Free Hugs

Hi there!

It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted. Sorry about that. I intend to get back to providing great information about transparency in real estate; and how we can all make a difference in our world.

To start, I'd like you to watch the video below. It made me smile. It makes me remember how simple it is to help people have a better day.





I'm sure you can find one thing to help somebody today. Even if it's "just a hug".

Let me know what you think.

Jim

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New blog post: What's a good Buyer's Agent? Please post your comments on the blog. http://ping.fm/yhpEM

What's A Good "Buyer's Agent"?

As an MLS professional, I have the privilege of working with many brokers and agents in the Silicon Valley. The real estate professional's ideal situation is one in which they have a listing (that is, they represent the seller) and they can also represent a buyer who wants that same house. This "double-ending" practice can cause potential conflicts of interest. While CAR has forms which agents must complete to disclose this type of transaction, a buyer may not understand what this means.

With that caveat, as a buyer I'd like to list a few things that I would request of an agent representing me.

First and foremost, this is not a "deal". I don't buy houses for a living so I'm probably not experienced in this type of transaction. This is one of the most important personal and financial decisions I can make. If you're more interested in "closing escrow" than in representing me, then you should take the opportunity to bring in partner who can assist me.

As a buyer's agent I'm looking for you to oversee:
• create a comparative market analysis for my potential new home
• explain to me the market conditions and the neighborhood conditions
• all deadlines in the contract
• all inspections, including home and pest inspections
• the appraisals (and be able to discuss with me the reasons for the valuation)

Additionally, I want you to help me with:
• identifying my needs in a new home. (In fact, if you have a method for doing that, you'd get bonus points!)
• scheduling property showings
• get me the latest new listings to me electronically: via email, text message and cell phone.
• getting additional listing information from listing agents (e.g., seller's disclosures)

You should also:
• help me find the right mortgage company
• sit with me and the mortgage broker to explain the mortgage commitments
• prepare a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)
• explain to me in plain terms, what a CMA is, why you selected the properties in the report and how this affects the offer WE will make)
• review home inspection reports with me
• assisting me in presenting repair lists for sellers
• negotiate for me on all of these issues.

I know this is a lot of activity, but I'm paying for this experience.

For agents out there, it will be interesting to hear your opinion. For consumers, I'd definitely like your opinion.

This week is about planning new marketing strategies and developing analytics for NorCal real estate pro's. What are you doing for others?

Happy birthday Kelly! You'll always be my special delivery. Miss you. Love you

I'm creating a new way to produce statistics for our clients at MLSListings. It's fun to design a simple, yet flexibile mechanism.