It started with a phone call and e-mail

This week FAAR received a phone call and e-mail from members advising that they had been turned away at the gate of Lake Land’or, in Caroline County, with buyer clients in the car.  They were attempting to show REO properties, which were, of course, vacant.  The security guards reportedly advised the agent that if the house was a foreclosure, the agent would need to go to the administrative office.  Unfortunately this was on a Sunday and the Administrative offices are only open at limited times.

The Listing Agent’s responsibility

FAAR has contacted the POA and requested their policy, it’s date of implementation and how best to relay it to you as members.  The following directions were given by Lake Land’or POA staff yesterday:

If it has been identified as a foreclosure by appropriate documentation being faxed (804 448 3725) to the Administration Office or sent via mail to 319 Land’Or Drive, Ruther Glen, VA 22546, the realtor’s card with a photo ID, if a picture is not on the card along with the listing agreement will provide the information required for entrance into the community.

FAAR Staff has e-mailed for clarification of this policy, as this does not help the Buyer Agent attempting to show the property.  We’ve been advised that the policy, nor the date of implementation are available to us.  Simply that the above referenced excerpt is sufficient.

Recommendations

FAAR understands the community’s need for the feeling of security, but is trying to recommend that the POA consider putting the burden of proof, so to speak, on the shoulders of the licensed Buyer-Agent.  We are recommending that any agent showing property in that community bring with them a copy of their real estate license, a photo ID and printout of the MLS information, showing that the property is actively for sale and vacant.

We have asked Lake Land’or POA to consider the above recommendation, as it’s not reasonable for all REO / Foreclosure agents or agents not active in that community to know that they must submit this information to the Administrative office and a buyer being turned away from seeing a property in this difficult market may persuade the buyer to not come back again.

What to do, for now

At this time, we have no other recommendations, other than to make sure that even if the home is vacant, the Buyer Agent contact the Listing Agent to ensure the Listing Agent has met the requirements of the POA and the home is fully available to show.  FAAR will be sending out this information by e-mail to local broker for distribution.

Kudos to the following members who have invested in their careers, but acheiveing designations!  Thanks to all the Brokers who support and encourage agents to become more invested in their clients, by gaining new knowledge.

The following FAAR Members have achieved Industry Designations in the past month.

GRI - Graduate REALTOR® Institute:

Victoria Jo Painter – Exit Powerhouse Realty

Janis Weller – Century21 Classic (special congrats for getting ABR and GRI in same month!)

ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative:

Janis Weller – Century21 Classic

Barbara Klien – Keller Williams

Debbie Klingensmith – Century21 AdVenture

Marie Smith – Century21 AdVenture

Jonathan Snow – Exit Realty Expertise

Chip Taylor – Century21: Battlefield

Frieda Harris – Century21 Battlefield

Carrie Braxton – Exit Realty Expertise

ASR - Accredited Seller Representative

Sheri Lutz – Exit Realty Expertise

Ella Hubbard – Exit Realty Expertise

Richard Snow  - Exit Realty Expertise

Jonathan Snow – Exit Realty Expertise

Koontz Campbell – Exit Realty Expertise

Mary Ann Bechtold – Century21 Battlefield

Ethel Lucas – Century21 Battlefield

Gena Hill – Century21 Battlefield

Lynn Harris – Century21 Battlefield

Drew Fristoe – Century21 TEAM

Stewart Spencer – Century21 Realty I

Kris Dixon – Long and Foster

Lori Feldhaus – Assist2Sell

Carol Curley - Dockside Realty

CRB- Certified Residential Broker

Shelby Harvey – Century21 TEAM

I have been asked many times why I spend so much time cultivating my relationships on the internet.  I’m not referring to internet dating or chat rooms, but rather social media like blogging and Twitter.  Questions arise like, “How can you get to know people by reading blogs or reading mini-blogs?”  Twitter, a mini-blog where you are limited to typing 140 characters at a time, is the most confusing for those who don’t participate.  My husband is very curious as to how I can convey a worthwhile message in 140 characters.  My answer is always that I have learned to get my meaning across in an efficient way.  Many real estate professionals have not yet found the value in this type of networking.  But, I am here today to tell you that the relationships you create through social media are real and lasting. 

I woke up this morning to the news that one of ”the people that lives in my computer” has passed away.  I am overcome with grief.  In 140 characters or less we developed a friendship that I will cherish for the rest of my life.  I learned about real estate, inner strength, and life from a person who I would have never known had I not taken the jump and joined the social media movement.  I had the absolute pleasure of meeting this Twitter friend at the NAR Mid-Year Tweetup, which only added to the  bond the internet had already created.  

As I think about @Pinky379’s family and friends today, I am honored to be counted among them.  I am also honored and lucky to be a part of such an incredible social media network.  Being on Twitter will be very hard today as we remember how Pinky touched each of us with her words of wisdom and her incredible sense of humor.  But, I am also seeing a celebration of a life lost too soon and one that will be missed by so many.   

Are social media relationships meaningful?  Without a doubt.  How do I know?  Because I am seeing an outpouring of support and emotion from a group of people who, for the most part, have never met and may never meet.  But, we all believe we are better people for having followed @Pinky379. 

Seeing that I am 24 years old, Technology is my life. I can remember using computers for the first time when I was in Kindergarten. Point being, I have used Technology my whole life. I live it, I breathe it, without it, I am lost. Technology is also a way of life for many of my Generation and myself. The way that it makes every aspect of life impersonal is amazing. You can have complete conversations with people without even speaking a word to them. Email, Text, Instant Message. It’s quick, to the point and fast. But is that best for the client?

When I got into Real Estate some “Old School Agents” would look to me for answers with Technology because they didn’t have a clue what they were doing. Me being the “Newbie”, I would talk to the “Old School Agents” to ask how to do Real Estate because I didn’t have clue what I was doing.

What I have learned from the “Old School Agents” is to make those personal contacts with people. By simply picking up the phone and giving an agent a call for feedback. Some agents hate it, but the ones who answer and speak to me, end up having a nice conversation with me. The things that I can pick up from the tone of someone’s voice, or follow up questions in a simple 2 minute conversation would take many follow-up emails.

That is just one example of something I have learned from the “Old School Agents” and I believe the information I received from them has helped me far more than the information that I gave to them. “Old School Agents” have been in this business for year and have been hugely successful and a major part of their success comes from those personal contacts they have made. In good markets and in Bad, they have seen it all and weathered the storms. Obviously they know what they are doing. Obviously we have something to learn from them. Don’t just turn your backs or brush them aside by labeling them, closed minded or stuck in their ways. They are still around and surviving in this market for one reason, that reason being, Their ability to Adapt.

The market will always have its ups and downs, that is just the nature of the market. Good agents who are great at adapting and taking what they already know to work and tweaking it, to work for the client during that certain market. That agent will be successful.

Technology is great and Old School ways have worked, but let’s not forget that Real Estate is all about making Personal Connections with people. Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new, or Old! Remember Real Estate is not about you, its about the client. As time changes, Adaptation is necessary.

I was not in the business during the crazy boom that everyone speaks of, so I don’t know what that was like. But what I do know is that Real Estate is changing. It is evolving into this mash up of Technology and Old School. We can all learn something from each other, “Newbie Agents” and “Old School Agents”.

I just ask all you “Old School Agents” if one of us “Newbie’s” send you an email when you think it would be easier to call, try answering in an email. All you “Newbie’s” out there, if one of those “Old School Agents” gives you a call, when you think it would be easier to answer in an email, try answering the phone and having a conversation. Just try to remember, in that email or phone call. There might be some new bit of information or some lesson for you to learn. Be us old, new, or both, we all have something to learn from each other.

Here is a recent report on the Virginia housing market in the second quarter of 2008.

The state housing market performed better in the second quarter of 2008 than in the first quarter
of the year, particularly in terms of sales activity. At the same time, there were dramatic shifts in
some local markets across the state. The outlook is for these regional differences to widen in
the next quarter before the overall state housing market edges back toward equilibrium.