Cadillac, MI

Not all buyers who spin a great story and seem to be real are real. What a shock! The problem is sellers are the ones shocked.

Professional real estate agents take the time to qualify buyers. It can be a huge waste of time and energy to have a "looker" someone who has no itention of buying. This is completely different from the nosey neighbor that comes to your open house. A looker is someone who can not buy but likes to look at other peoples homes to get ideas on how to decorate their home.

They usually don't have an agent. Why would they? The "looker" doesn't intend on buying anything. The unsuspecting agent that does not ask the right questions shows them home after home. If the "looker" zeros in on a particular property they may want to see it a couple times to make sure they got all the ideas right to transfer into their home!

Mean while the seller is all excited thinking they have a "hot buyer" who has come through a couple times and must be interested or they wouldn't come back.

I just had one of they "lookers". I asked if she had been pre-approved for a mortgage, answer, "We are going to pay cash". Music to my ears..."great, we will need proof of funds from the bank" The "looker's" eyes got big and said, "You need proof I have the money to buy?" Yup we do. "Seller's like to know buyers are real...the only way to be real is provide a purchase agreement and proof you can buy before they will consider your offer real.

The "looker" said, I guess I'll find another Realtor and home. The fact is...I wasn't nasty or requesting anything that my seller wouldn't expect. The other issue is simple. If the buyer really wanted the home and had the ability to buy the proof of funding would not be a problem either.

Don't waste your time on people that have not intention of buying. Also don't pull on your seller's emotions with phantom buyers.

Have you had a "Looker"

For Personal Service, Call: 616-784-2360 Email: GaryWhite@FlexitRealty.com

Our mobile offices, as I call them, need to be safe and reliable.

I want to keep up on current events at the same time. My vehicles are seriously connected with "Sirius" radio. I can catch talk shows, streaming news channels, music for any generation of listener and a but to push when you just want quiet!

My mobile office is equipped with with charging outlets for my laptop and a 110 volt printed if and when I need to use it.

The best thing I ever did for myself was get connected via satellite in my vehicles. It has brought me hours of information that would have been only available if I dedicated time to catch-up.

If you are active and show homes your territory can be a limited as you want or as large as your state! Being able to relax and meet your appointment schedules is treat you can give yourself. Their are other sources for this service.

Both my cars came with the connection and I just never changed.

How well equipped is your mobile office?

Are YOU a licensed Michigan Realtor or Broker? Want to do more than survive? Thrive in this market, give me a call. Always confidential, just conversation, but could be the best career move you ever made!

"Help is only a Call or Click away!"©2006-2009

Call Toll Free: 877-667-4699
Local: 616-784-2360
Email: garywhite@FlexItRealty.com

Michigan winter weather.... snow, ice, blowing, drifting... now raining, pouring, heavy rain overnight...tomorrow dropping temps and lots of snow.

We have change of seasons 24/7 with spring like driving one day and winter the next. Ice hidden under the snow is now slippery and exposed. Today dropping off an offer, I took a step and did the Watusi. My version of a ballet with the spinning splits on ice!

I did this at a busy intersection parking lot. I did get a few honks and I took a bow! They enjoyed my little unexpected dance. It could have been very ugly just as easily with a fracture or head injury instead of some entertainment for passersby. I saw the ice and was prepared for a little slip and slide.

Be safe and prepared both personally at home and in your car. Weather changes the equation in northern climates. Other areas of the country have their own challenges with conditions that change.

The issues we face is living in these conditions and becoming adusted without making adjustments.

Have a great week and think a bit more about your weather conditions.

Gary White, Flexit Realty Grand Rapids Michigan www.FlexitRealty.com

It may be time to look at real estate for its investment benefits. NOW is a great time to buy! With so many properties to choose from, buyers have more strategies to choose from. Here in Cadillac, MI there are more foreclosures availabe for sale than ever before, many single family homes, even multi-family homes & with interest rates still at an all time low housing is much more affordable. In the last year I've been selling homes for $6,100, $12,500, $13,000, $14,500, $20,000 even $21,000 for a 3 bedroom with a pole barn & 10 acres! Unbelievable prices!!

A home can hedge against inflation & usually tends to appreciate over the years providing you paid the "right" price, not too much at the time of purchase. Owning a house can help with wealth building, enhance your credit score & may be used as an asset to finance buisness ventures, college tuition, even retirement. Some people say paper investments (like mutual funds) don't have to be painted or maintained, but you can't live in them either. It's a great time to buy real estate!

I thought you should think this over if you are a broker and recruiting agents.

I have decided not to hire agents but select them! This may sound like a non-issue but just like any other profession we have good and bad agents...we have good and bad brokers too!

As a broker our business is only as good as our agents and the representation methods they use. This past week I was interviewing an agent. The nice part he was a referral from a broker leaving the business that I had know for some 10 years.

The broker gave me a great recommendation and the agent seemed to have a clear background history. I did my normal checks. I called the local MLS broad to see how long he has been a member. I found he has been in good standing for over five years and no problems. I did my other checks with the state to check the felony registry and licensing division and nothing. I called a couple of other of my agents to see if they new him...nothing.

So to me he had been clean and doing what he should have been doing selling property without issue.

I did my normal presentation on the company and then I moved into the legal area of representation and what I expect. How to contact me when and if an issue comes up. What to do and how to respond when a question comes up that he cannot answer. All the standard stuff.

I summarize by saying I don't want anyone to walk on the grey line of the law...and if you cross to the dark side...you will be dismissed...without question and immediately. So if you have a question if it is legal or even in the grey area, best not to do it...or call before taking any action.

He starts laughing....I have no clue what was funny...I just told him I would fire his butt if he didn't do things by the book and he is laughing? Then he says...This is exactly the kind of brokerage I want to work for IF I quit my day job!

Of course that make me ask "What do you do for your day job?".....do you know what is coming? I didn't....he says, "I am the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney!" You could have blown me over with a feather...I had no idea who he was...and it never came up in my background checks on him either.

Then I said to him.....WHY did you let me go through all this stuff and the legal presentation. He laughs and says, hey I put people in jail I am a criminal lawyer....I sell investment real estate and don't know all the legal ins and outs of real estate...you do...will you hire me?

Yup, you're hired! That is one agent I am glad is on my side! Not every broker can say they have the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney as an agent. Some may not want him that close to their operation either!

If you are a licensed agent in Michigan and wondering what to do...I can show you how to thrive not just survive! It is only a conversation but it could change your career. Drop me an email to set up an appointment for a personal and confidential interview. garywhite@FlexitRealty.com