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Are you a commission hungry, investment greedy, out for the kill, selfish, only interested in your own bottom line, completely lacking any real professionalism Realtor?

Well….sure you are, didn’t you know that?

Most of us, can all agree, the public’s idea of what a Realtor does and who we are isn’t all that great. In fact, I am sure most of us have likely heard things like, “Realtors are part time professionals”, “Realtors are just over paid house wives and,  my personal favorite is, “The requirement to get a license is so low, anyone can be an agent”. Granted, perception is often times reality so, regardless of how true these statements may be, we as an industry have a problem….a big problem.

Sad to say though, I myself kind of agree with some of these perceptions. I have myself run into Affiliate Brokers who absolutely had me banging my head up against a wall. In fact, one time, after talking with an Affiliate Broker with another company, I was so exhausted, so battered by stupidity; I thought I was trying to corral cats.

My biggest problem with perception of what we do is the perception that we do nothing. This absolutely bothers me to no end but, truth be told, a vast majority of us literally stick a sign in the yard and wait…..wait……and wait some more. A majority of us don’t do much of anything to pro-actively market, advertise and network our client’s homes. In fact, it’s a bit of an epidemic however, we really aren’t the only ones to blame. How many times have you been to a listing appointment where you haven’t given your clients at least a Comparative Market Analysis, with verifiable comparables sales, in the last 3 months, within the same subdivision, within 10% or less of the subject properties square footage, within + or – 1 bedroom, bath, half bath and finally, within 10% of the subject properties acreage? Chances are, you haven’t done all that work for the majority of your clients because, your clients don’t ask for it. They don’t even know to ask for it. They just assume you did your homework or better yet, they will dictate to you what they will list it at and you don’t have any say either way.

We have all heard, “buying a home is the biggest investment you will ever make” however, how many of us, when working with our client, actually do the same due diligence we would do for ourselves when looking to buy our own home? Oh…did I just touch a nerve? I think I did.

We have a public that is so in sensed on moving quickly, that they have completely given up on moving smart. We have an industry so full of “professionals” that we have completely given up on being professional and become so in sensed with cashing that commission check. So…who is to blame for this debacle? Better yet, maybe we should ask ourselves, do we really have a problem with this perception? Maybe this is just the way the real estate business works?

I am here to say NO, this isn’t the way it’s supposed to work and we owe the general public better. I have seen Affiliate Brokers working with clients and as I pass the door, I hear an offhand remark that makes my blood boil. I get so ticked off because the Affiliate makes such a huge mistake that I can imagine myself in the court room swearing to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth….if you know what I mean. For example, when you get a new listing, how many agents call you to ask you, “What kind of condition is the home in?”, “What kind of repairs are we looking at?” or “How much do you think it will cost to fix it up?”??? Now, the funny part of this article is, some of you just read those last couple of lines and thought to yourself…..”what is the problem with answering those questions?” and then some of you read those couple of lines and cringed. I got a questions for you, what category are you in? Did you cringe or did you stop and think back to this morning when you answer all three of those questions about that new listing you got at 666 Money Pitt Ln?

To see change in this industry, each individual will first have to become that change. A very famous man, Mahatma Ghandi said something very similar within a different paradigm however, the truth behind the statement rings true here and now.

The next time you take those mandatory CE courses, actually take something with you and implement it in your daily business life. Expand your skill set, you are much more than just a Realtor. I would go so far to say, if that is all you think you are…if that is all you know….then maybe this profession isn’t right for you in the first place.

Not to toot my own horn……………….ok…………….maybe a little but, it’s worth writing about.

I got an email from one of my Asset Manager’s a couple days ago, an Asset Manager I don’t hear much from. Don’t get me wrong, he keeps me busy, I have 6 of his listings but, as far as communication……we just don’t talk much. It really never bothered me, I always figured that if I am really doing my job well, he shouldn’t have to communicate with me much anyways but, after about 2 months of complete silence I started to wonder. Does he not like me, does he think ill of me, why isn’t he shooting me an email once in a while rather than res.net task.

I wake up one morning last week and boom….just out of nowhere, I get this email.

“I wish all my agents were as on top of things as you are!!! Not sure I have conveyed this before but the reason I am not calling or emailing you very often is because you are clearly very competent and doing a great job; I have a ton of agents who are not. If you ever really need me please call.”

Thanks!!!

Mark

What he doesn’t know, I was gleaming like a little school girl with a crush on my gym teacher. Better yet, I stopped and thought to myself, how many other agents out there…..even the good ones can say they get a compliment like this.

Mark actually feels he can put me on auto pilot and let go. Granted, I am sure that isn’t his normal practice, he is a very aware Asset Manage but, none the less, the point was made.

This is the type of business all of us REO agents who are currently working inventory should be running. Our Asset Managers should feel and be comfortable and CONFIDENT enough to say, in writing..,

“you are clearly very competent and doing a great job”

In fact, I have made it a goal of mine, I want to get at least one written compliment from my Asset Managers a month.

Just another thought real quick, before I end this blog. This kind of compliment shows you the passion I have for what I do. Passion that wakes me up in the morning, causes me to commit to not just doing my job but, making sure I am the best at my job. I didn’t enter the default real estate industry because it’s the hot market right now, I entered because I love it.

For all you Realtors who have decided that this default thing may be around longer than you expected and well…..you are going to have to try to make it happen or get out all together…..let me just say, “YOU BETTER WORK IT” because, I have set the bar high and if you don’t have passion, commitment, tenacity and a love for this industry, don’t expect to catch up.

Recently, one of our members sent me some hate mail, yes….I get hate mail and, I wanted to share some of it with you so that I can clarify some points, just to make sure we are all on the same page.

Before I do this, just so you know, I won’t be revealing who this person is so, don’t ask.

Point # 1 –

I am here to make money.

Quote, “I truly believe that you are trying to build something big for yourself”

Yeah, was anyone under the impression I wasn’t? I am a capitalist……tried and true. I believe a person’s dedication, commitment, desire, ambition and liberty to follow their own dream is the American Dream. Absolutely I am trying to build a huge network of default professionals for myself and anyone else who decides to join me, walk along side me and pursue their dreams with me. If my ambition and dreams aren’t in line with yours, go find another network to join or start your own. The father of modern economics said that competition leads to the greater good so, if you don’t like me, if you don’t like what I am doing, if you think I am living Satan spawn then……..take a number, get in line, be patient and hold your breath.

Quote, “You know, we don’t really have to have you to get screwed out of our money”

Screwed out of your money……..are you serious? I want everyone to know, since May of 2008 I have made less than $1,500.00 off REOPro. Yep, that’s right, no more than $1,500.00! Just to be even more clear, $1,400.00 of that came from sponsors buying advertisement space. I don’t ask for donations, which would be nice, I don’t charge a membership fee, I don’t charge a set up fee, I don’t charge an inactivity fee (which is where I would make the most money)………I DON’T CHARGE MEMBERS A DIME! What money are members getting screwed out of by REOPro?

I have recommended service providers to this network, service providers that I use myself and find a lot of benefit in using. If you took my word to join any service I have recommended, guess what…………I DIDN’T MAKE ANY MONEY FROM YOU JOINING THEM!

Oh, wait a minute, I take that back……I did make about $40.00 off of 2 people who upgraded their alamode account a couple months ago. I do make money if you purchase any upgrades to your alamode account through the REOPro store but, out of almost 150 orders……I have made $40.00. In fact, it’s been such a failure that I have even thought about getting rid of it but, that is a different topic for another day.

Quote, “What are the benefits to ME when I suggest that people join the site? Does it make ME look bigger and more organized? Or you?? I really think you are self-serving and only out for yourself. I think the Alamode website deal was the clincher for me. Do you really think you saved people money?”

Oh dear golly goodness, is this person serious? What are the benefits to you when you suggest that people join the REOPro site? Building this network gives us a greater pool of resources to pull from. More people joining equals more people writing blogs, responding to forums and organically creates an environment for sharing. Sharing is good, it cost you nothing but, it could change your business. In fact, I am aware of several people who have come on-line, wrote a blog of forum, read the responses, created connections and got referrals to join companies that changed their business. The direct benefit to getting people to join REOPro is so that our community develops and in that we find strength, knowledge, power and the ability to have a voice in an industry where we are drowned out by bank policies, government regulation, inactivity of NAR and consumers. If you can’t see this….why are you still a member?

As for Alamode……hell yeah it saved people money! Alamode guarantees my members who order products and services through the REOPro store a better price than they could get direct. Did you know that….of course you didn’t because, it’s none of your business what the details of the deal I worked out with Alamode are. I challenge you to go to Alamode, order a website and then go to the REOPro store, order the same product and compare the prices. See for yourself.

Quote, “A site like this would be great if it kept out the vultures.”

Keep out the vultures….who do you think I am? I am not the Judge and Jury of the Default Real Estate Industry. Maybe, one day, we can get to the point where we can centralize and control some sort of BBB of the Default Real Estate Industry but, the reality is that I don’t make enough money on this site a year to pay 1 months mortgage payment, let alone pour my resources in with no monetary return.

Better yet, our members have stepped up and become REOPro leaders. For instance, Tim Ventura with The BPO Automation Group have sponsored a service you can find on our main page where our members can go and rate the BPO companies they have worked with, anonymously. This has been great because it allows our members to go in and see for themselves what our members think of a particular company and then you can use that information to determine for yourself if it’s worth your time, money and energy.

What about the “Non Paying BPO Company” Group (their name is something like that) where you can go in and see what BPO companies are milking people out of hard earned cash.

Quote, “. I just sense too much of your own purposes being served here.”

I hope you do get the sense that I am serving my own self purpose because I am! My purpose is to create a network of professionals that can change the direction of the wind! Granted, that may be a bit lofty but, you get the idea. My purpose is to help Agents, Asset Managers, Title Agents, Locksmiths, Land Scappers, and everyone else in this cut throat industry to feed their families. I am hell bent on making this happen and guess what, that means I may end up making a lot of money but, have you ever known a poor person being able to provide you with a job or work?

Just to be clear, I am a LIBERTY loving, constitution toting, private property rights supporting, God fearing, profit motivated, big hearted, loyal as a dog man who believes I can change the world one person at a time so that we all benefit through capitalist principles and if this isn’t what you signed up for, good luck and I wish you the best.