Comments on: Real estate agents are next http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/ by Jeff Jarvis Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:21:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: robby http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-460972 robby Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:46:56 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-460972 the commissions they make for what the do or create (nothing!) is outrageous. i hope the law regulates how much they can make. 1% if their lucky! the commissions they make for what the do or create (nothing!) is outrageous. i hope the law regulates how much they can make. 1% if their lucky!

]]> By: Naples Condos http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-458766 Naples Condos Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:36:26 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-458766 I know this article was written many years ago but not too much has changed. I too would have expected that the margins start to fall. One thing is for certain...if the margins change they will likely come from the listing agent's end. I think most of the public finally realizes that it easier to list a property BUT there still needs to be considerable compensation to attract the agent with the buyer. I know this article was written many years ago but not too much has changed. I too would have expected that the margins start to fall. One thing is for certain…if the margins change they will likely come from the listing agent’s end. I think most of the public finally realizes that it easier to list a property BUT there still needs to be considerable compensation to attract the agent with the buyer.

]]> By: Brittany http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-428626 Brittany Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:02:59 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-428626 Most of the time the values on Zillow.com don't even make since. If you disagree, I can prove it in over 100 ways. Most of the time the values on Zillow.com don’t even make since. If you disagree, I can prove it in over 100 ways.

]]> By: Brittany http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-428625 Brittany Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:01:50 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-428625 There are creative agents. Try visiting www. strossarts.com our marketing with some of the best photography and the online presenations we do for our customers help to sell their home significantly above the average in price and less days on the market. You can have all of the internet sites do the markeitng for you, but if your house doesn't stand out and looks like crap good luck! Most homebuyers and sellers have no clue what they are doing. Sure if you are savy, have an education and marketing background you could sell your home yourslef. But most Americans are dumb in this regards. There are creative agents. Try visiting www. strossarts.com our marketing with some of the best photography and the online presenations we do for our customers help to sell their home significantly above the average in price and less days on the market. You can have all of the internet sites do the markeitng for you, but if your house doesn’t stand out and looks like crap good luck! Most homebuyers and sellers have no clue what they are doing. Sure if you are savy, have an education and marketing background you could sell your home yourslef. But most Americans are dumb in this regards.

]]> By: Ernest Hemingway http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-426584 Ernest Hemingway Thu, 30 Sep 2010 04:29:08 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-426584 I worked in the wireless industry and for a while sold into the real estate niche when smartphones were coming on strong. At first I was so enthralled at the prospect because they were all so willing to buy a contract or switch their family plans over. Before creating a wireless contract I had to run their credit. I was appalled when I started to run credits on these people and no less than 40% could not even get approved for 1 line by the carrier. Many others had limitations or required large deposits in order to create an account. I stopped messing around with that sector because so many of my sales never went through due to bad credit. The lesson I took from this was to be very careful trusting real estate agents with my money- real estate attracts all kinds of "get rich quick" type people, big spenders, and crooks. I should know, I worked in sales too. I now view their "profession" no differently than used car salesmen. I worked in the wireless industry and for a while sold into the real estate niche when smartphones were coming on strong. At first I was so enthralled at the prospect because they were all so willing to buy a contract or switch their family plans over. Before creating a wireless contract I had to run their credit. I was appalled when I started to run credits on these people and no less than 40% could not even get approved for 1 line by the carrier. Many others had limitations or required large deposits in order to create an account. I stopped messing around with that sector because so many of my sales never went through due to bad credit. The lesson I took from this was to be very careful trusting real estate agents with my money- real estate attracts all kinds of “get rich quick” type people, big spenders, and crooks. I should know, I worked in sales too. I now view their “profession” no differently than used car salesmen.

]]> By: Randy http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-423043 Randy Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:12:56 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-423043 Hey Jeff, I bought yout book, WWGD. Congratulations, very interesting. Good blog as well! I'm going to read everything you have said about real estate (yes, I'm one of them!). Cheers. Hey Jeff, I bought yout book, WWGD. Congratulations, very interesting. Good blog as well! I’m going to read everything you have said about real estate (yes, I’m one of them!). Cheers.

]]> By: Tim http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-418407 Tim Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:04:05 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-418407 I find it interesting that you've decided to pick and choose who to respond to and who not to, and in that decision you've decided not to respond to George, who has presented the most factual information thus far. Your off-handed dismissal of credible, factual information says more about your arrogant disregard of that facts and the only thing it says about you is that you're nothing more than a pompous ideolog. Most realtors only bring home about 1% out of that 6% comission, and George's wife is lucky to get as much as she does. Some brokerages are working on trying to change that, like Keller Williams who offers profit share and a maximum fee cap for well performing agents, because they recognize how little the actual brokers bring home compared to how much work they actually do. The new tools you refer to, like zillow.com, are exceptionally flawed in their analysis most of the time and actually hurt the industry more because they give sellers false and (more often) inflated hopes of what their home is actually worth. There are a multitude of factors zillow does not take into account when valuing a home, not least of which being condition, condition of the neighborhood, or whether or not the home sits on a busy intersection. Often times it also has critical information wrong, as in the case of my own home, where it's adding in an extra bedroom and has the age of the home off by about 40 years; not to mention working with someone who maintains errors and ommission insurance is invaluable in making sure your sorry ass doesn't get sued for screwing up the type of transaction most people only make once or twice in a lifetime... Your assumptions are quite libelous, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a lawsuit headed your direction as a result, if that hasn't already happened. If I wasn't reading your book as required for my journalism class, I would have stopped when I got to this particularly vitriolic portion of words. I find it interesting that you’ve decided to pick and choose who to respond to and who not to, and in that decision you’ve decided not to respond to George, who has presented the most factual information thus far. Your off-handed dismissal of credible, factual information says more about your arrogant disregard of that facts and the only thing it says about you is that you’re nothing more than a pompous ideolog.

Most realtors only bring home about 1% out of that 6% comission, and George’s wife is lucky to get as much as she does. Some brokerages are working on trying to change that, like Keller Williams who offers profit share and a maximum fee cap for well performing agents, because they recognize how little the actual brokers bring home compared to how much work they actually do.

The new tools you refer to, like zillow.com, are exceptionally flawed in their analysis most of the time and actually hurt the industry more because they give sellers false and (more often) inflated hopes of what their home is actually worth. There are a multitude of factors zillow does not take into account when valuing a home, not least of which being condition, condition of the neighborhood, or whether or not the home sits on a busy intersection. Often times it also has critical information wrong, as in the case of my own home, where it’s adding in an extra bedroom and has the age of the home off by about 40 years; not to mention working with someone who maintains errors and ommission insurance is invaluable in making sure your sorry ass doesn’t get sued for screwing up the type of transaction most people only make once or twice in a lifetime…

Your assumptions are quite libelous, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lawsuit headed your direction as a result, if that hasn’t already happened. If I wasn’t reading your book as required for my journalism class, I would have stopped when I got to this particularly vitriolic portion of words.

]]> By: Mark Martin http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-408438 Mark Martin Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:59:20 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-408438 If Zillow, Redfin, Shark or whomever can supplant the real estate agent than their time is due. However, I think there is room in the biz for technology and improvement but the agent serves a valuable purpose. With the advent of WebMD we don't need docs, TurboTax we don't need accountants, LegalZoom we don't need lawyers ...and so on. Point is, we can all benefit from new technology changing the way we do things. But, when the %@*& hit the fan, you'll be glad when a professional is there to step in and get things done. The cream rises to the top and the muck settles to the bottom. If Zillow, Redfin, Shark or whomever can supplant the real estate agent than their time is due. However, I think there is room in the biz for technology and improvement but the agent serves a valuable purpose.

With the advent of WebMD we don’t need docs, TurboTax we don’t need accountants, LegalZoom we don’t need lawyers …and so on.

Point is, we can all benefit from new technology changing the way we do things. But, when the %@*& hit the fan, you’ll be glad when a professional is there to step in and get things done.

The cream rises to the top and the muck settles to the bottom.

]]> By: Latest buyer agent naeba news – Real estate agents are next « BuzzMachine http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-406479 Latest buyer agent naeba news – Real estate agents are next « BuzzMachine Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:42:16 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-406479 [...] Real estate agents are next « BuzzMachine [...] [...] Real estate agents are next « BuzzMachine [...]

]]> By: naeba buyer agent – YouTube – Buyer’s Agent 1 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-405253 naeba buyer agent – YouTube – Buyer’s Agent 1 Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:38:42 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-405253 [...] Real estate agents are next « BuzzMachine [...] [...] Real estate agents are next « BuzzMachine [...]

]]> By: Connor MacIVOR http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-400745 Connor MacIVOR Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:43:27 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-400745 Hey Jeff, SantaClarita411.com pitched your new book - and I am happy with the purchase. Thanks for your hard work on that project. I was LAPD for 17 years and continue as a Reserve (hated profession, except in times of Need) 10+ Years in Real Estate attempting to peel myself away from the World View of Real Estate Agents. Point is that I have a bit of college - a huge amount of world experience seeing things that I wish I could forget, and a Code and Lines in the Sand that are more stringent than any Code of Realtors. The first time I bought a home I went to a FSBO and thought I would do it myself. All of my Down-payment went to attorney fees to sue the seller. I won - but no longer had the down-payment after going after the seller. The Seller had no more money, his attorney fee's and due to the declining market he had no way to pay my attorney fee's and the house went foreclosure, even after the order from the court. It was that "you cannot get blood out of a rock" - Thing. I obtained my Real Estate License. Vowing to never let any client of ours get SCREWED out of their Hard Earned Money. Necessary - I think so, Those contracts that are 8 pages to purchase are all the result of lawsuits throughout the years. The disclosures are even more pages. A couple of tree's later - you have a file that is 2.5" thick on Legal size paper. If we could remove the "lawsuit" element from society and inject "fairness" into all people, I would think you are onto something. But the world is not as friendly as the one in my dreams. Protecting the Prey from the Predator, and I do this well! Again, Love the book. "What would Google Do?" My BEST - Connor with HONOR Hey Jeff, SantaClarita411.com pitched your new book – and I am happy with the purchase. Thanks for your hard work on that project.

I was LAPD for 17 years and continue as a Reserve (hated profession, except in times of Need) 10+ Years in Real Estate attempting to peel myself away from the World View of Real Estate Agents.

Point is that I have a bit of college – a huge amount of world experience seeing things that I wish I could forget, and a Code and Lines in the Sand that are more stringent than any Code of Realtors.

The first time I bought a home I went to a FSBO and thought I would do it myself. All of my Down-payment went to attorney fees to sue the seller. I won – but no longer had the down-payment after going after the seller. The Seller had no more money, his attorney fee’s and due to the declining market he had no way to pay my attorney fee’s and the house went foreclosure, even after the order from the court. It was that “you cannot get blood out of a rock” – Thing.

I obtained my Real Estate License. Vowing to never let any client of ours get SCREWED out of their Hard Earned Money.

Necessary – I think so, Those contracts that are 8 pages to purchase are all the result of lawsuits throughout the years. The disclosures are even more pages. A couple of tree’s later – you have a file that is 2.5″ thick on Legal size paper.

If we could remove the “lawsuit” element from society and inject “fairness” into all people, I would think you are onto something. But the world is not as friendly as the one in my dreams.

Protecting the Prey from the Predator, and I do this well!

Again, Love the book. “What would Google Do?”

My BEST – Connor with HONOR

]]> By: James http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-400633 James Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:25:56 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-400633 I am a broker, and while I can clearly see many of your points to be valid, in terms of our commission "not being worth it", or that our profession is simply "getting in the way", you are failing to understand why brokers are in the mix in the first place. This is true of all types of brokers, whether it be real estate, mortgage, stock, any other type of broker. It is because, most of the time, two prinicpals cannot reasonably come together in a transaction with the help of a neutral party between them. The dynamics of this fact are different between the various fields a broker is used, but I will explain the dynamics in play for a real estate transaction. First of all, a broker has a large pool of listings that he advertises in many locations. It is not practical to advertise ONE listings in those locations; it's financially better to advertise multiple listings this way. This is where most FSBO attempts fail. A sign in the yard, alone, will get you roughly zero buyers. Oh, and we're not talking about just someone who wants to buy a house... our job is actually to locate READY, WILLING, and ABLE buyers. You can't possibly do this on your own as a FSBO. A buyer walking through a house, at least around here in the Midwest, does NOT EVER want to see the seller in person while looking at the house. If the seller is present, then the buyer is less likely to discuss issues or cosmetic ideas with their significant other, and most likely will try to end the showing prematurely. There are also many potential legal pitfalls scattered throughout Fair Housing Law and state real estate laws ranging from disclosure to discrimination that, if violated, someone can easliy sue you for and win, and will likely cost you far more than the $12,000 you're trying to save by doing it yourself. These pitfalls are REAL, not just some scare tactic I'm throwing out there. When you use a broker, that responsibility to abide by all those laws are shifted to the broker, since they are handling the transaction on your behalf. What are these pitfalls? Of course, there's discrimination. While you may have an idea of what type of person fits into your neighborhood, it is ILLEGAL for you to show prefferential treatment to any potential buyer over another just because of your feelings about that buyer. There are many protected classes of people under the fair housing law. Are you familiar with them? Something you say could be taken as discriminating, while it was actually not, simple you didn't know to stay away from that topic or question. This stuff is not secret either, just look up fair housing laws for your state. One last dynamic I'll throw out there is actually the most important one of all. A neutral third party can usually, if not always, negotiate better than you can yourself. Why? It's because they are not emotionally attached to the item being negotiated. This may seem trivial, but in reality it has a HUGE impact on almost any negotiation, real estate or otherwise. This is probably the biggest reason people have been hiring real estate brokers for over 100 years. Why can't you just have your buddy represent you in a negotiation as a neutral third-party? Well, it's illegal. You MUST have a real estate license, at least in most states, to represent someone else's interest in a real estate transaction. This is law because of the many, many issues than can come up. Big things, life-change things that can mess up your life if something goes wrong. That is why real estate transactions are so closesly governed by the laws. By the way, Zillow has zero impact on real estate since its inception. The data on there is usually inaccurate. Whoever was talking about getting rid of title insurance, that's crazy also. Do you really want to just willy-nilly have real estate owership transferred without actually knowing for sure that the title is clear? You wouldn't do that with a car, why would you do with with the most expensive thing you'll ever purchase in your lifetime? When they issue title insurance, it's because they sifted through all available public records regarding your property, and determined that all past liens have been released, all past owners legally and properly conveyed their interest, etc. They should be paid for sifting through all that. You can find cheaper brokers, like in 4.5% range, and I think that's probably where it will gravitate to in the coming years. But when you get below that, considering what we actually do, what we have to know, the responsibility we bear, and the split of the commission itself among the agents and brokers, it gets to be not worth a person's time to actually help you out. You have to put a value on your time. And I think that's what it's going to come down to. You can't expect people (your agent) to work for free, and you really shouldn't expect your Craigslist ad to do the work of a real estate broker. I am a broker, and while I can clearly see many of your points to be valid, in terms of our commission “not being worth it”, or that our profession is simply “getting in the way”, you are failing to understand why brokers are in the mix in the first place. This is true of all types of brokers, whether it be real estate, mortgage, stock, any other type of broker. It is because, most of the time, two prinicpals cannot reasonably come together in a transaction with the help of a neutral party between them. The dynamics of this fact are different between the various fields a broker is used, but I will explain the dynamics in play for a real estate transaction. First of all, a broker has a large pool of listings that he advertises in many locations. It is not practical to advertise ONE listings in those locations; it’s financially better to advertise multiple listings this way. This is where most FSBO attempts fail. A sign in the yard, alone, will get you roughly zero buyers. Oh, and we’re not talking about just someone who wants to buy a house… our job is actually to locate READY, WILLING, and ABLE buyers. You can’t possibly do this on your own as a FSBO. A buyer walking through a house, at least around here in the Midwest, does NOT EVER want to see the seller in person while looking at the house. If the seller is present, then the buyer is less likely to discuss issues or cosmetic ideas with their significant other, and most likely will try to end the showing prematurely. There are also many potential legal pitfalls scattered throughout Fair Housing Law and state real estate laws ranging from disclosure to discrimination that, if violated, someone can easliy sue you for and win, and will likely cost you far more than the $12,000 you’re trying to save by doing it yourself. These pitfalls are REAL, not just some scare tactic I’m throwing out there. When you use a broker, that responsibility to abide by all those laws are shifted to the broker, since they are handling the transaction on your behalf. What are these pitfalls? Of course, there’s discrimination. While you may have an idea of what type of person fits into your neighborhood, it is ILLEGAL for you to show prefferential treatment to any potential buyer over another just because of your feelings about that buyer. There are many protected classes of people under the fair housing law. Are you familiar with them? Something you say could be taken as discriminating, while it was actually not, simple you didn’t know to stay away from that topic or question. This stuff is not secret either, just look up fair housing laws for your state. One last dynamic I’ll throw out there is actually the most important one of all. A neutral third party can usually, if not always, negotiate better than you can yourself. Why? It’s because they are not emotionally attached to the item being negotiated. This may seem trivial, but in reality it has a HUGE impact on almost any negotiation, real estate or otherwise. This is probably the biggest reason people have been hiring real estate brokers for over 100 years. Why can’t you just have your buddy represent you in a negotiation as a neutral third-party? Well, it’s illegal. You MUST have a real estate license, at least in most states, to represent someone else’s interest in a real estate transaction. This is law because of the many, many issues than can come up. Big things, life-change things that can mess up your life if something goes wrong. That is why real estate transactions are so closesly governed by the laws.

By the way, Zillow has zero impact on real estate since its inception. The data on there is usually inaccurate.

Whoever was talking about getting rid of title insurance, that’s crazy also. Do you really want to just willy-nilly have real estate owership transferred without actually knowing for sure that the title is clear? You wouldn’t do that with a car, why would you do with with the most expensive thing you’ll ever purchase in your lifetime? When they issue title insurance, it’s because they sifted through all available public records regarding your property, and determined that all past liens have been released, all past owners legally and properly conveyed their interest, etc. They should be paid for sifting through all that.

You can find cheaper brokers, like in 4.5% range, and I think that’s probably where it will gravitate to in the coming years. But when you get below that, considering what we actually do, what we have to know, the responsibility we bear, and the split of the commission itself among the agents and brokers, it gets to be not worth a person’s time to actually help you out. You have to put a value on your time. And I think that’s what it’s going to come down to. You can’t expect people (your agent) to work for free, and you really shouldn’t expect your Craigslist ad to do the work of a real estate broker.

]]> By: Search Engine Optimization: The Effects Of Your Domain Name « Wicked Blogging http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-398808 Search Engine Optimization: The Effects Of Your Domain Name « Wicked Blogging Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:47:49 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-398808 [...] Real estate agents are next « BuzzMachine [...] [...] Real estate agents are next « BuzzMachine [...]

]]> By: Big Mike http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-397945 Big Mike Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:03:08 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-397945 I’ve been a real estate agent for 7 years, and let me tell you, this gig is not easy. Believe it or not, we’re normal people just like you; we pay for own liability insurance, our own medical insurance, our own advertising and our own auto expenses. We have mortgage payments, car payments, food bills and insurance payments just like you…and we have kids! We drive buyers around all day that will never buy a house! We take sellers out to dinner that only want to know what their house is worth! Have you ever been a Realtor? I bet not, and if you have, you would'nt have posted this article. This is the hardest career I’ve ever had! Oh, I know when you see that closing statement with the agents commission you think; “Wow, that’s a lot of money”. Well, think about all the bullshit that agent had to go through just to get paid. And the worst thing is it’s all a crap shoot, you’re never guaranteed to get paid until it closes. So think before you criticize. I’ve been a real estate agent for 7 years, and let me tell you, this gig is not easy. Believe it or not, we’re normal people just like you; we pay for own liability insurance, our own medical insurance, our own advertising and our own auto expenses. We have mortgage payments, car payments, food bills and insurance payments just like you…and we have kids! We drive buyers around all day that will never buy a house! We take sellers out to dinner that only want to know what their house is worth! Have you ever been a Realtor? I bet not, and if you have, you would’nt have posted this article. This is the hardest career I’ve ever had! Oh, I know when you see that closing statement with the agents commission you think; “Wow, that’s a lot of money”. Well, think about all the bullshit that agent had to go through just to get paid. And the worst thing is it’s all a crap shoot, you’re never guaranteed to get paid until it closes. So think before you criticize.

]]> By: bill http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-392383 bill Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:00:26 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-392383 Actually although I'm sure your wife is indeed a hard working honorable woman as many others are as well, the truth of the matter is real estate agents are now as irrelevant and unnecessary as railroad firemen in the age of diesel engines...and it took a LONG time to get rid of those guys so I suspect it will take a while to get rid of agents as well. Yes they can make the whole buying expereince better but at what cost. We have a jewelry store here with beautiful babes to assist you and bring you bottled water and coffee and belgian chocolates...is it nice? sure. But it's not worth double the prices that they charge Actually although I’m sure your wife is indeed a hard working honorable woman as many others are as well, the truth of the matter is real estate agents are now as irrelevant and unnecessary as railroad firemen in the age of diesel engines…and it took a LONG time to get rid of those guys so I suspect it will take a while to get rid of agents as well. Yes they can make the whole buying expereince better but at what cost. We have a jewelry store here with beautiful babes to assist you and bring you bottled water and coffee and belgian chocolates…is it nice? sure. But it’s not worth double the prices that they charge

]]> By: NoAngentIncluded http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-390829 NoAngentIncluded Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:34:18 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-390829 Sorry, pal, that is so not true. Agents are looking for their cut in the deal, only. I asked the agent I was using to be my broker, but as soon as I signed the papers, the bitch stated that she worked only for the home seller. I nearly flipped. Sorry, pal, that is so not true. Agents are looking for their cut in the deal, only. I asked the agent I was using to be my broker, but as soon as I signed the papers, the bitch stated that she worked only for the home seller. I nearly flipped.

]]> By: NoAngentIncluded http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-390828 NoAngentIncluded Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:23:22 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-390828 Wow, with that 12k, I could afford solar panels on my new home. Then the house would make power, and not just consume power. I Like It! Wow, with that 12k, I could afford solar panels on my new home. Then the house would make power, and not just consume power. I Like It!

]]> By: Bobby http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-384232 Bobby Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:05:57 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-384232 My pet pieve is listing my property with a top-producing agent then never hearing from them again. I get feedback from their "assistant" but never from them. What did I list with them for if I never hear from them again? I don't want to talk to the assistant, I listed with the agent! My pet pieve is listing my property with a top-producing agent then never hearing from them again. I get feedback from their “assistant” but never from them. What did I list with them for if I never hear from them again? I don’t want to talk to the assistant, I listed with the agent!

]]> By: Michael http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-369938 Michael Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:58:13 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-369938 I welcome competition becuase it generally will make me better. If the competition is good enough then it forces one to either adapt and overcome or be overcome. I feel that no matter how much information one has, this information will never be able to replace the knowledge and experience of a professional. Thanks to the internet I can read anything and everything there is to know about brain surgery. There is not one bit of information about brain surgery that I can not find out about off of the internet. Does that make me a brain surgeon? I welcome competition becuase it generally will make me better. If the competition is good enough then it forces one to either adapt and overcome or be overcome.
I feel that no matter how much information one has, this information will never be able to replace the knowledge and experience of a professional. Thanks to the internet I can read anything and everything there is to know about brain surgery. There is not one bit of information about brain surgery that I can not find out about off of the internet. Does that make me a brain surgeon?

]]> By: Micah http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-369025 Micah Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:43:13 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-369025 I agree that there certainly are a lot of lazy asses in the business. I agree that there certainly are a lot of lazy asses in the business.

]]> By: Happy Renter in Vancouver Canada http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-368906 Happy Renter in Vancouver Canada Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:37:28 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-368906 The reality is that a lot of real estate agents a bunch of lazy asses and let the market work for them. Still very true in Vancouver "Fantasyland", British Columbia. Buying a bunch of ads on buses and in magazines seems to be their answer to "hard work". I work in the financial industry and a 5% commission is nearly a crime these days. Here is a typical real estate agent's spiel in Vancouver - "Oh, it's a lovely property, look at the soaring heights over the dining room. Can't you see yourself creating a life for yourself here.. You know Vancouver property never goes down, Mountains, Olympics, Ocean... blah, blah, blah... when do I get my commission". The reality is that a lot of real estate agents a bunch of lazy asses and let the market work for them. Still very true in Vancouver “Fantasyland”, British Columbia. Buying a bunch of ads on buses and in magazines seems to be their answer to “hard work”. I work in the financial industry and a 5% commission is nearly a crime these days. Here is a typical real estate agent’s spiel in Vancouver – “Oh, it’s a lovely property, look at the soaring heights over the dining room. Can’t you see yourself creating a life for yourself here.. You know Vancouver property never goes down, Mountains, Olympics, Ocean… blah, blah, blah… when do I get my commission”.

]]> By: Micah http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-368755 Micah Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:12:52 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-368755 I would agree with you Chad. My dad is an architect and works very hard. The thing is realtors don't get paid unless they sell the property. There is no refund for hours worked, ect. Of the 6%, each side gets 3%. Of that 3%, the broker takes about half (keep the lights on, desk fees, ect.) We are taxes on that 1.5% and in my company, we sponser a minor league team which is extra on top of what the company already takes. Add in MLS dues, real estate fees, and other expenses, and we aren't left with much. Many people are under the illusion that realtors don't work hard for their money. Bottom line is if you don't work hard, you can't survive in the business. There are part-timers with a pension that could care less about selling a home. That is why you ask good questions and don't hire them because they don't NEED to sell your home in order to put food on the table. I would agree with you Chad. My dad is an architect and works very hard. The thing is realtors don’t get paid unless they sell the property. There is no refund for hours worked, ect. Of the 6%, each side gets 3%. Of that 3%, the broker takes about half (keep the lights on, desk fees, ect.) We are taxes on that 1.5% and in my company, we sponser a minor league team which is extra on top of what the company already takes. Add in MLS dues, real estate fees, and other expenses, and we aren’t left with much. Many people are under the illusion that realtors don’t work hard for their money. Bottom line is if you don’t work hard, you can’t survive in the business. There are part-timers with a pension that could care less about selling a home. That is why you ask good questions and don’t hire them because they don’t NEED to sell your home in order to put food on the table.

]]> By: Chad http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-368589 Chad Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:42:53 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-368589 Here is a fun fact. If some of you say that real estate agents earn their 6%, think that most architecture firms charge 4% to DESIGN buildings. I don't think anyone here can argue that someone selling the building should make more than someone who actually designs it and is legally responsible for the life and safety of the building's occupants. I have heard all of the "they don't actually make the full 6%" talk. Well, architects don't make all of the 4% either. There is overhead just like any other field. In addition multiple professionals work on the design full time for months! These professionals need at least 8 years of combined schooling and internship, before they take a series of 9 tests to become professionally licensed. Now, most of these people get paid less than real estate agents half their age with nowhere close to their education and liability. Something to think about. Here is a fun fact. If some of you say that real estate agents earn their 6%, think that most architecture firms charge 4% to DESIGN buildings. I don’t think anyone here can argue that someone selling the building should make more than someone who actually designs it and is legally responsible for the life and safety of the building’s occupants. I have heard all of the “they don’t actually make the full 6%” talk. Well, architects don’t make all of the 4% either. There is overhead just like any other field. In addition multiple professionals work on the design full time for months! These professionals need at least 8 years of combined schooling and internship, before they take a series of 9 tests to become professionally licensed. Now, most of these people get paid less than real estate agents half their age with nowhere close to their education and liability. Something to think about.

]]> By: Olathe Real Estate http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-367747 Olathe Real Estate Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:06:26 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-367747 It is sad that people write without doing there research. If it was so easy why don't you do it. I have been in real estate for over 18 years. I have seen my share of people thinking they can get in and make easy money, only to see them the following year get out because they coudn't make it. It is sad that people write without doing there research. If it was so easy why don’t you do it. I have been in real estate for over 18 years. I have seen my share of people thinking they can get in and make easy money, only to see them the following year get out because they coudn’t make it.

]]> By: Micah http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-364792 Micah Sun, 09 Dec 2007 00:30:05 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/08/real-estate-agents-are-next/#comment-364792 Great point Josh. I totally agree. Great point Josh. I totally agree.

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