Image by Getty Images via Daylife

New thought process for obtaining listings is here. There is an Agent-Owner in the Johnnie Dodds office of AgentOwned Realty who has a new twist on listing presentations.

Susan Aviles no longer uses a listing presentation book --- she no longer dwells on her --- she no longer dwells on her company. What does she do? She uses her brain -- she is creative.

Susan spend about 3 hours in preparation for each of her listing appointments. She studies the neighborhood, the sections and sub-sections, the particular home. She pulls up all the information that she can find on the property--she looks in the MLS history, and in the tax records.

When Susan goes on that appointment, she will know almost as much as the homeowners and sometimes more.

She spends her time with the owners not talking about herself, but about the property. She wows them with her knowledge.

BTW, Susan likes to be the first appointment if she knows that she is competing. This works great for her --- the owners typically don't even talk to anyone else.

In case you are interested, she is carrying approx. 60 listings, 29 of which are residential. She does have 2 assistants to assist in servicing her clients.

Is Agent B Telling The Truth?

Agent A with AgentOwned Realty has a contract for her buyer clients. Yes, she does have a buyer's agreement signed.

The contract calls for a home inspection --- the contract does not have the special wording that "the home inspection is contingent upon buyer's satisfaction due to sole discretion of the buyer".

The home inspection is performed -- the buyer is not happy -- she says there are just too many things wrong with the house. She is insisting that everything be repaired or she wanted out of the contract. The seller say they will repair all structural & mechanical items, but not replace light switches or paint, etc. The buyer wants out of the contract.

The seller say no to the Release of Contract.

Buyer goes to an Open House held by Agent B with XYZ Realty. Buyer proceeds to unload on Agent B about how unhappy she is with her agent because her agent could not get her out of the contract. Agent B proceeds to instruct Buyer on how to get out of the Buyer's agreement and the contract.

Listing Agent of home Buyer has under contract finally says seller will release Buyer but will keep the $500 earnest money. Buyer says "absolutely NOT" -- that she is entitled to the earnest money because the home inspection was not satisfactory and that she could not be forced to buy.

Now, Agent B (sitting in the Open House) took the Buyer and sold her another home. Agent B emailed to me (the Broker of Agent A) a statement that Buyer wanted out of the Buyer's Agreement. The Buyer's Agreement states that either party can cancel with written notice.

I called Agent B and accused her of not only being highly unethical, but violating SC license law by interfering with a contract. She of course told me that she had not suggested to Buyer how to get our of our buyer's agreement and she said she advised Buyer to close on her current contract.

It's kinda odd, don't you think that it was Agent B who sold this Buyer another home --- even before a Release of contract was signed.

Was I too hard on Agent B? What do you think should have happened in this case?

Liz Loadholt
Broker, SC Certified Trainer, Relocation Director
Co-founder of AgentOwned Realty
Liz@AgentOwned.com
843-725-5007

The AgentOwned Realty serves your real estate needs for:

Charleston, Johns Island, James Island, Mt. Pleasant,

Isle of Palms, Sullivan's Island, Daniel Island, North Charleston,
Summerville,Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, Santee, Manning, Sumter, Florence, & Myrtle Beach, all in South Carolina

Great Reputation of What?

Great Reputation or What?

If one does not have a great reputation, what do they have?



If one is not honest, it doesn't take long for the "public" to discover this. And you are doomed as far as business is concerned.



If one is not trustworthy, it doesn't take long for the "public" to discover this. And you are doomed as far as business is concerned.



If one is not ethical, ...................................................................................................................



If one is not legal, ........................................................................................................................



If one is not moral, .................................................. And you are doomed as far as business is concerned.



The definition of reputation is "the general estimation in which a person is held by the public".



Another definition of reputation is "the state or situation of being held in high esteem".



Now I have been in the real estate profession for 33 years and I can say my reputation has always been the thing that I most protected.



When a new sales associate wants to join one of my AgentOwned Realty offices directly under my Broker's license, I have to decide if that person is going to tarnish my great reputation. If I am the least uncomfortable, we do not reach an agreement for he/she to join my office.



Now, I have noticed this about Active Rain . Active Rain has a reputation to uphold --- one that the real estate community certainly holds in high esteem. AR does a great job of policing to uphold it reputation of being ethical, legal, moral, honest and trustworthy.



I was a little taken back this past Friday at the REBar Camp in Charlotte when several folks were speaking as though AR was not the best source of blogging in order for the agents to get business. I was defensive. I will say that Jeremy Blanton did a great job in the blogging 101 session supporting AR. Each time, someone would say something about other blogging platforms, someone would get us back to AR.



Now, from what I have read on AR and about AR, it is the best for Google juice, and apparently gets a lot of agents a lot of business. And now with all of the consumers who are coming to AR ---- what else could you want?



Kudos to Active Rain for its great reputation.

Liz Loadholt
Broker, SC Certified Trainer, Relocation Director
Co-founder of AgentOwned Realty
Liz@AgentOwned.com
843-725-5007

The AgentOwned Realty serves your real estate needs for

Charleston, Johns Island, James Island, Mt. Pleasant,
Isle of Palms, Sullivan's Island, Daniel Island, North Charleston,
Summerville,Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, Santee, Manning, Sumter, Florence, & Myrtle Beach, all in South Carolina

It Could Never Happen to Me.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Friday, February 13, 2009

Title Insurance: It could never happen to me?

Most people don't even know what Title Insurance is and those that do usually think that itis a boring topic, on the scale watching grass grow.

But there are some interesting stories attached to Title Insurance.

One of my friends inherited a lot a few years ago and she gave it to her son to build a house. They went through all the correct legal procedures and after the beautiful new home was completed her son closed on his new loan at the attorneys office, just like he should, and moved in to his new home with his family.

Fast forward two years. One day her son is served with court papers. The person who owned the home behind them had put an easement on the property for a 50 foot road that was recorded at the court house but had mistakenly not been recorded at the RMC office. When the title search was done on the property the easement was missed. The story behind the easement in the first place is another interesting one and the subject for a later blog.

It is a mystery as to what the person that has the easement on the property actually wants. A corner of the home is over the easement and so in order to make use of it the house would need to be torn down. The neighbor does not actually have a need for using it but he has the court papers to prove that a judge gave him the right to it. So now what?

Well, my friend's son would have saved himself a lot of stress and trouble if he had just purchased an Owner's Policy when he purchased the Title Insurance for the mortgage company. The mortgage company's policy was mandatory when he closed on the loan but the Owner's Policy was not and his closing attorney didn't even mention it to him. It would have cost $75 at closing and it covers it forever.

Now if the issue is forced to destroying the house, the title insurance will pay the mortgage company for the amount left on the loan but the all the extra money he has put into the house is gone and the he is left with an almost worthless lot.

I think that the neighbor has an attorney who thinks that they can get them to pay them off to drop the issue because they have backed them into a corner.

To say the least, the whole thing is a mess and all could have been prevented for a $75 Owner's Policy.

Posted by Liza Valero

Where can I Find Buyers?

Where can I find buyers?

Real Estate sales people always want to know, Where Can I find Buyers? Most real estate agents want someone to hand them a lead --- certainly this does not apply to all agents. We all know that there are many top notch agents who develop their own business --- they figure it out on their own.

Back in 1976 when I obtained my real estate license in S.C., I worked for a residential real estate company that provided no training at all --- "There's a desk, there's a phone, you're on your own" kind of mentality. I had to develop my own business.

I was in the grocery store doing my grocery shopping and someone that I knew asked me what I was doing. When I replied that I was selling real estate, she said that she & her husband had been talking about selling and buying something on the water. Long story short, I listed their home and sold them another.

I thought, "man, this is easy". So, I started going to the grocery store even when I didn't need any groceries. Many times, I would pick up leads --- what we all know is that "people like to talk about real estate". I would wear my name badge and folks would ask me about the market, etc.

I picked up a lot of my business that first year from the grocery store.

Then, after that I began to get referral business because of the job that I did.

Also, I am not afraid to "ask" for the business.

One of my top agents, after I became a Broker-in-charge, was probably the best at "asking for the business" that I have ever seen. Our office was in the same complex with a dentist office and she was constantly in the parking lot waiting for folks coming and going from the dentist. She picked up a lot of customers in that parking lot.

Recently, I was in a pharmacy picking up my medicine and as I was waiting, I just asked the pharmacy tech if she needed to buy a house. She looked at me funny and said, "Well, actually, we have been thinking about it --- I really want to get out of the rental house that I am in" That lady is now working with an agent in my office --- she has impeccable credit.



Moral of this story ---- you got to just "ASK"

Every real estate sales person needs business right now, so just ask!

Monma Liz

(Liz Loadholt)

Bloggin at AgentOwned Realty

Blogging at AgentOwned Realty

Monday, Jan. 19, 2009

Blogging is becoming a way of life. I have a blog that I really want you to read. Also, below you will see activity in our offices.

Hopefully everyone enjoyed and got a lot out of the seminar last Thursday by Rebecca Levington. I have been on Active Rain and read several of her blogs ---- they are very informative. I am going to give you the link to read a blog that she suggested that I read. It is really long, but full of awesome information.

Please copy & paste this on your internet.

http://budurl.com/wzy3

Please take the time to read this blog and put it into action. We have several
agents at AgentOwned Realty who are presently blogging. Congratulations to them: Currie McCullough, Celena Gleason, Kim Peasley-Parker, and the Harts (Jim & Maria). There may be others of you -- please let me know.

Listings:

Santee:
Jan Lovel - 4
Jill James - 2
Susan Stroman - 3

Sumter:
Kathy Farley -1
Shirley Field -1

Manning:
Joette Wielicki - 2
Angie Jordan - 2
Belinda Jordan - 1
Peggy Haley - 1
Debra Gleaton - 1
Tammy Cupp - 1
Alfred Kelley - 1
Charley Schmidt - 1
Lola Bradshaw - 1

Isle of Palms:
Sean O'Marrow - 2
Melinda Mitchell - 1
Peggy Reese - 1
Roe Gabriel - 1

Johnnie Dodds:
Clint Altman - 7
Susan Aviles - 2
Deborah Lawrence - 1
Holly Culp - 1
Susan Bryant - 1
Catherine Ray - 1
Ashley/Stephanie - 1

Production:

Sumter: Kathy Farley - BC --- attorney (Yeah!!!!), but not mortgage (boo!!!!)
Stanley Hayes - BC --- attorney (Yeah!!!!), but not mortgage (boo!!!!)
Kirk McLeod - BC --- attorney (Yeah!!!!), but not mortgage (boo!!!!)
Kim Peasley-Parker - LS ----

Manning: Peggy Haley - BC --- attorney (Yeah!!!!), but not mortgage (boo!!!!)
Tammy Cupp - BC --- mortgage (Yeah!!!!), but not attorney (boo!!!!)
Tammy Cupp - LS
Lola Bradshaw - LS

Santee: Jill James & Susan Stroman - BC - not attorney (boo!!!!), cash
Kim Matthews - BC - attorney (Yeah!!!!), but not mortgage (Boo!!!)
Jill James & SusanStroman - LS
Kim Matthews - LS

Isle of Palms: Bambi Magraw - BC - attorney (Yeah!!!!), but not mortgage (boo!!!!)

Johnnie Dodds: Art Cope - BC - cash, but not attorney (Boo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Bonnie Simpier - BC - New construction, so no attorney nor mortgage, boo!!!
Lane Baker - BC - New construction, but got the mortgage (Yeah!!!!!!), but not attorney (boo!!!)
Kay Kennerty - BC - Cash, but got attorney (Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Betty Pigott - LS
Thomas Horvath - LS
Holly Culp - LS

Until tomorrow:
"If you believe, it will happen"
Liz Loadholt