Tisza Major-Posner

Hi All,

Don'cha hate this, you get a call from a client wanting to see a home (well I don't hate that part :-). Naturally, the home they most want to see is the one that is listed as "appointment only, no key safe", so I dutifully called the listing agent at all 4 given numbers (by the way, as of now, 10:08 PM, the following day, I have yet to receive a call back) and left messages asking to view the home.

The property is a Short Sale and has been on the market for 230 days... so far. Well, no wonder, no key safe, appointment only, no sign, no response... So I started ranting to my poor hubby (who is usually the patient audience for my Oscar worthy performances), What the heck is wrong with this agent? Do they really want to sell this house or do they just want to list it? And then it hit me - that was exactly what they wanted to do, and they were not alone, there are dozens if not hundreds of agents like them... "Listing" Agents.

Please don't misunderstand, I am not talking about the responsible, highly skilled agents who choose to specialize in working with the owners of the property and who do everything in their power to service their clients and sell the home. I am talking about "Listing" Agents - folks who will take any and every listing they can get their grubby little paws on no matter what they have to do, offer or agree to in order to get them.

They will take a Short Sale without investigating whether or not its a doable deal. And then despite the time critical nature of this transaction, they will agree to not use a keysafe and show the home by appointment only (but are unavailable when anyone tries to make an appointment). They will put the listing on the MLS with no photo (sometimes for months despite possible penalties) or with a picture of the exterior only, taken from the next county. They have never heard of flyers. They will advertise the home as "drive by only". And, of course, they don't have a cell phone and even if they do, they never, and I mean NEVER answer their calls.

Of course they don't discriminate, they give all their clients the same level of "service".

All they are interested in is getting the listing - not selling the home, or helping the people, just getting the listing. And get them they do. But sell them they don't. A search of the MLS will show that quite plainly. Fortunately, I don't count myself among them. I consider myself a Selling Agent.

Sure, I am as excited as the next girl when I am given the opportunity to help someone sell their home. And I am equally excited when I am given the opportunity to help someone buy one. But I think the key motivation for me is being given the chance to help someone. Its not the "deal" that drives me, its the people.

And so, much like Glinda asked Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I shall paraphrase and ask you - "Are you "listing" Agent or a Selling Agent?

Take care all, help lots of people and have a wonderful day!

Tisza

Hi All,

Recently I was in San Francisco (along with around 1000 or so of my friends) for the wonderful Active Rain party, the awesome Zillow Beer With Bloggers, the killer Trulia open house, oh, and a crazy little thing called Inman Connect.

So, after spending time filling my brain with technology tidbits I took a little cruise down to Pier 39, the famous Fisherman's Wharf to inhale the sea air, crack a crab and gaze in fixated fascination at Alcatraz, when I came upon some Sea Lions who appeared to be there to do the self same thing (imagine that !).

After watching these little and not so little guys and gals basking in the sun I realized that right there, before my very eyes was a vivid demonstration of the Real Estate Market.

As I stood there staring, I wished I could share my findings with everyone and then I realized - holy smoke... I can!

As the proud possessor of a brand new Flip Video Camera which I had won just the night before from the wonderful folks at Zipvo and by using the awesome GPS system I won from my friends at Street Advisor (I know, I am the luckiest girl in the whole wide world and winning things is only part of it, I also happen to have the most wonderful hubby ever, two of the greatest Stepsons around, the most beautiful daughter-in-law anyone could have asked for and a granddaughter who would knock your socks off... but I digress) to get me there I was ready to document this "happening". I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Take care all, help lots of people and have a wonderful day!

Tisza

More details available at ZIPVO.com.

Hi All,

Don'tcha just love the English language and all the colorful ways folks use it? Boy, I sure do, and I am especially enamored of the way that some folks truly believe that by merely speaking the words they can "wish" things into being. I always knew "Abracadabra" was a magic word that could make things happen merely by uttering it, but I had no idea that "Approval" was similarly endowed. I know that where Short Sales are concerned, this is a powerful word and one everyone involved in the transaction longs to hear. Once "Approval" is uttered a whole lot of things should start happening unless...

They don't mean "Approval" as in "We have, in writing, authorization from the lender and the owner of the property to proceed with the Short Sale at the amount offered for purchase."

They mean "Approval" as in "We got someone on the phone once at the bank and they said that the bank has been known to do Short Sales, but didn't actually commit to anything, still we are pretty sure that they will, so we are going to advertise that they did, and then hope that they do."

I just ran into this situation and was sardonically amused to find that the second scenario was what was occurring. Silly me, I really thought that these folks understood what "Approval" meant, especially because they advertised their listing as having "Full Approval - No Need To Wait For The Bank". (And when I spoke with them, they reiterated this.) No need indeed!

Turns out that all this agent had was a "Verbal Approval" to proceed but there was nothing on paper, save what they had written in the MLS, that in any way was going to make this so. The funny thing is that these folks bill themselves as "Short Sale Experts".

I should have been tipped off that something was amiss when I received a form letter response to an offer touting their success and experience in handling these transactions accompanied by a xerox of a xerox of an unsigned and undated counter asking for things we had already provided.

That was it, two lonely little pages... and nothing else. No initialed RPA, no nothing. (Actually, I was tipped off and I shared my reservations with my client.) I am left to surmise that their "Short Sale Expert" status was worth as much as the "Verbal Approval" they have to proceed. As for the response we received to our offer, I must say that I was further amused, when I queried about the unsigned paperwork and lack of response from the seller, to be told that they "Always just send the offer straight to the bank and only have their client sign it if the bank accepts." Well, just because you "always" do it, doesn't make it right.

And what happens if the bank says "yes" but the owner says "no"? You can't cut the owner out of the deal, after all it is still their property and they have the right to do, or not do, as the case may be, with it what they will.

Folks, just because you say it don't make it so. And no amount of magical thinking will ever replace a nice, solid payoff statement written on good old paper. And if you don't have a solid understanding of what constitutes a binding offer (and an unsigned counter sure ain't it) or how a transaction of any type works, perhaps some time spent reviewing basic Real Estate Principles might be in order.

When it comes right down to it, I have decided that some folks really want to live in a Fool's Paradise. As for me and my client's, we prefer a real home in the real world. So, our search for the perfect home continues*.

Take care all, help lots of people and have a wonderful day!

Tisza

Be sure to check out my blog:

http://Route66Living.com/

*My client is preapproved FHA and AmeriDream and we are looking for something under $310,000, built in 2000 or later, 3+ beds, SFR, Townhouse, Condo or PUD with a pool. He's open to anything that is within easy commute distance to a Metrolink Station from Los Angeles to Riverside. If you have anything that fits, please get in touch.

Hi All,

Every buyer in Rancho, the tall and the small just wanted to get the best house deal of all. The market was hot, there was no end in sight, so they borrowed the money (who cares if its right). They spent every penny with nary a thought, but when the bottom dropped out a lot were just caught.

Their ARM's were adjusting (but their legs stayed the same) and it wouldn't be long 'til they were out of the game.

The bills just kept coming, soon they got well behind, then the sheriff came looking the owner to find. Foreclosure was looming and these folks were pissed, so what's the big deal if some payments were missed?

Those banks were just evil, for stealing these homes. All these poor folks were forced into all of these loans. So here's what they'd do, to get back at those poops, they'd take every thing right down to the stoops.

They'd strip out the fixtures, punch holes in the walls, break windows and take the cabinets et al. They'd leave not a stick, not a switch or a light, these folks weren't going down without a fight. Who cares if its not the poor house's fault or if what they've done was like an assault.

And what of the agent's when the time comes to sell, these poor crippled homes what stories they tell. Not a word will they say of the homes poor condition, no pictures, no phrases to arouse suspicion? Just listings so barren they're practically blank, and once again they will all lay the blame on the bank.

Its their fault they say I just do as I'm told, (but I've got to tell you that story gets old). What about truth, and not gilding the lily. These partly filled pages are nothing but silly. They waste lots of time, and make people mad, and I for one think that is just sad.

If a house has been damaged and things have gone missin' don't lie by not sharing its present condition. Yes I know it sucks to have bad things to share, but all I am asking is for folks to play fair. Please don't waste my time or my gas or good will, by making me have to go visit this swill.

Pictures are worth more than words so they say. So here for your viewing is what I found today.

I think it might be time to stop all my bitchin', and show you all "How The Grinch Stole The Kitchen..."

Take care all, help lots of people and have a wonderful day!

Tisza

Hi All, I will be hosting an Open House on Sunday, 3/9/08 from 1 to 4 PM for my listing at 1065 Whittler's Lane, Ontario, CA (Mountain Avenue & Philadelphia cross streets). There will be refreshments (I am making wonderful double chocolate brownies). Come on by take a look and say hi. This home is listed at $240,000 and is a Short Sale. I hope to see you there and be sure to tell me you saw the listing on ActiveRain. Oh, and be sure to check out my blogsite http://Route66Living.com To view a visual tour click the link Take care, help lots of people and have a wonderful day! Tisza