Rachael Hite-Twigg

How to find A"Good" REALTOR??

There has been a great MEMBERS ONLYdebate on the rain today, but I though I would tone it down an bit and expose the public to the question at hand. As REALTORS we can be subject to law suits and local association board disciplinary action if we are found to be soliciting advice or opinions outside of our scope of training. Often legal matters do arise in real estate transactions and whether consciously or not we can and do offer opinions on these subjects to our clients. The debate is whether it is good customer service or a risk of a law suit to do so. We need to protect our clients, but at the same time is our opinion worth our license if things go wrong in the transaction? Disclosure protects everyone involved, and at the end of the day its important to remember that our licensing does have its boundaries! Professional legal and tax advice is not free, and if things go wrong you will definitely get what you pay for.

There is a clause in the contracts that REALTORS use in Northern VA that states (paraphrasing ) REALTORS are not attorneys, tax advisers, home inspectors, mold or air quality experts, etc. . . . . and at this point I stress to my clients that I can recommend great vendors that can obtain the professional opinions that they need,but they will not hear it from me. Basically as REALTORS we are supposed to give our clients the information that they need (or provide them with resources so that they can find it) to help them make educated decisions about purchasing or selling their home.

Real estate transactions should be black and white, and opinions can create a gray area. Black and white means providing sales statistics, disclosures and contracts, and safe access to properties on the market. REALTORS can offer guidance but I really do not think our opinions have a place in a transaction. If my client needs an opinion or an interpretation I would consult my managing BROKER first and then direct them to an attorney.

My Take on the Debate: If you have the "experience" behind your opinions and are worried that your client may be making a bad decision, by all means point it out and point them in the direction of an expert in that field to give them the best advice possible.

Daily I subscribe to several financial and industry related blogs. My current favorite is a video blog www.thinkbigworksmall.com, where two mortgage brokers ( and video marketing entruprenuers) sarcastically discuss and debate current events and politics affecting our business. Their topic today compared the National Association of Mortgage Brokers to the National Association of REALTORS. The major difference? Our association though costly because of the requirement to join state and local associations to join is effective. To be honest, we are basically forced to join all of the associations anyways to have access to the MLS and access to show properties. If you want to play the game, then you have to pay your dues and follow the code of ethics. Our membership carries power because of the size and leadership we have in place. The "Pin" is expensive, but especially in this market where our voice needs to be heard, I think our fees are going to good use.

The video's jest implied that the major difference was the fact that we had a designation and lapel pin. Now we all know that its just not about the pin that separates out our association . . . but they do bring up a valuable point. Shouldn't our lending industry have just as a powerful voice as we have? Wouldn't that help work out the credit crisis? Working at a local level its my job to make sure that make sure that I represent my association well to help counter the "REALTOR" stigma. Should the NAMB create ways to force serious career lenders into falling into rank?

Congress and the senate are passing legislation to correct curve the default but wouldn't it be more effective if the lenders and loan officers who have to work with the lending products had a say in the legislation? To turn this market around we need to find fresh ideas and energy to revive our industry. The practices of 20 years ago will not work for our consumers of today. We need solutions not the same thinking that put us in this position in the first place.

Are REALTORS like vampires?

Why is it that when we (REALTORS) introduce ourselves in the general public we often get two reactions. People either recoil and ask why, or they become enamored and want us to unlock the secrets of the down market. With the popularity of shows like True Blood on HBO, you have to wonder if the conditions of the market may have turned us into a separate "class" of professionals. We live in the ranks of used car dealers, insurance agents, and auto mechanics. We all offer services that the public needs, but in general society does not trust our efforts until we prove them right or wrong. The premise of the show is that vampires have now come out of hiding to main stream with normal society. True Blood examines racial and religious issues and brings many different point of views to life.

We have all encountered other REALTORS who do not give two shakes about what they tell their clients, and they will stop at nothing to complete a sale. I know that times are tough, but some of the behavior and attitudes that our peers are displaying are not helping our public image. I'm curious to really find out what potential customers would like to see in their REALTOR.

One of my current pet peeves? REALTORS that insist on wearing suits and heels when showing distressed properties. I'm all for looking professional, but you have to be practical as well. Many vacant homes are in disrepair, are without electricity and have potential water and mold damage. This does not make for a safe environment for slick shoes. I was showing properties a few weeks ago, and one REALTOR was exiting with clients as I was entering. She was an older woman and she had on a very nice free flowing skirt and heels. Her clients had to assist her out of the doorway as she pulled her skirt back from brushing up against the filthy floor.

I think the most important thing we can this moment is to make ourselves more available to our clients. I'm not talking about picking up the phone at all hours of the night, but what about making ourselves more "human" to our clients. We need to give our clients facts that they can use, not confusing statistics. Our clients are savvier than ever with finding the information they are looking for online, and we need to make sure that we respect that knowledge. I think we need to take a more genuine approach to dealing with our clients to show them we are sincere in our approach not just to sell real estate, but to help them make possibly the largest purchase of their lifetime.

1163 Fairfax Street, Stephens City VA 22655

4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, Great short sale opportunity!!!

Is it fair to "try"a Short Sale for the first time?

When you take on any Short Sale, save yourself the trouble in advance and make sure that your potential clients know that by attempting this process they are heading down the road of foreclosure. Short Sales are complicated and depending on how far behind your client is with their mortgage, your time may be limited. Our team has carved out a "niche" of working and successfully negotiating several local short sales in the Frederick County VA, Winchester City VA, and Berkeley County WV areas. We have noticed a trend of agents "taking on" Short Sales who have never completed one before, and I'm concerned that agents are trying to get business by rolling the dice with the transaction.

If a client hires a REALTOR to Short Sale their home and the agent does not have any experience, is it fair to the client to"learn new skills" with their potential risk for foreclosure. I have come across some agents who are attempting Short Sale the clients home and they have been ill prepared for the long process and the work that is involved. Perhaps this is also why many agents have a sour taste in their mouth with the Short Sale transaction as well. Why encourage your buyer's to write and wait on something that is in essence a"experiment"? If you are interested in Short Sale transactions I suggest teaming up with an agent that has a prooven track record, you will be doing yourself and your future clients a BIG favor! For more information on Short Sales and Short Sale negotiations, Please visit www.equitynegotiations.com .