Hi Joe.

I like it when all bloggers completely express themselves the way they truly are.  Then, I easily know with whom I would do business, or send referrals.  

It's the ones that ride the fence that frighten me.  I don't really know what they are truly like, how they think, et cetera.

Welcome to RELiberation!

Joe, You sound like a nice guy. I am sorry Phil says those things! We all try to keep him under wraps. (insert emotion) Anyway, I was lookinig at your web site and alittle confused. Is it still snowing up in Indiana? And, are you the broker owner of Joe Real Estate, or, an agent for #1 Advantage?

Joe,

Gregory is the perfect example of Realtor bad-behavior.   I'm sure he's trustworthy, yet, when he's around, I always hide my wallet in my sock.

Happy Friday!

I agree with Phil. Be yourself. We'll figure it out soon enough, good or bad. A lot of it is subjective, anyway -- what offends you may please another, and vice versa.

Another thing, your admonition is weakened by generalizing -- everyone will think you are talking about someone else.

Can you give us a concrete example?

Especially when he is on one of his caffiene jags.

I have been sweet talking everyone on here in hopes of referrals. Has not worked yet. You all are great! Have a great and prosperous weekend.

Well, that's just great. Now we scared away the new guy. Coffee?

I think it's Mike.  I had to buy a new dictionary* once he started bloggin' here.  (*My last one was limited to 5 letter words, no more than 2 syllables and had a picture of Mickey Mouse on it.  You pulled the string and he spun around...Pretty cool!)

Admonition?   Now we're going to start taking about shooting guns?

Joe, That was a little heated. And, it is the reason some of us didn't know, or, like the fact that discussions within our trade is being shared on the open net. Nonetheless, your advise is well taken. Please check into your web site. NJ has such strict rules on how mine looks and your's would get big fines by the commission.

I think the people here that post all the time can't hide themselves for ever. We are who we are and when someone says something we don't agree with like real life we comment.

Like it or not, we can't get along with everyone. I think like Phil it is a service to us to read these blogs to help us decide who we do and do not want to work with.

And in my case who I plan to visit when I jump in RV and go around the country and hit up for a FREE meal - LOL (That is a heads up for you Mary)

I just have an upgraded version, Phil - it has a picture of Professor Big Bird on it.

Big Bird!  Love him!  Er.., Her!  Umm...It?....

I'll send my Mickey Dictionary to Joe.  ;)

That's no way to get referrals. Welcome anyway!

Realtor, Columbus Ga

Joe:

I never thought my real life scenario regarding the commission/unscrupulous agent would become such a HEATED debate.  Anyway, welcome and hope we didn't scare you away.

Reliberation and everyone who participates have been terrific.  Whether you agree or disagree with your fellow relibers, it's an open forum to share, debate, ask, question, network, etc.

Now...everyone go and play nice!    

Joe - I think that you might as well be you since to be pretensions will fall apart if you make more than one post. If posters are themselves than they do run the risk of not getting a referral or since it is posted for the public to read, they may lose a potential client. That may not be all bad. Their loss may be your ability to find the person you can work with by knowing the real them!

Now Greg and Phil are bothmay be on Med’s (or should be) and their post should be evaluate with that in consideration. In addition their Liberal bias rivals that of Nancy Pelosi.  I on the other hand have shown a very centrist position, always trying to mediate slanted and bias views. I try my best to keep politics out of any post but Greg is continuously forcing the subject matter to take on a political overtone. He means well and I would use him if I had a referral, provide he promised to stay off the coffee and take his Med’s.

So I guess the more you blog and be yourself, with all the warts, the more people will know the real you. I don’t have to agree with someone to know they are someone I can respect. I like people that are candid and don’t hold back and those are the type people that would probably work well with clients that believe I know what I’m doing.

I have decided via these blogs who I would refer to.

Todd Clark

Phil Anderson

Todd Clark

Mary Welch

Becky Trout

Lonn Dugan

and there are numerous others, should I ever have a client that would move to their areas.  I am sure there will be more and I am sure I have left out a few.  Their comments and their business savvy have impressed me.  Also, they seem to be pretty decent people with a sense of humor.

Though that discussion over changing commission structures did get heated, I really thought it was a good conversation to have.  It showed many of us that there are LOTS of varying opinions on what is right and wrong.  Mostly it was healthy banter.  No slurs or fists thrown.  No baseball bats swung.  To my knowledge.... :)

At least it brought to the surface that such a change during negotiations could be very contentious and that it might be best to consult with your principal broker before going down that road.

I'll bet MOST that blog here and read the thread will!

Hey, the PGA Players' Championship is on!   Gary S., can you get us all tickets?  You've got connections, right?

Jody, your post was great. And Joe, welcome to the virtual water cooler. As for the wide variety of members at Reliberation, "we are who we are" and that's a good thing.

Joe - Image is important but being who you are is more important. If what you are is different, change you, not what you project.

Thanks Gloria!  ;)

Phil, I have the Players on while I'm sitting at my keyboard. And I'm a big Phil fan, he's in the lead but all over the course as usual. Tiger is way behind but watch out by Sunday.

I tried that Howard.  I'm doing a couple of CMAs and I keep typing in "Par 3", or "Da#n it Phil!  Put that driver away!".  It's playin' heck with my comp results!

Right back at you, Gloria!  :)

Phil, I would say to keep bringing the price down and the cma will be fine except that I hear that real estate in Portland and the Pacific Northwest is still doing very well.

Phil -  I am in southern Florida and that is up North. Mike may be closed than me. But if I could, I would.

Phil is a pretty good name to have right now if you are there, but it is only Friday.

I was just getting ready to send Gloria a referral. Now I am going to send it to Dan Patton.

closer

No, if I had tickets, I'd be there. I have some parking tickets I'll give ya.

Yes, Howard.  We are very lucky that the Portland, Oregon real estate market is doing fine (compared to many other areas of the country).  

And, actually, it's allowing some fun to come back into the business, as now we often have time to negotiate!  In the past few years, well priced houses sold so quickly that often, if something hit the market and it was right for a client (inventory was very low for years), we needed to jump on it at or very near list price asap or risk losing it!

Just closed on a deal where the house was on the market for 4+ months, and we went in, $30k under list, but very strong in other ways, and got it.  (I just knew they'd counter offer...but they didn't....  "Excuse me sir, is this your money that you left on the table?"  :)

So, now, I look like a genius (aw, shucks, man...yur makin' me blush...), my clients are thrilled, the seller is ecstatic and the listing agent is naming his next kid after me because he no longer has to hold it open for yet another Sunday!   (*The classified department of the newspaper is not so happy.  They thought they'd landed a "listing for life"!)

Thanks Gloria!

Does that mean if I come to Georgia my family and I can hit you up for a free meal - LOL

Todd

Well, Gloria I was getting ready to send a referral to you, but  now I am going to have to send it to Big Bird, I mean, Mike! lol

Joe, you are right in a sense, but I always felt like this is a great place for comraderie with those that do the same thing I do and face the same challenges every day. It is a great place for sharing of ideas, comedic relief and sometimes it gets a little heated. It is all interesting as long as everyone keeps their sensibilities about them.

I feel like we can be ourselves here and take each other lightly. I do not get to work with other agents in my area alot as we all seem to sell our own listings. We can have conversations with other agents here and get a sense of what is going on around the country. I love the difference in opinions because that is just how we all are. There are things I would stand very strong against if it came up here as well. But most of the time I love to find humor in the comments. I have to get serious at work, so this is a place of play. I don't feel like I have to impress anyone here.

I am not at work here, this is my free time. I am still a Broker/Owner/Realtor building my business, I come here for fun and enjoy every minute of it.

Thank you Gloria, I could add to your list. Todd are you just hungry?

Big Bird likes referrals. :)

Who is big bird are you not spidey anymore?

Gloria, Todd gets 2 referrals? Well isn't he special, I suggest you do some grocery shopping, he will probably be stopping by for a meal.

Todd, you do look a little thin. LOL

Mary,

There is a reason my photo is from the chest up. Little on the over weight side. YES I DO LIKE FOOD! - LOL

I'm a see food diet. I see food I eat it. Hey is that a brokers open - lol

Todd

I think I scared Cathy as Spiderman. She hasn't been around.

I am versatile.

But, forever, I will be yours truly,

Ol' Number Five

Oh, she just passed out temporarily from swooning.

Keep trying for Ol' number 4.

About an hour ago I received talking points from my Board in the event I am contacted by the local press. I am not sure if I should be offended or go along with the flow. They did provide me an analysis of what Leslie Stahl would be asking Sunday and the interview with Glenn Kelman of Redfin. It also mentioned the Antitrust NAR suit. CBS was actually going to kill the piece since they felt it was much more complex than it appeared. However, because of the dollars invested, it will air.

Their talking points basically had to do with the different business models. It also talked about the competitive nature of the Real Estate business. The last thing had to do with the fact that there are no standard commissions.

All of their talking points seemed to me to be common sense. So should you be contacted by your local press, I suggest you think about your answer and answer it as you believe. You don’t need talking points or anything else. Just be honest and thoughtful with your answers.

Sorry, Wrong Page. Needed the 60 minutes page.

Gary, hope you are home already and won't need a designated driver. That was funny. Once Lonn posted as Gloria, you could have said this isn't you...we would have believed you. lol

Sorry I am late to this party.

I got that there is a party a Phil's house to celebrate the fine sport of golf.

I am with teh rest of you...be youself when you blog.

Gregory, Klaus, Gary, Phil, Mary, Todd, Mike and Becky - I can't see a day without reading your blogs no matter how left or right they lean.  It's  all good content no matter what.

Let the other side make their own decisions.

Very nice website design Joe.

This blog was hijacked. Thanks for starting the party Joe.

Yes, Joe.  Thank you for beginning the string.  See how much fun we had?!  It's like working at an office where 99% of the people are your good friends!  (All except that darn Todd.... :)

Joe,

I am kinda late to jump-in on your time here but some of us have to work, guys! I am sorry I missed the heat of the cool fun today.

I must tell you in conficence, Joe, that I delibertely target to offend only certain people on this blog.

For instance, I demonstrate more aversion towards Gary not because I personally dislike him but simply because I don't want his referrals  - we've got enough people from Jersey down here.  In fact, Fort Lauderdale is the back lot for The Soprano TV shooting set.

Same goes for Phil, we don't need anymore golfers wearing weird seasrsucker loud pastel plaid pants.

Besides, because someone is politically correct, it doesn't mean that he/she is not thinking derogatorily. Mike is a perfect example.

One more friendly warning, watch out for Becky.  She's got a baseball bat and she goes for knee caps if you cross her.

As for me, I am begging for referrals, as long as they are not from Jersey [;-)]

John (to hate me is to love me or is it vice-versa?)

John John John.....batter up!!!  Whooops!  Sorry....was aiming for the wrong ball!  My bad.  Least your kneecaps are still intact.

<skips off singing Great Balls of Fire>

Are you kidding me, Mike?  Takes a lot more than that to scare me!  I've actually pulled that thread up a couple of times over the past week just for the chuckle!  I'm baaaaack!

Becky!!!!  You are bad!   Pretty funny, too!  

Thanks for defending my honor.  That friggin' John B....I love my loud pastel plaid pants... I think they look good!  Make me appear svelte...

I knew weren't skeered, Cathy. Welcome back.

John, yes, it is true, privately I have politically incorrect and derogatory thoughts. Therapy is helping though. I no longer wake up humming the tune to Randy Newman's "Short People".

Back to the title of this blog, the answer is yes, Phil's words are costing ME money. "You have nothing to contribute" (another blog). I am so wounded I won't be able to go to work today. smile.

Again, good for you, Mary.  See?!  THAT'S an answer to the thread's question.  Now you have it!  You just had to focus a bit.  And be urged by me. :)

Focus? Me? You are talking about your pants Phil, this thread had nothing to do with your pants. Looks like my work is cut out for me too. Let's be the focus police.

Thanks Becky, you certainly hit a homerun.  Now my toncils are back in my throat!!!

John.

Happy Mothers Day to all you Mom's and the guys better get mom a gift....

Anyway I express myself the way I would to anyone. If I want the public to know how I feel about a certain subject I am not afraid to say it. If it is a professional manner and it is constructive and not destructive. I think you should be polite when you give advice to a fellow agent. I know Phil gave it to me being a newbie, it's like hazing, lol

I blog about things I wish would change in real estate, or things I think buyers or seller should know. I am not going to blog about something I would not be able to explain to my clients. I sold 4 houses this month, all on referrals. One from a different Brand. I am a hard working agent and hands on, anyone that knows me will know I give referrals 100% no matter how I feel about certain subjects.

I am for owning your listings, getting a bigger split from Broker owned companies. Integrity and Morality in the office. No back biting from your Broker or co-workers. If I can not trust an agent I work with or if I can not have a say in the changing of policy then I would not want to work for that Broker. So my main subjects usually fall in those areas. It goes the same in here. If I think I can't trust the person or they are not acting professional and just being a pain. I probably would not give them a referral.

I do the same in the MLS, there are certain agents I have worked with I won't show their homes, usually the arrogant one's and the "money is everything" agents. I like negotiation and cooperation and I seem to do well when I find the right agent to work with.

An arrogant agent get's the thumbs down from me. A dishonest agent gets a definite thumbs down. A puppet agent (one that can't think without the Broker) I can't take the time it takes them to make a decision.

My time and money goes towards good client relations and if the other agent can't play nice I go to another home. Or play hardball right back.

Melissa~

This is a damn good blog.  But now I am convinced Joe was talking about me.  Anyway, this is fantastic.  Picking someone to send a lead or referral to based on something other than how much of a fee.  

It isn't a new concept.  Not even remotely, in fact I bet that if I asked each of you how you picked your last 5 referrals you would honestly answer based on some form of relationship you had with the other agent.  

But when we reach out across the country to a city that we don't have a buddy, relative, P2A, WCR, Buffini, etc... we automatically look for a higher fee.  

Frankly, I think that this blog is straight from the Code of Ethics....Let the public be served.  

Joe, I am going to keep watching you and I hope that I keep seeing what I have seen so far.  Everyone else, keep it up!

Gary De Pury

Bay Vista Realty

This is a damn good blog.  But now I am convinced Joe was talking about me.  Anyway, this is fantastic.  Picking someone to send a lead or referral to based on something other than how much of a fee.  

It isn't a new concept.  Not even remotely, in fact I bet that if I asked each of you how you picked your last 5 referrals you would honestly answer based on some form of relationship you had with the other agent.  

But when we reach out across the country to a city that we don't have a buddy, relative, P2A, WCR, Buffini, etc... we automatically look for a higher fee.  

Frankly, I think that this blog is straight from the Code of Ethics....Let the public be served.  

Joe, I am going to keep watching you and I hope that I keep seeing what I have seen so far.  Everyone else, keep it up!

Gary De Pury

Bay Vista Realty