Gary White FlexIt Realty~Real Estate & Updates, Grand Rapids & West Michigan

You may or may not have seen the latest expose' on the tire industry.  When I said you could be rolling down the road on time bombs I wasn't exaggerating.

Your new tires may actually be OLD tires.  How can that be when you just bought them?

Take the time to view the  video link to a 20/20 program.  You may have a whole new thought process on how you buy tires.

It certainly woke me up.

Let me know if you were as shocked over the security value that we place in those new tires to transport our families, clients and ourselves.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897  

What do you think now?

I have heard it all....but then again every day brings a new opportunity to learn or hear something...so never say never, as the saying goes.

One of my agents was in a car wreck this week.  She had a green light so as any of us would do see continued through the light.  The sounds of her car horn blasting to alert a driver that had not stopped for the red light didn't work!

She had her children with her, but one issue that was very important was the day before her son had corrective eye surgery.  The first thing after they stopped spinning was to jump out and check him.  He was in the backseat.  Being buckled in he was fine along with the other children.

Then comes the realization that the car is damaged to the point where it is not drivable.  The other car that ran the light has also sustained heavy damage.  The other driver said she didn't see her or the light.  I suppose that happens but it doesn't make you feel any better.  The offending driver never even hit the brakes.

Well the car was towed, the adjuster reviewed the damage and it was totaled as a complete loss.  So that low mileage car is in the bone yard and back to square one.  What to replace that vehicle with?

While working through this issue my agent and her husband are sharing a vehicle.  I even helped with some logistical issues to ease the vehicle strain of only having one vehicle.  Without wheels a Realtor is pretty much stopped in her/his tracks.

So she has some last minute paperwork off in another community and must have it back the the MLS board before 5 pm or she has to rewrite the entire contract.  She has plenty of time by a couple of hours.

She is buzzing down the expressway at 70-75 MPH and she feels a bit of a shake on her left rear tire.  Of course like any respectable Realtor she is on the phone.  She bids them a quick goodbye and hangs up.....only to have the tire explode!  She manages to get the car stopped without crashing. 

A big rig driver some distance sees the whole thing.  He stops to lend some assistance.  Which she really appreciated..still shaking from the events.  He helps her get the spare on and everything seems back to normal.  They noticed that she had run over a knife on the highway and that is what caused all this mess.

She jumps back in her car and off to the MLS and arrives with 15 minutes to spare.  She share the events of the last few days with one of the processors.  

The processor says, WOW!  It runs in threes, I wonder what is next!  My agent calls me and I say, WOW!  You are lucky....has your husband banded you from driving yet?  She calls her Dad and she tells him, her dad says, WOW! I'd stay home honey!

She calls me back and says, Geez all I wanted was a sympathetic ear for a couple moments.  I get it comes in threes, have I been grounded yet and my Dad tells me to stay off the streets!  Can't anyone say it will get better?

So in my best reassuring voice I said, it'll get better.   Did that help?  I hear a big laugh and she says...thanks that make it all better!

So have you ever had one of those weeks?  I hope not.

It seems to be happening more and more these days.  When the economy tanks so does marriages and there is more than enough blame to go around.

I have just listed a couple different properties were the spouses are tangled in an emotional battle.  They could care less if the home actually sells and for how much as long as their former spouse gets nothing!

What's wrong with this picture?  It is simple...emotions can make for a very good opportunity to start over turn ugly.  In the two cases I am representing they just can not see the value of co-operation.  So I had to take the time to meet with them independently to discuss the rules of my representation.  Yes I said rules.  I had to put it to them like a referee.

I thought of having them sit in a corner until they cleared their heads.  These are not kids but they are acting like a two year old.  The problem is...I understand.  I was divorced shortly after coming back from Vietnam.  I wasn't the same person that left when I came back.  My attitude, wants and desires had changed drastically.

In many cases these people should not have gotten married in the first place but that is not for me to judge.  The big factor is when kids are involved, they are the real losers.

So my job is to sell real estate and represent them in the process.  In most divorce cases one party is the controlling part when real estate is involved.  The divorce decrees offer clear cut direction on who is going to be the selling party.  Your listing of the property is no problem when you include and keep on file a copy of the divorce papers.

Luckily my feuding couple didn't have children (a blessing to the world) and were given equal custody of the property rights...what a dumb thing to do....so both have to sign and agree on sell price, listing time frames you know the drill.

So they are divorced but they cannot afford to live outside of the home they shared.  You guessed it..they are both living in the same house since the divorce!  This is a new one on me.  Neither wants to move because the other will change the locks and their possessions will be gone.  Right!  That never happens!

So the rules.

1. I sell the house they help.
2. We agree to a bottom line on the sell price.
3. We co-operate with showings so they can move on with their lives.
4. I communicate with them separately via email...each will get a CC: email on any communication so each knows what the other knows.
5. I will contact both on showings and each has to make their section of the home ready for showings.
6. They agree to sign all documents and meet for any offers...no matter what they are.  We can always counter offer.
7. We agree that the sale rather than foreclosure or short sale will help them with their credit so they can buy another property.
8. We agree to answer all calls the same day and within hours if possible.
9. We agree that mutual co-operation with each other to sell is in each person's best interest.
10. Any complaints are immediately brought to my attention, if anyone acts out like kids we terminate the contract and you find another Realtor.

They are in their mid 30's and both said, Gee you are acting like our parents.  I said, this is business, your are asking me to spend my time and money....If you want results you have to help.  Why should I have to spend money so you two can fight with each other and screw up your lives more than you already have at my expense!

They both looked wide eyed at me and then burst out laughing....Yup just like our parents.  I wrote these 10 little things up on a paper and had them sign and date it, giving them a copy.  So far so good.  It was worth the time to set the rules up front or I would have been wasting my time and money.

Have you ever become the referee?

Have you ever had a client call and as for another Yard Sign?

I have had this more than once over the years.  Most of the time when a yard sign is missing it has been kids acting out.  The sign usually shows up on some unsuspecting neighbor's lawn a block or two away.  I have gotten the call...."Hey, what is your for sale sign doing in my yard"?  I explain and tell them thank you for calling I will be by to get it.

Sure it is an inconvenience but usually not a big deal.

Now when you get a territorial sign predator that is a different story.  You may not know what a sign predator is...so let me explain.

A sign predator is usually a home owner that doesn't like real estate signs or it can be another Realtor® who thinks every home in the neighborhood is only for him to list.  Either way they are sneaky and will stop at nothing until they are caught!

I have put two signs on a property now...the others grew legs and walked away!  Anyway that was the only reasonable explanation since no one called saying, "Hey, why is your sign in my yard"?  That means kids didn't do it and I cannot imagine an adult doing it, can you?

Well, I received another call and this is the third sign missing on the same property.  But this time is different.  They were pretty mad and hated to even call me....but they need a sign.  My clients have a very upscale home with surveillance cameras mounted outside the home.  They decided to point one of the cameras at the sign! 

This time when they called they said you will never believe who is taking our signs.  I asked hesitantly....do I want to know?  My client says probably not. 

We had all these visions of a culprit sneaking around the property taking our signs.  They were laughing...they said they could hardly believe the tape when they played back the footage.  It was there 14 year old granddaughter!  She did not want them to move so if she kept taking the signs her grandparents would stay and not sell.

Well we talked about the turn of events.  I asked them if it made a big difference in their lives if they stayed until the granddaughter was out of high school, it seems they were very important to her to get up early....take the sign and hide it out in the field behind the grandparents home.

The grandparents invited the granddaughter over....and we told her we knew she had taken the signs.  She started crying and telling them the whole story.  She went an retrieved the signs so I have them all back.  We also removed the listing until a later date when the granddaughter can understand and feel comfortable with her grandparents moving to a smaller home.

Sometimes it isn't the sale; it is the adventure that is worth more than any commission.  I really admire these people for their choice.  They also took the time to explain that they decided to stay out of love and not because she took the signs.

So has anyone taken your signs?

What do you think your clients think your role as Real Estate Professional is...really?

They know you are employed to help them sell their home.  That is what you do.  They also expect you to be professional and know every aspect of their market where their property is located.

They also need counseling from time to time along with market updates...seems to be normal and accepted.  As we gain knowledge of our clients and their needs a transition takes place almost without notice.

Clients become more open, sometimes too open about personal issues.  This is a trust factor.  When they feel they can trust you they tell you more, but it isn't always about real estate.

Sometimes they need help convincing a spouse to change the listing price another reasonable issue.  Sometimes you hear about the kids and school or acting out issues the kids have done.

Sometimes you hear about the other spouse...a really off limits area for me.  It is not up to me to say who is right or wrong in a spousal dispute.  But occasionally it does happen where spouses have conflicts over issues and money and real estate can be a one two punch when they need to sell.

We are the professionals, sellers and buyers turn to us as the "ROCK" the stabilizing factor.  They want and need our input when they become emotional over issues that should be evaluated with a cool evaluative process. 

I have had sellers explode over low-ball offers even though we had discussed the possibility of this event happening.  I have had buyers get mad over a rejection of their low-ball offers as well.  Once you take a low key approach and explain the "why" of an event and how it could benefit the overall goal they calm down.

But the stabilizing factor is a career professional that has seen and dealt with these issues and understands the emotional strain that buying and selling can have on a person.  I now hand out a report on the selling and buying process that outlines the stressful nature of real estate, buying, selling and moving.  It rates right up there with a death in the family for stress levels.

So what do sellers and buyers really think of our role as a real estate professional?

• I think they expect and deserve our professional representation...to give them good counsel.  To help them understand the selling and buying process. 
• Keep the transaction on a business level...so they know that offers and counter offers are just business and we are a third party to help them keep a perspective so they can meet their goal of selling and buying. 
• I heard one agent say in a presentation, he was a disinterested third party.  So he could represent them without emotion.  I had to jump in quickly and correct the "disinterested" part.  That is what some agents and clients think, but quite the contrary is true.  We are very interested and have a "Fiduciary Responsibility" to help our clients and act in their best interests.
• Clients want and expect an honest response and honest representation.
• Above all they want results...that is what we get paid for...results.

That does not mean we have to be emotional or ignore opportunities for our clients.  It does not mean we think less of our clients or don't feel the anxiety they are going through.  It simply means we understand our role and strive to meet their needs with a calm professional attitude.

What do you think clients think your role is?

The end of summer in Michigan means school is getting ready to start and is only weeks away.  This always produces a panic for those that have been trying to sell and for those that are trying to buy.

Schools of choice become a factor.  The gas prices have created another requirement for driving distance to work and commutes to the grocery store...so location of the new home has also become a more important factor.

The size of the yard, the toy storage has been an issue too...but some folks are looking at selling some of those gas guzzling toys.

So there seems to be a bit of a lull in the yard storage issue.

The end of summer means those maintenance issues that have been put off have to be addressed before the cold weather is back....what a thought that is..where did I hide the snow shovel?

Caulk around the windows, door weather stripping, sealing the deck, checking shingles and the list goes on.

Fall issues are being planned right now....trimming up the shrubs for winter cutting back some of the trees from the roof...all have to be done.  Who wants to think about that stuff...well it isn't all that far off and we will all think about these issues.  After all we live in Michigan wonderland.

Now is the time to think about the other projects too like adding insulation to lower your heat bill.  This winter everyone will have a higher heat bills according to the estimates on supply and demand.

What are you thinking about for your summers end?