Mary Wilcox

I can't stand it when Uncle Sammie thinks he needs to be in my business. I worked for the government for 4 years and had to leave because the culture was not one I could adjust within.

There were many more, but a couple of stand-outs in the government work culture that so incredibly had me in a tizzy...

1. If you cannot make the deadline, then just set a new one. (Oh so totally common in the (USDA) that I worked for.) It doesn't matter whom it will affect, how many other departments or Agencies...just set a new one.

2. Let's have a meeting to discuss it. Well maybe, 1 or 2 or let's give'em 3... NOPE, we have to have meetings once per week for 2 years with coffee and donuts and if it's anywhere near lunch let's have that too. I know we discussed this part in the last 3 meetings but let's discuss it again, anyway. Hell, we can just have another meeting to discuss today's original agenda. GAG!

GOVT. red tape stinks! (irresponsible red tape stinks even more)

Will it be the same huge mess of red tape to ask Sam to step in and set some rules for the banks to follow so they are required to follow some type of protocol that will alieviate some of the time they are wasting in processing these offers on shorts and foreclosures?

I have a genuine concern and empathy for the state of their business. I understand they need to be cautious with their numbers so as not to do more damage to their solvency, in some cases. But, as they are trying to save their souls, they are lacking.

*I* alone, could have relieved them of 29 of their foreclosures this year. Almost all were totally good offers. But, no, they cannot answer me. Why? (Don't get me started...)

There has to be an understanding of real estate and the market. The deterioration of our neighborhoods and how it affects the entire nation. If they don't get their thinking straightened out, it will be to all of our demise... and then where will we be?

Please feel free to follow the link, listen and sign if you like.

THANKS!!!!

http://www.hvccpetition.com/

Consider this...I have a ton of kids, the youngest is 4 years old, 5 , 14, 17, 20 and well the rest are older. I love kids of all ages. Kids are not the issue. The Realtor taking their kids to work is the issue at hand.

Would I consider taking my children to work? NO! Not to the office if there were going to be others there working and definitely not when showing homes to Clients.

Why? Simply put, it is not professional. I want to be presenting myself as professional in my work. Which means when I'm getting out of the car to show a home, I do not have to stop by the backseat and unlatch a child from their carseat and walk to the door with my clients while telling little Tommy the rules over and over.

Where is little Tommy standing when I'm unlocking the door? Am I paying attention to him or my client? Should I ask my Client to keep an eye on him while gaining entrance? What am I saying to my Client?

Yes, this is a beauty. Tommy sit down. Do not hang on the railing. Yes Mrs. Buyer, I previewed...Tommy are you sitting? This is a great home.

Ok, we're inside. Tommy's being a nice boy... a regular 4yo. Are you watching him or are you conversing with Mrs. Buyer? Are you giving them your full attention, scanning your MLS sheet to answer questions being posed, or are you able to look for those cracks in the basementor flaws of any kind, or are you just concentrating on making sure little Tommy is quiet and doesn't touch anything?

I would agree that if your child was 15, 16, 17+ and a Client could perceive your child is in-training to follow your footsteps for their career that it might be okay with prior permission from the Client. But, other than that, it is not okay to bring children to work.

What does Mr. & Mrs. Buyer feel like when they leave the appointment? You most likely, at several points throughout the tour were unavailable at the moment they had questions. They may or may not have asked because by the time you returned from retrieving Tommy from another room, they had moved on and didn't remember to ask, or they thought they might be putting you out by having to take your attention from your child, get your sheet where you could read it, etc. Did you really look the home over for them and provide the level of service you normally provide without child in tow?

Bottom line, if you have a child with you, they have to know by sheer circumstance that they are not going to be priority. Is that fair to them? Even if you ask them beforehand? They're kind of in a spot...

Well if I say no, then she'll be mad or...

And last, but certainly, not least? How did little Tommy feel having to be jerked around and forced(?) to be on his best behavior for the hour or two while on tour?

Hopefully, you'll take this into consideration. It is so incredibly not ok to take your kids to work. Not if you have any intentions of presenting yourself in a professional manner. The two do not mix.

Although, I've only dealt with Kansas City Metro area banks, I'm going to assume this is a far-reaching problem across the board. (due to some of these banks being nationwide)

I have to ask. What are these banks thinking? Or is it that they are not. Thinking, that is.

My team is involved with many short sales and foreclosures. The common, almost exclusive scenario:

Submit an offer.

Listing Agent verifies receipt.

Wait a week. wait another week... wait a month...wait another month.

Regular inquiries to the Listing Agent brings the same response. "Sorry, I haven't heard anything". "Sorry, I was on hold for an hour and no news, nothing to report".

WHAT? Are you kidding me? How hard can it be? They don't make a roll of red tape that long!

Here are some suggestions for you (the banks):

1. ANSWER YOUR PHONE!

2. Set a deadline for each home as you acquire them. (and stick to it)

3. It should take 2 hours to calculate your profit/loss (That's if you're really busy)

4. 2 weeks or less to contain all the liens/2nds,etc. (if you need a grunt to make some calls fine, but get it done)

5. 1 meeting per week to vote(?) on which offer to accept. (it's pretty disappointing to think a position of your stature cannot make this decision but I'll give you this one due to policy.)

6. 2 days to respond with all the necessary docs to complete the transaction.

7. 1 day to receive them back from listing agent.

VOILA! Generously, your deadline for selling this property should be 6 weeks.

So, figure it out guys. The name of the game is "SELL THIS HOUSE". (not SIT ON THIS HOUSE!) And sitting on them for months and months is only adding to your losses. Do the MATH!

After all, you're a banker. Numbers are what you're good at, right?

Oh, wait a minute. You're understaffed, overbooked, overwhelmed... undereducated. Yep, I've heard that. So many times and for so long it's nearing laughable. (except it's so sad) So, do you think it is ok to leave your business in this disarray? Management, have you heard of the old school way of managing productivity, like responding to your staffing needs?

No, you do not need to hire and train a bazillion loan officers or loss mitigators...just a few clerical types that can do some of the grunt work and prepare files. (if you cannot find the money to fund such a move, check out the bonus plans somewhere in the executive level management area. I suspect you'll be amazed at the loose change.)

2 years ago, you could use some of this for an excuse, but not any longer. You've had ample time to forecast & execute. You can't use the excuse of finance and your numbers as a reason to move slow on this. It's because you're moving so slow that your profits and value is diminishing.

Ok, I'm afraid to review this for fear of deletion. :-) Cynical? Bold? Rude? I think not.

Disheartened is a close as it gets. 27 hanging shorts and foreclosures so far in 2009 is enough. The level of service from the 11 banks involved in mine is totally unacceptable. The saddest part is that it's mainly hurting them. The banks. Yet no one at these establishments cares enough to do anything about it. And if they do care, then, why have they not stepped up and addressed the problem to a reasonably satisfactory level? I'm not asking for perfect... just something that borders reasonable.

Come on guys... GET Movin'!