These guys rock. The ability to explain something in such a clear, concise, easily understandable way is admirable brilliance. I could have used this video on Wednesday when I gave a brief presentation on real estate blogs.It’s funny that they posted the Blogs in Plain English video so long after they explained RSS.
Date Archives November 2007
Why Use a Realtor – decoding NAR-speak
In many markets across the country, over 50% of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate agent other than yours brings in the buyer. Your Realtor acts as the marketing coordinator, disbursing information about your property to other real estate agents through a Multiple Listing Service or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses for agents, etc. The Realtor Code of Ethics requires Realtors to utilize these cooperative relationships when they benefit their clients.I should hope that more than 50% of sales are performed without Dual Agency…. Your Realtor will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.a – I want to see that study.b – Allowing strangers into your home is the whole point of the MLS and lockbox system we use!… Your Realtor is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to closing (or settlement).Managing the process and transaction and knowing the pitfalls and problems that may arise is one of the key components a good Realtor brings to the transaction.It’s getting harder to say “I’m going to market your property better than the rest,” because the distribution tools are flattening; more on this in another post.Did I mention that if we eliminate Dual Agency and End Cooperative Compensation many of the problems go away?
Thursday links 11-29-2007
A telling photo on human/consumer behavior.Are listing providers advertising, media or neither? Defining this will help define the futureCharlottesville’s high-tech employment figuresCheaper than coal – the impact of private investment versus governmentIt’s not just a subprime problem (it’s the whole market)NAR continues suiciding their credibility – does anybody believe this guy anymore?
Passionate real estate representation
From Seth Godin this morning:Every time you walk into a meeting, agree to sit in on a sales call, do a job interview or have a conversation with a consultant, you’re marketing. You’re either selling the story of your enthusiasm and attention, or you’re not. And more often than not, you get what you put in.It takes passion to succeed – in real estate, that passion shows itself through selection of clients to represent, through blogs, ethics, associations and pursuits…. When choosing a Realtor to represent you – do you include in your evaluation their dedication and passion?
Take the Recycling Survey
The RWSA has put up a fairly comprehensive survey. If you live in Charlottesville/Albemarle, take three minutes. How they’re looking to pay for any improvements? That’s fodder for a longer-than-three-sentences post.
Charlottesville’s Town Centers
Read this story: I Don’t Want to Consume Media that I Can’t Interact With.Hollymead Town Center up 29 North (near NGIC) A model town center, in Reston (Northern Virginia).For another look at Charlottesville’s town centers, see this post from May (and read the comments). A completely honest, non-snarky question – will residents of any of our area’s town centers say anything like this in forty years?I live in Reston, and unlike Columbia, it’s a roaring success, with both internal and external transit services, five village centers — one of which is usually within walking distance of most residents — and a fabulous Town Center (I don’t understand the reference to a “Midtown Town Center†— there’s only one) which is easily accessible by transit, auto, and for the numerous residents in the urban core, as pedestrians. I have lived here for forty years, so have observed the development almost from the beginning.The map below shows the town centers in the area.View Larger MapMore and more, people want to be able to walk “to stuff;” Hollymead Town Center does not yet qualify for that. So far, it has the feel of a glorified strip mall (with lots of stuff – Bonefish Grill, Target, Harris Teeter, etc) – you just need to drive everywhere.What’s the basis for this conclusion?And soon all of the construction will give way to a more relaxed, convenient and environmentally friendly way of life at Hollymead Town Center.Lastly, showing my ignorance, how will the the addition of a hotel make the site more vibrant and welcoming to residents?
The NAR Gateway inches out of the box
Read it in today’s Inman before it goes behind the pay wall.”We think that there is a demand by practitioners wanting to have all the data they can, and having a database that has all properties throughout the country and is as deep and as rich as we can make it is only going to enhance the practitioner, whether they use it in their own community or they use it in looking up something for a relative in another state … to help them understand what’s going on in that different area.”Consumers and Realtors want the same thing – every property, and its history in one place. Here is one of the keys – The Gateway, unlike MLSs, would not allow the offer of compensation and cooperation, he said, “at least not initially.”Buyers agents would have to negotiate their commissions independent of what is being offered through the MLS…. (hint: Divorced Commissions)Disclaimer: I happen to sit on the reference Group and will be at another meeting on Monday.