deal, my buyers and I have waited more than a week to hear what is happening with an offer made. My buyer is getting increasingly frustrated, and for just one reason - communication from the listing agent has been negligible. This one's a short sale (the seller owes more than the home is worth) but still ... a little communication will go a long way.
Many confuse experience with time in the business. I think Ardell was on the right track when she tied the idea of experience to the number of transactions completed by a given agent. Or as Greg said over at Bloodhound today, experience comes one painful lesson at a time.
(And yes, I fell victim today to what many real estate bloggers have found - you think up a great topic, then watch it appear on Odysseus' blog before Tobey had a chance to clear his throat.)
(c) Jonathan Dalton, 2006 / Jonathan Dalton's Arizona Homes |
• 2 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
View more entries tagged with: Marketing, Value |
Dec. 11, 2006 - Carnival of Real Estate #22 |
The Carnival of Real Estate made its way to Active Rain, one of my favorite online addictions. Aside from the carnival posts, Active Rain is a huge repository of real estate- and mortgage-related information from those in the trenches. One of the unique features for those outside either of the two industries are the number of tips shared among those of us in those industries - call it an inside look at how we do what we do.
Tobey and I made the cut for our article on Zillow, "The First Taste is Free." Here's the rest of this week's top 10:
Brian Brady's light-hearted article with the heavy name, "The Six Stages of the Long-Term Real Estate Play."
Kevin Boer at 3 Oceans Real Estate, "Wow! You Leave for an Hour and Zillow Changes the World."
Gerhard Ahe provides a masterpiece in "Real Estate Theatre."
Evan Kane, writing during the Open Mike segment at Sellsius, on "Broker Gets MLS Grief for $1 listing."
Toby Boyce on "When is TMI ... well ... TMI?"
Elizabeth Weintraub at the Real Estate Tomato on "What Buyers and Sellers Expect from a Real Estate Agent."
John Novak in Henderson, Nevada on what sellers' agents can do in "Don't Take it Personally ... It is what it is."
And last but not least, Mary McKnight at RSS pieces on "How to Write a Blog that Generates Leads."
(c) Jonathan Dalton, 2006 / Jonathan Dalton's Arizona Homes
|
• 2 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
View more entries tagged with: Carnival Of Real Estate, Active Rain, Blogging |
Dec. 8, 2006 - Friday Afternoon Cleanup ... |
Zillow opinions continue to flow, though the anti-Zillow discussion backlash also has kicked in. Personally, I'm planning on using Zillow to my advantage when possible. Covering our eyes and pretending it doesn't exist seems fairly silly ...
Mary McKnight at RSS Pieces has suggested a group of us swap blogs for a day ... keep your eyes open next week for the first ever Yankee Blog Swap.
(c) Jonathan Dalton, 2006 / Jonathan Dalton's Arizona Homes |
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
View more entries tagged with: Zillow, Yankee Blog Swap |
|
Phoenix Arizona Real Estate Blog presented by Jonathan Dalton, RE/MAX Desert Showcase
Other Links
• Home
• Dalton's Arizona Homes
• Arrowhead Ranch Living
• Westbrook Village Real Estate
• Arizona Buyers' Advisory
• View my profile
• Email Me
• Blog Manager
|
