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Martin Kalisker, WEICHERT, REALTORS®- Synergy: Metrowest's Preferred Realtor

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The spell check button is there for a reason!

09-11-08
Martin Kalisker, WEICHERT, REALTORS®- Synergy: Metrowest's Preferred Realtor

This is an open letter to the Active Rain Community:

Dear Active Rainers,

I enjoy being part of the Active Rain Community and hope that I promote the standards of excellence that our Community represents. Although I am not an "active" blogger, I do try to catch up every once in a while to read the blogs that a) have catchy titles or b) seem applicable to my current business situation.

So many of your blogs are an inspiration! But I have to say, the best blog can be ruined by a simple mistake - a spelling error! I realize that many times our minds are racing faster than we can type, but for gosh sakes, use the spell check buttonbefore you hit the send key !

I have worked in both the corporate and private company worlds, and nothing conveys professionalism better than correct spelling and grammar. I don't profess to be the best speller and people say I talk funny (being a native Seattlite in Bean Town), because I phrase things differently, but in written communications I always take the time to review my e-mails, letters, blogs, etc. to "catch" things that I might have missed.

To those that spell and grammar check their blogs, Congratulations. To those that don't, there are too many other well-written blogs that I'd rather spend my time reading. But I do take note, careless writing may be an indication of being a careless realtor. As a broker/owner and REALTOR® that scares me!

8 Comments
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Yet another blogging site?

09-10-08
Martin Kalisker, WEICHERT, REALTORS®- Synergy: Metrowest's Preferred Realtor

Does anyone have experience with CityBlogUSA.com? I have two sponsorships and am just not seeing the payoff. No one is posting, no one is reading. And I'm talking about the city of Boston page http://boston.massachusettsblogpage.com/, not exactly a small town.

If you have any suggestions to make this site work better, please let me know!

Thanks

Martin

6 Comments
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Dear "Independent" Contractor:

09-09-08
Martin Kalisker, WEICHERT, REALTORS®- Synergy: Metrowest's Preferred Realtor

Note: This is a follow up to the many responses that I have received from my recent posting "Oh Where are My Agents Today".

To the "Independent" Contractors out there:

I've got a question for you. If you are doing so well by yourselves and don't feel the need to benefit from systems that a broker has in place - a) why do you put up with paying a royalty and marketing fee from your commission check? and b) why do you even need a broker?... just go out on your own and you won't have to share a penny with your broker.

I'm not the right person to be lectured about independent contractor rules - I'm a licensed CPA. As a business owner, I am also entitled to tell you how my business is going to be run and what you need to do to remain associated with my company. This isn't about being agent-centric. That is passé. This is about being in a customer focused business.

How many of you pay part of your broker's E&O insurance each month? Did you know that many E&O carriers ask if the business owner holds periodic meetings of agents? Why is that? Could it be that SOME sales meetings are actually structured as informational exchanges of content - training, new developments in real estate practice, discussion of fair housing laws, discussion of new lending programs for your clients??? Could it be that insurance carriers feel that well structured office meetings actually reduce the risk of a claim?

For those of you that don't feel the need to come into the office, I challenge you to do so. Are you afraid that you are going to see younger, smarter and more energetic agents that can run circles around you? Are you "afraid" of trying new and improved methods of marketing real estate? Maybe. Are you aware that there is a trend in every management training course to set the expectation that even top producers who don't wave the company flag should be dismissed by brokers? Wake up, please, and smell the coffee. This is a business, this is reality. One rogue agent can be the downfall of a brokerage. As a new owner/operator who has invested his life savings and more sweat equity than imagined, why would I want this?

Again, if you don't like the systems, why stay? It sounds like (and you act like) you don't need the broker or the affiliation. Just beware, the days of the independent broker are quickly going by the wayside. We may cross paths again when I acquire your business and you get a huge buyout of $0 plus your liabilities and only a payout on your future earnings.

So I wish you well. It's been so long since I saw your face and wrote you a commission check, I'm sorry that I can't even remember your name.

12 Comments