All Forum Posts by: David Roberts

Recent observations of mine in dealing with Real Estate agents:

(I currently do not have one, so as I'm looking for properties I've been calling on the selling agent, then if I like him/her I plan to use them as my buyer agent)

1.  On Saturday I requested (via email) more information on about 25 properties for sale on Zillow.  As of noon today, 6 agents have replied.  Only 2 seemed interested, the others were just generic reply emails.  Guess everyone is too successful to want a new client...

2. Went to see an agent to show me several properties last Tuesday. Met at her office, printed off some listings from MLS, mapped out a plan to see them. Then she asks me if I could drive us since her car was full of personal belongings. I will NEVER contact this agent again.

3. Visited with an agent upon a recommendation from my loan officer.  Asked her to show me 3 properties in The Woodland that I'm interested in.  The whole time she kept trying to convince me to look at a few properties in Spring (nearby, but NOT The Woodlands; locals know what I mean).   Very uncomfortable since I told her I'm only looking in The Woodlands, she wouldn't listen.  Found out later that she was the listing agent on those properties in Spring, so was trying to steer me to those to get double commission.  Will NEVER contact her again, although she already mailed me a calendar with her scheming face on it.  Threw that away real quick.

I'll keep looking until I find an agent who will LISTEN to what I want, ACT professional, and heck even RESPOND to an email.   Who thought this would be so hard?

Congratulations Jerusha!  You are about to join one of the best businesses on the planet!  Don't be discouraged by the articles you are reading.  It is difficult, but it is interesting and thick with opportunity.  For me, Real Estate is an unending source of education and provides a nice lifestyle.  It also requires you have to make hard decisions.  You have to commit to be good, fair, honest, and diligent in your business, just like you have to in your personal life.    

I run my business with a lot of compassion and I pride myself on working hard and being easily available.  My business is largely referrals at any given time because my Clients trust me.  They should!  I have built that trust, and continue to build it every day.          

@David Roberts Characterizing most of us as liars and scammers is a blatant misrepresentation, and it is offensive!  I have worked with so many great Realtors over the years, that would be heartsick to read your post.  I don't pretend we are all great, but common!  

I think smart Realtors go where the business is. If REO is where the lions share of opportunity is, then that is the direction I am going in. If the business is working for conventional Buyers or Sellers, then that is the direction my business is. Successful Realtors smell opportunity and shift their business and their education in that direction.

When REO was hopping in my area, I became an REO Broker. Now that is dead, I went back to working almost entirely for conventional Sellers. Working REO was one of my most challenging endeavors. It is very difficult, and really made me a much better Broker. I have a small, no name brokerage. I run a very good and honest business, as do all of my Agents. @Russell Brazil Your classification of small brokerages is surprising.  I very carefully pick my Agents, as they are representing my local brand.  Some franchises just take any agent that has a heartbeat.  Their are bad apples at both small and large companies.      

@Jerusha Holder The difference between a successful and unsuccessful Agent usually circulates around intelligence and ones ability to priorities and discriminate between who is a worthwhile Client, and who is wasting your time and knowledge.  I am not saying their are not bad apples who are licensed Realtors, but you have an opportunity to be one of the best!