Liberated Realtor

Not to change the subject, but this could be important!

Janet Carpenter — Mon, 14 May 2007 16:33:00 GMT

NO GAS DAY...May 15th 2007
Don't Pump Gas on May 15th.

In April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in protest of gas prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight.

On May 15th 2007, all internet users are to not go to a gas station in protest of high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in a lot of places.

There are 73,000,000+ American members currently on the internet network, and the average car takes about 30 to 50 dollars to fill up.

If all users did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take $2,292,000,000.00 (that's almost 3 BILLION) out of the oil company's pockets for just one day, so please do not go to the gas station on May 15th and let's try to put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry for at least one day.

If you agree (which I can't see why you wouldn't) resend this to all your contact list. With it saying, ''Don't pump gas on May 15th"

From one who uses LOTS of gas doing my job!

My blog draws a lot of Viagra!

Janet Carpenter — Wed, 02 May 2007 03:24:00 GMT

I get many comments a day on my blog which are all spam for Viagra, loans, etc. Is there something I am doing, or are all of you getting this junk?

Do you require registration or not? Which way works?

Janet Carpenter — Tue, 01 May 2007 14:28:00 GMT

Right now, I am giving a lot of information away for free. I don't have a required registration on the main IDX page where they can search for anything. I do have a 'reminder' as the search progresses, and some finally register to save their search or they like what they see. The handshake listings' pages do have registration, and I don't get so many. Has anyone figured out which way is best? Some come to my site because they don't have to sign-in.

For those who have them sign a 'guest' registry when they come to your site... does that work well?

What can be done with an egotistical listing agent?

Janet Carpenter — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 02:50:00 GMT

There is a home to be sold, and I have the buyer. The problem is that the home is priced too high! I have run the comps, and believe the the home is worth about $20,000 - $30,000 less than the list price. We can close quickly in 2 weeks, the buyer is qualified, and we are asking for nothing extra except the refrigerator. The buyer is willing to give them an extra 3 weeks to move out. The seller did not even counter back based on the agent's advice. In pursuing the issue further, it appears that the agent has said that the list price is the price it should sell at, period, so they won't budge even a little. They have owned the home for 3.5 years and are asking $90,000 more than what they paid for it and have not added any improvements. The neighborhood is new and they are still building. The list price is also $20,000 above these new homes. The home has been on the market for 5-6 months. We don't have time to wait for them to change their mind months down the pike. The home is in a nice subdivision, but it is in the 'sticks' with a 10- to 15-minute drive to the nearest 'small' town... and I do mean small... not even a large grocery store. There are also many homes for sale in this small subdivision, not to mention the new homes.

Do you guys have any ideas or ploys that could be used? My buyers want the house, but will not pay more than the comps support. I know the lender's appraiser will agree with us, especially, in this buyer's market. We have moved on to other homes, but they really like that one.

Just WHY should I use a Realtor? Why NOT use a Flat-Fee or Discounter?

Janet Carpenter — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 14:18:00 GMT

I don’t know if all will feel comfortable with this, but I think that, as a group, we could start a list here of what ‘discounters’ do and another list of the benefits we offer to our sellers and/or buyers. This could help all of us with 1) our listing presentations, and 2) make us stop and think about what we REALLY do, why, and the benefits.

I have something like this in my prelist book. I define what I do and the benefit to the seller as a result. This even helped me realize exactly what I do and if it is worth it in terms of results. I also learned what would happen if I did not do that particular task. I also have comparisons and results of different agents and brokerages and business models. I also developed a cool presentation for FSBOs. I am willing to share some of this information as applies to the list, if others will also share. I got Lonn’s information but have not had time this week (tax time) to look at it… looking forward to it.

THE P2P REALTOR LISTS TO DEVELOP

1. What ‘discounters’ do and their cost ($$ AND the ‘REAL’ costs)

2. Benefits of hiring a Realtor

Let’s see what we come up with as a group. I will collect all comments, organize them, and email the lists to those who contribute to this exercise. This can be used in our markets to inform the public and people like Clark Howard. Lonn, this could be a really good basis for that letter!

I will, of course, contribute later today.

Thanks! Janet

Update on Clark Howard, FSBOs on MLS, REALTOR.COM for FREE!

Janet Carpenter — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 23:30:00 GMT

I just want to bring this to the forefront again, especially for Realtors in Georgia. Other states are affected as well... see list in last blog posting. This discussion involves www.iggyshouse.com and Clark Howard's posting on his website. The main problem with this posting is that MANY people think Clark Howard is an expert in protecting consumers' rights. The posting is below, and I hope each of you affected in your states will follow suggestions in contacting Clark Howard. I get tired of getting kicked without a reaction!

Clark Howard promotes the fact that FSBOs can now get on the MLS for free! AND, Realtor.com!

Here are his show notes from Wednesday, April 04, 2007

FSBOs can now get on the MLS for free

About one-quarter of people do a FSBO - or For Sale By Owner - these days. If you are doing a FSBO, Clark wants you to know that you are still going to have to pay some money in commission. When a broker or agent brings a buyer to your home, you may have to pay two or three percent. It?s still a deal because normal fees are six or seven percent commission. The problem is that people don?t know your home is on the market. Your home needs to be on the Multiple Listing Service in order for the word to get our there. But that is about to change. There is a new site known as ?Iggy?s House? that puts people selling their own homes on the MLS. It?s not available everywhere, but California, Texas, Florida and New York are the big states. In addition, Iggy?s House is available in Oregon, Washington, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, Michigan, Illinois, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Colorado. Clark has no idea what kind of experience you?ll have with Iggy?s House, but he wants you to know about it. It takes a couple of days for your home to appear on the site once you?ve signed up. But it?s worth it. About 70 percent of homes are sold through the MLS.

http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/2007/04/04/

We can innundate him with postcards and letters explaining our professional services and the value we bring to the table as Realtors®

How to Reach Clark Howard

Clark Howard, the Channel 2 Action News consumer advisor, can be contacted several different ways, and here is how you can send him a message or submit a story idea.

Clark does not have an e-mail address at WSB-TV/Channel 2. However, you can call the Consumer Action Center at 404-892-8227.

You can also send a letter to Clark at the following address:

Clark Howard
c/o Consumer Action Center
1601 W. Peachtree St., N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309

Clark can be heard daily from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on WSB-AM 750 radio. Listeners who want to dial in to his radio show can do so by dialing 404-872-0750.

Discount brokers... one thing, but now this???

Janet Carpenter — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:18:00 GMT

I just read an article by Clark Howard, our local consumer advocate that really got my blood boiling! He advocates selling your house yourself and save that commission. This would mean, in his mind, that Realtors offer no real benefit, because they really only list the home in the MLS. Now, FSBO's can list on the MLS and Realtor.com themselves. I don't know the cost, but all they have to pay is 2-3% to the selling agent. This is referring to www.iggyshouse.com. They are also connected to BuySide Realty, who are discounters. THEN, they tell the buyers that they will get 75% of their commission back on the buying side. Why is this not considered an illegal referral fee system? I feel I would be in trouble if I tried that (not that I would).

They are operating in: California, Texas, Florida, New York, Oregon, Washington, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, Michigan, Illinois, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Colorado.

Have any of you run into this outfit or know what they are really charging?

Incoming Links - Authority Directories

Janet Carpenter — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 23:44:00 GMT

Many of us are in various authority directories to get incoming links, at least, I assume. I have signed up for several, but none of those that you have to pay to be placed on 12 or so directories. My coach says that I should do reciprocal links with my suppliers... is this a good source? My traffic has somewhat increased, but I NEED MORE! Are there any that any of you would recommend as authority directories?

All Things are Created by the Media!

Janet Carpenter — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 23:19:00 GMT

I noted the blog post about the media spreading the news about how bad the real estate market is by Tim and Susan Fennell. Well, I have talked with several potential buyers lately that have thought the rates were approaching 7%!!! I was thinking about it, and I have not seen any news published lately that the rates were still below 6%. The number of mortgage ads have also dropped because they can't afford the advertising, I guess. It might be helpful to get the news out about the rates as well!

Handshake only works if each does their part!

Janet Carpenter — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 17:11:00 GMT

I have been a Professional member for 9 months, and I approve all handshakes DAILY. I think the reasons to use Handshake FAR OUTWEIGH bogus reasons to not approve! On our IDX sites, we don't disapprove any listings to appear, nor do we have the opportunity! I heard that many disapprove listings out of their selling areas... Point2 basically controls this based on the selling areas you select! Let me descibe why this is personally of concern to me on my site...

Pending Approval = 0, Blocked by Me = 0, Blocked by Them = 56, PENDING THEIR APPROVAL = 2,093!!!! Of the 56 Blocks, they are 30% blocked with a reason of 'general' and 'not specified.' What can I do with that??? The other 70% is "don't participate in handshake." Give me a break! If they are in our area, we are displaying them anyway through the IDX!!!

When I talked to support about this, my only option was to email these agents. AND, so I emailed a few, with NO RESPONSE!

I just can't understand why agents would not want this type of exposure for their listings! The information for your listings are so much more complete than the information in the MLS! I admit that many agents do not make full use of the listing description, but that has nothing to do with how YOUR listings will display if you use all the features of the EXCEPTIONAL TOOL!

What do you think?

"Somewhat" Liberated Realtor

The Tools are there for us to do a better job!

Janet Carpenter — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 01:37:00 GMT

Hey! Yes, from Georgia! Agents... Please get more approvals on those 'handshakes!' Why would you not want the extra exposure for your listings in such a nice, professional way? I have approved everyone, yet I have 1692 pending approval of a handshake with me! I also think that for our clients, that we should use the Listing features as much as possible. When I see a $3 million dollar house and there is one picture, no rooms set up.... I am in disbelief! What an opportunity to outsell our competition! They gave us the tools, let's use them!

Point2NLS is just the Best!

Janet Carpenter — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 01:19:00 GMT

I think I have tried every real estate website provider out there, paying as much as $700 just to get setup, and I can't think of any as good as Point2! I appreciate the free coaching, the blog, the features of the website, and the politeness and knowledge of support. Because they have been so great to us, let's keep sharing and working together to make it all good for them as well. There is one thing I wish you all to do for me... Please get more approvals on those 'handshakes!' Why would you not want the extra exposure for your listings in such a nice, professional way? I have approved everyone, yet I have 1692 pending approval of my handshakes! I also think that for our clients, that we should use the Listing features as much as possible. When I see a $3 million dollar house and there is one picture, no rooms set up.... I am in disbelief! What an opportunity to outsell our competition! They gave us the tools, let's use them!