A person calls me and the first question is how much do I charge in commission? This is a pretty basic question however it can be answered in so many different ways. I know the general area in which they may be selling but I don't know if they are selling vacant land or residential property.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
My competition for listings in this area only puts for sale signs out and calls that marketing. I do a comprehensive package with all my listings and feel that I give the most bang for the buck when it comes to marketing.
As a response to this question I relate all that I do for my commission. Several of my competitors only give the cost of a listing side of the commission. Now if the caller only wants to know what you charge on your side of the transaction this is the right answer. There are few clients who will understand the commission split way of doing business and are usually taken in when they compare a 3 1/2% commission and a 6 percent commission. This is hard to explain over the phone however the client has already told you the commission means more than what they receive for their money.
My preference is to break down all the costs and send them a copy of their net proceeds rather than giving a set commission over the phone. In this way I can explain the commission process and also what they get when they work with me. I'm not afraid putting what I will do in writing because it is the way I treat all my clients and listings. You'll find No hidden charges or surprises when you work with me.
So the question really is, are you shopping for service or cost of commission? Most of the time there can be a huge difference...
This post was authored by Paul Henderson. ©2011, All Rights Reserved, This content may not be reproduced or reprinted (Except for ActiveRain Re-blogging) without express written permission of Paul Henderson, RE/MAX Professionals, Tacoma, WA.
We are blessed and cursed in the real estate industry. We get to see the best and the worst of what our economy has to offer. This morning I fear I got to witness the worst.
It is 10:00 in the morning and I'm scheduled to show a house to a investor. I show up 10 minutes early for the appointment and wait for my investor. The listing says there is no for sale sign or KeyBox and so I've made my appointment through a third party. This always gives me an uneasy feeling so I take many precautions beforehand
My clients show up and immediately are nervous because of the sad state of the outside. I go to the front door and ring the doorbell, no one answers. After about a third knock someone peeks out the front window and opens the door. A naked person answers the front door dressed in only a blanket and I introduced myself.
The woman at the front door did not try to cover herself or hide behind the door. I told her that I was here or the 10:00 showing and she told me she was expecting me.
As she opened the door I counted five sleeping bodies in the living room alone. The two bedrooms each had another three bodies covered by blankets that barely cover themselves. This was probably one of the fastest showings of my real estate career. We were in and out of the house in a mere three minutes tops. We then went into a unlocked garage which had the couch with two more children sleeping on it.
My clients made a beeline for their car and drove away promising a call me back a couple hours later. I looked at my paperwork as I sat in my car, checking to see who the occupants of the house were. I thought they may have been horrible renters but it turned out that the house was owner occupied. In all there were fifteen occupants in this two bedroom home. The house was purchased in 2007 for $215,000. The listing price for this house was now $50,000 and in a short sale position.
Why has the American dream of home ownership come to this. My parents lived through the great depression and told me of times like these. But I'd never thought I would see such deplorable conditions in my lifetime.
Working with depressed properties, you would think I would get used to scenes like these but for some strange reason, each time I encounter these conditions, I feel horrible. It's not a sick feeling or a feeling of superiority, it is a feeling of despair.
Is it just me?
This post was authored by Paul Henderson. ©2011, All Rights Reserved, This content may not be reproduced or reprinted (Except for ActiveRain Re-blogging) without express written permission of Paul Henderson, RE/MAX Professionals, Tacoma, WA.
OK, it’s my entire fault.
Who would have thought that my wife and I, buying an air conditioner would result in the coolest summer in Western Washington in 10 Years. As of this date, August 16, the thermometer has only broke 80° twice. So as you can see, this $360 air conditioner, that we haven’t used, is directly responsible for this cool summer. (Global Washington State cooling?)
While the rest the nation is recording record heat waves, we are receiving beautiful 70°days all the time. Most of the time in August you cannot find an air conditioner in any store but this year, we still have rows and rows of unsold inventory. My advice to Costco and Target are to start shipping those air conditioning units elsewhere. That’s the only way to guarantee an Indian Summer here in the Pacific Northwest.
I advise most of you next year to buy air conditioning units in May, to ensure cooler temperatures throughout the summer.
This post was authored and picture was taken by Paul Henderson. ©2011, All Rights Reserved, This content may not be reproduced or reprinted (Except for ActiveRain Re-blogging) without express written permission of Paul Henderson, RE/MAX Professionals, Tacoma, WA.
Happiness is not in our circumstances but in ourselves. It is not something we see, like a rainbow, or feel, like the heat of a fire. Happiness is something we are…
A quote of John D. Sheerin
When I first read this quote I had to read it several times to absorb all the meaning it portrayed. It sounds old fashion to say you can't buy happiness but as I get older I understand that happiness starts from the inside as do riches...
This post was authored and picture was taken by Paul Henderson. ©2011, All Rights Reserved, This content may not be reproduced or reprinted (Except for ActiveRain Re-blogging) without express written permission of Paul Henderson, RE/MAX Professionals, Tacoma, WA.
Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better… A quote of Albert Camus Happy 4th the July from the great state of Washington. At the end of the day I hope you still remember what the fourth of July stands for… This post was authored and picture was taken by Paul Henderson. ©2011, All Rights Reserved, This content may not be reproduced or reprinted (Except for ActiveRain Re-blogging) without express written permission of Paul Henderson, RE/MAX Professionals, Tacoma, WA.
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