The comments that are on the column are nasty and mean. Some of these “consumers” actually think we just sit around all night making lists on how to screw them over.

Paranoia. While I don’t doubt that there are some crappy agents out there, I am not one of them.

There, I said it.

A few minutes ago, I receive a voice mail from someone who, despite my best efforts to educate and assist, believes he does not need a Realtor. He is arrogant, pompous and rude. Truth is, I don’t need him.

Right now, he is in front of a home he wants me to show him. I guess he can’t find anyone else, so is going through a list of Realtors. I haven’t talked to this guy in two months. He didn’t want to provide proof of funds to pay cash.

All I can say, is good luck buddy! Not everyone is deserving of my time and expertise.

Anyways..here goes…

Other than the payola to the inspector , which does happen, but can not be used to cast a total blanket on this video, what else is erroneous or not truthful.

I have watched this video 5 times and I am trying to see where it is not information that is easy to be substantiated.

Tip 1. Do your own research on comps…yep, great advice. Don’t see anything wrong with that. Where would I get it..well I’d ask an agent and I would tell them to be very specific (OMG you wouldn’t believe the BS CMA’s I have seen) Tell them you want a list of all closed, pending, and actives. Closed can not be anymore than90-120 days old and must be similar in configuration and amenities and prefarably within the same subdivision. We need to make sure we’re comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges. The pending and actives are for the regression analysis we will need to perform. (you do know what that is don’t you Mr. Agent)

Tip 2.Make sure that your listing contract has a termination clause written in the contract allowing you to fire the agent at any time at your discretion however of course if they have introduced or procured you a buyer you will need to expect to compensate them..and by all means do make sure that ALL offers are conveyed directly to you.

Make sure that if you reduce the price that you do so based upon the above referenced regression analysis. And that said reduction does not extend the listing agreement.

Tip 3 Forget about open houses…agreed! Hey this one is a toss up..simply a matter of opinion but hey you can’t argue what the video says isn’t true. There are literally dozens of traning courses all over the Internet and by the NAR that encourage agents to hold open houses as a form of marketing THEMSELVES…so this tip is actually right.

Can’t see how anyone would have a problem with that one.

Tip 4. ABSOLUTELY CORRECT..while some here may not negotiate their commission…it is no longer scarosanct and of course one is able to negotiate it. Just becasue you won’t do it doesn’t mean that MOST won’t as the video says…so this tip is accurate as well.

I addressed it earlier but yes there are some unethical agents out there so indeed you should have all offes submitted for your review.

I would never accuse an inspector of being on the take but we all know how inspectors get paid. They are not paid to red tag properties they are hired to get them bought or sold. Also…what’s wrong with an independent point of view?

And yes you most assuredly need to know building code ordinances and no way you should assume an agent knows them. If they say they do, have them sign a document where they state that they will be responsible for any violations. That will often smoke out the BS.

Now the big one that most agents have a problem with. Wherein the video says you should consider going about it yourself.

Hmm..is it wrong to consider it? Is it wrong to educate yourself…think twice before you answer that question. Here’s why.

Let’s say today John wants to sell his house on his own and he is inundated with agents telling him he is unprepared and does not have the knowledge to sell his home on his own. So he should hire a professional and spend 6% becasue the professional knows better. Him, so if John’s house is worth $200,000 it will cost him $12,000 to have the professional sell his house for him.

But wait Johnsays, hey I’m a bright guy, I think I can do this…so he begins to educate himself and he reads 1 book. 1 Text book and he feels he can tackle this on his own. Are you as agents saying John is wrong?

Well what if that book he bought was the real estate licensee text book. The same book that everyone else reads. Then he takes a test based upon what he read in the book and now he is a licensed real estate agent.

Is he now capable of selling his house on his own? Now that he is armed with the same information that many of the agents who said he would fail as a FSBO. By the way, he spent $199.00 for the book and took his class and test online.

Now he’s saved a whopping amount of cash and he’s now licensed. yes, he only read 1 book and last week he wasn’t licensed but now he’s got the Blue R on his lapel and all of a sudden he CAN sell his home on his own because suddenly he has new found knowledge that no other FSBO could ever obtain unless they got the Blue R button.

So…is that tip on the video all that wrong?

Lastly we get to the Internet part. Please, it is so right..actually it’s a lot wrong..it said half and we all know it’s MUCH higher than that now..85%+ I believe is the new number.

yet, most agents have the web presence of a cadever and their websites take up space like abandoned billboards on the info superhighway.

Of course, not those ehre, this is the upper echelon of web savvy realtors but if you have any doubt that most..90+% have little if any clue about utilizing the internet to snare buyers you are kidding yourselves. Heck there are evn some in this space and other high profile real estate spaces who have not or have no idea as to how to optimize their blog or website to capture business.

Before you throw pitchforks, you can’t possibly disagree since the above statement is founded directly from NAR data.

So I ask the detractors of the video…I understand that you may be uncomfortable with the content, and maybe it’s delivery and now unfortunately it’s widespread distribution…but all in all you can not possibly be honest with yourself in sating that all in all it provides some valuable information and insight as well as a caveat for Sellers to explore.

I for one welcome this kind of video. I am contacting the producer for distribution and editing rights. We’re going to put it on our real estate site and ENCOURAGE the transparency that the video seeks to evoke and we are going to let any selelr and buyer know to ask our staff ANY of these questions and we’ll be prepared to provide them with open and honest responses to ensure the comfort of the client who is trying to resolve a transaction in the most volatile of markets ever seen.

Makes me wonder how some can be so cocky as to summarily dismiss that which is uncomfortable.

Remember, this si a public forum wherein anyone can read and it just seems to me that with so many having a tough go at it this year that they would embrace that which may endear themselves to a consumer who holds their profession in such low regard.

I don’t know, just seems like good business to me.

I’ll wait until I hear..

“An educated consumer is the best kind ” and I tell them that, and I invite their input 100%. Generally, around the 3rd or 4th attempt to stump me and I’ve given them empirical evidence, the doubts fade. Skeptics are abundant in this market and it’s no wonder. Not even the leading economists are willing to stake their reputations on a guess, why would a real estate practitioner know any differently about what the future will hold.

The video’s interesting – some points I agree with (such as buyers checking the comps), some are completely off (such as making sure all offers are presented).

Was preparing to send the annual calendars yesterday and discovered one of my past buyers has their home on the market through a flat rate company for about 12% higher than they paid at the start of the year.

Okayfine, have fun with that.