• Trouble logging in? Send us a message with your username and/or email address for help.
New posts

Smiling JOe

SoWal Expert
Nov 18, 2004
31,644
1,773
IBD, they still don't teach counseling in in Real Estate School for Prelicensing for Sales Associates or Brokers. No matter what job I've had, maybe with the exceptions of harvesting grapes for a winery and capturing and tagging geese, I've always been a counselor and when I had employees, I could add "baby-sitter" to that list of duties. Paraphrasing numerous books, Management is about crunching numbers. Leadership is about understanding people, and that includes taking the time to listen.
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,706
3,339
Sowal
I think one of the good things to come out of the current market (along with a much needed dose of reality) is that it is going to winnow out the bad realtors.
 

seaside2

Beach Fanatic
Apr 2, 2007
785
12
All over the place
I think one of the good things to come out of the current market (along with a much needed dose of reality) is that it is going to winnow out the bad realtors.

Unfortunately, not always true. The thing that generally narrows the field is lack of sales. Bad realtors can often survive in tough times.

Kind of like cock roaches.

PS: Good realtors are great people that serve their customers and the general public very well, and are the largest percentage of the people in the business. Unfortunately, a relatively few give the rest of an honest, hard working crew a bad name.
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,706
3,339
Sowal
The good realtors I know have been in the area a long time, provide service, and work for their commissions. I'm hoping that the increased competition will reward their efforts now that folks have more of a choice and it's less of a frenzy. Hopefully the same will also happen with builders, architects, etc.

I've been looking for property in the area for years and it is amazing to see the difference between the 2 groups and their respective levels of service. I know I certainly remember that sort of thing and vote with my business, big mouth, and pocketbook whenever possible! :D
 

Smiling JOe

SoWal Expert
Nov 18, 2004
31,644
1,773
I think one of the good things to come out of the current market (along with a much needed dose of reality) is that it is going to winnow out the bad realtors.

Unfortunately for many good Realtors, the lack of sales will push many good Realtors out of the market, too. "Bad" real estate agents could remain in the market if they made enough cash to hold on.
 

rancid

Beach Fanatic
Aug 9, 2006
270
68
Do you mean "back in the day" as in the recent bubble-era....or do you mean "back in the day" a long time ago.

Personally, I had an excellent Realtor a long, long time ago--before computers and faxes and overnight shipping. THOSE were the days of the "Real" Realtors. Sending us tons of information in the snail mail (newspapers, info on schools, tourist brochures, and information on available homes); driving us from home-to-home so we could take Polaroid photos; always cheerful, always smiling, high-heeling around in the heat and humidity; buying us lunch and ice tea during breaks while looking at house after house. That lady was a saint--listening to our needs, not trying to cram her listings down our throats or shoehorn us into a home that would break our bank account. She deserved every, single penny of her commission--and more!

She could run rings around the bubble-era realtors who, without even getting out of their pajamas, point-and-clicked their way to their 6% commissions.

Realtors are going to have a hard time shaking their tarnished image. During the frenzy many, many Realtors sold their clients on some pretty tall tales about "never-ending double-digit appreciation," "investment," "running out of land," "baby boomers," and "getting in before it is too late," now it is hitting home about how wrong they were (the bad ones told out-and-out lies--while others were just totally clueless about the economy and the RE market).

The current crop of buyers are not as gullible as the previous bunch--parroting that silly, worn-out catch phrase, "Now is the best time to buy," isn't gonna cut it.


.


Shelly, I think you are coming down too hard on realtors. Also the " good ole days" realtor argument is offsides. Everything was better back then right :D-- customer service, phone support, doctor visits, banks , financial advisors, sports, TV.
Realtors are salesman. That is what they do. I think most people should be aware of this fact and temper what they say. People need to be responsible for their decisions and not always blame someone. Nobody forces someone to buy a house or land. If the ONLY reason people are stuck in bad investments now is from bad or misleading realtor advice, then frankly they deserve it.
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,706
3,339
Sowal
Someone can give good customer service and be an effective saleperson w/o being deliberately dishonest or screwing someone over.

You can't blame a realtor for your decision to buy, your lack of desired profit, or you spending more than you can afford, but you can blame some for deliberately misleading you, untruths, omissions, and fudging the details to make a sale. :roll:

Luckily my cautious and inquisitive nature, BS meter, and a good realtor looking out for me taught me some valuable (and luckily free) lessons. There are some snake oil sellers out there. :angry:
 

Sea Sothebys

Beach Lover
Dec 19, 2007
156
1
SRB, FL
Concerning Shelly's comment, I do think having so much information at our fingertips makes it much easier to facilitate information; howeve- it takes a lot more work to stand out from the crowd. So many people are overwhelmed, and in order to an impression- you have to make a personal connection. Making a personal connection with someone who only emails you and never calls... well, I think we all know how difficult that is. Look at how many posts are taken out of context because we lack a personal connection.
 
Last edited:
New posts


Sign Up for SoWal Newsletter