Culling the Herd in 2008

I just heard a spooky statistic from Dave Beason, NAR Real Estate Coach;

Over 1/2 (Yes ONE HALF!) of all licensed agents have NEVER SOLD A HOME! Wow! And 1/2 of the 1/2 remaining licensed agents who have sold something, average only 4 transactions per year! (Yes, only FOUR!!) Meaning, only 1/4 of the licensed agents in the United States are practicing Real Estate as a CAREER. (Oh my goodness!)

Needless to say, these statistics left me stunned, and brought to mind the importance of letting folks know how crucial it is to hire a Realtor with a track record, who has significant time in the business, who values education, and who makes a real estate a CAREER.

That said, I predict that 2008 will be a year that whittles the Real Estate Industry back to a manageable size.

Seems everyone and his brother got licensed in real estate during The Years of Milk and Honey-2004-2006. With so many under-experienced (nice way of saying 'frighteningly inexperienced') agents around, transactions over the past few years have been a little less than 'smooth' (Nice way of saying, "What do you mean you did not know the Inspection Contingency timeframe has expired and your buyers no longer have the opportuntity to inspect before buying?? And, by the way, did you know that the lender has not communicated with the Title Company yet?")

Actually, whenever I work with a rookie agent on the other side of a contract, I make sure to be extra dilligent, watching both sides, helping them along...heck, by doing this, I end up helping the transaction, which helps my client, which meets my professional standards, and helps people buy and sell homes. But, I will say, it is awfully nice when working with an attentive, seasoned agent on the other side of the transaction. There is such a sense of calm brought to the process...a sense of "aaaaaaaahhhh.".

I will be glad to see the Realtor veterans stand the test of time. I look forward to watching our industry return to a majority of REAL real estate practices filled with agents who have made Real Estate their CAREER.

Veteran Realtors understand that NO MATTER the market conditions, we must ALWAYS WORK HARD for our clients by bringing a level of professionalism to our industry that it DEMANDS.

Today's real estate transactions are more complex and far more litigious than in years gone by. OUT are the days of writing out the one page purchase and sale agreement on the hood of the trunk (THANK GOODNESS!!) and IN are today's expertly crafted and negotiated contracts.

It is important to find an agent who understands all of the finer details of an expertly crafted purchase and sale agreement, who KNOWS the law and who understands the importance of protecting their clients through the process. These skills are perfectly seasoned OVER TIME through solid education and good old fashioned EXPERIENCE.

Susan and Mimi have the experience you should look for in a Real Estate Agent, with a combined 42+ years in the real estate industry. (Susan-30+ and Mimi-12+). Because we practice Real Estate as our CAREERS, you can be certain that we will be around not only for your next smooth as silk transaction...but the one after that, your friends, your family...and more than likely...your children's next home purchase!

Remember us if anyone you CARE about is in Whatcom County Washington and needs a SEASONED, PROFESSIONAL, EDUCATED, KIND, SMART, CARING, CAREER Realtor in 2008, we sure would like the opportunity to interview for the job.

Live good. Be happy. in 2008!

-Mimi

Oh,by the way...Susan, my business partner, is my super-cool, rock-star Realtor...MOM. So, essentially, I have 'been in the business' since I was a child...does licking stamps and envelopes as a child count for "experience"? :)