Pam Aubry\’s Blog

Commission: Your agent does not get the full commission. That commission is shared between the 2 companies involved with the sale. Sometimes it is divided by 4 to include 2 brokers and 2 agents.

RE/MAX: each office is independently owned. If there are two RE/MAX offices in your community, one has nothing to do with the other.

Agents attend closings to get their checks: First of all, if that were true, why is that a problem? Secondly we really attend the closing to be there for our client in case something were to come up that needed clarification. The realtor is also requested to sign a verification of commission at some title companies. Your agent is there for YOU.

Realtors work 24/7: we are available 24/7 but we rarely work those kinds of hours. Because we work at our own pace we can take off a couple of hours here, a couple of hours there. We probably all work more than a 40 hour week, especially if we really like what we do, like me. But I do take care of myself with time off.

Good agents are rich: We sometimes have very large commissions….but we sometimes have very low commissions. In most cases the agents pay for signs, lock boxes, ads, internet access, dues and fees to the brokers, office rental and so much more. The net commission reported to Uncle Sam at the end of the year would surprise most people.

Realtors only look out for themselves: Not true. How well we do in the long run is directly related to the service we perform. We have a fiduciary responsibility to our clients and are held to a standard. A large part of our business is done via referrals.Clients that feel their agent acted responsibly in protecting their interests are happy to give their friends that agents name. If you see that an agent is successful, he/she is looking out only for his/her clients.

There are other myths out there but these are the more common ones. Can I debunk your myths about realtors?

My head is spinning. I have spent a good portion of this day on Google and the free tools they provide. It’s an amazing array of  freebies that includes among other things, ways to track your web site, what key words to use and where to find good examples of those words, analytics, web master tools, tags, links and more. Just when I think I am beginning to get web savvy a webinar like this comes along and makes me realize how very  unsavvy I really  am!! I thought I had finally gotten a handle on keywords. I did a lot of research looking for the magic words that would bring me to the top of the search engine. Guess what, no magic words! But google with their   “keyword spy” can show you the next best thing…how to find your #1 competitors key words. Then go ahead and put them on your site! Seems unfair, especially when you consider that someone out there may consider you their #1 competition…and use the same words to attract hits. I wonder though…what if the ultimate happens…everyone using the same keywords….It would certainly level the playing field wouldn’t it?! It’s terribly confusing for me and I hope I am not alone. I have a web site from Realtor.com which I love. It’s one of those template sites that I can get into and personalize all I want. It gives me the opportunity to add the key words I want to use…to each and every page. After the webinar this afternoon I changed many of those words to the highest ranking words on google. Earlier, when I searched for my site on google I was #10. They say you have to be on that first page…in the top ten. I got lucky. Now that I’ve changed   the key words per google lets see where I go. I’ll let you know…stay tuned!

At my last open house a visitor came through and after viewing the home told me that this home would never work for him and he proceeded to tell me why. I asked if he was working with an agent with hopes that I could find him one he did like. He said he was and gave me a name.
Shortly after the open house my seller called me to tell me that someone who had been through that open house had contacted her and told her that he wanted to make an offer but was willing to wait until the listing expired so my seller would not have to pay my commission and could sell it for less…to him.
This person is a thief! He devaluated me as a realtor and per his suggestions thought it was ok for me to work for free for the last 6 months. It was ok that I had spent hard earned money on ads and marketing for this home and that my time was worth nothing. What kind of a person does this?
Thankfully my seller was loyal and repeated this story to me adding she would never do what he was suggesting. This was of course, the response that all realtors hope for…and usually get. But every once in a while….I don’t get angry often but this individual…well, he’s the type you hope to meet in a dark alley some night! What do you think?

I am currently working with a buyer who, because of finances needs a foreclosure/short sale in order to purchase. We started our search at the beginning of December 2010 looking for a property under $100,000 that might sell in the $80,000′s. We concentrated in the available prices in the $90,000′s. All the information out there about this being a bad market…a buyers market…is, in my clients case just not true. We have made three offers on three different properties and have been out bid on all three! One property had three offers the others only two. We are looking in a large area and each home has been in a different city. The property with three offers sold for above asking. What does this add up to?

You know, it’s not so easy for some of us to embrace all this new technology! It’s so much to comprehend and utilize. Think about it…every time a new program or a new tool or a new application, etc., comes along…how long does it take you to figure it out? And once you’ve figured it out…are you sure you are using all the features of this product? I still look at the menu on my cell phone in disbelief.”What does this do?” ” wow, it does that too?” “why and how would I use this?” Do you do this too or is it just me? Sometimes, when I find something new it takes the whole day to get it to work. Even then I haven’t got things exactly right. For instance, yesterday I opened a  Google business account. Information and profile on myself, well, that’s a no brainer, even for me. There are all sorts of tools to put to use to make your world a better place to be. They have maps…and personal maps, analytics ( which you can link to your other web sites…how do I do that?) and gadgets! I apparently have 15 gadgets already in use. What are they and, of course how do I use them…or how do others use them? Do others even have access to them? I also have 17 subscriptions. I don’t remember subscribing to anything but there they are! And all  are subjects that interest me…it’s as if  Google went right to my brain through my finger tips.  I have the ability to manage these subscriptions  and manage sharing them…thank goodness…I think. There’s also a photo application. In experimenting with that I uploaded every photo on my entire computer ( I am in real estate after all and  my c drive  is full of photos! Oh look, there’s the first house I ever listed 30+ years back.) I did this with one click. Now what? Finally, the last application referred to my “history.” Curious, of course, I opened it and…are you kidding?!! Every time I have used  Google to search for something it was listed there! I’m talking about ever!! I just opened this account and my history goes back to my first computer… I don’t know how many years back. Talk about big brother!   Anyway, I see many days ahead with Google! My frustration today, after opening this account yesterday, caused a meltdown that needed to be aired…and here it is! Thanks for being there for me… and, what’s next?

It’s been very dreary. From my last post in 2009 until today, there has been nothing positive to blog about. It’s been very difficult for every one of us. We have all been affected by our current economy, we have all lost something of value and we have all wondered when and  if  things will change. All predictions for this year seem to say the same thing. We are not out of this mess, and there are more foreclosures coming. However, the real estate market will improve…if ever so slowly…it will improve. Values will start to climb, as will interest rates. We will all feel a whole lot better if only in  knowing the worst is behind us. As our faces brighten with the sun of tomorrow we can encourage those around us to see and enjoy that sun. We can choose to believe in the future or not. Sometimes, believing makes it so!

Sometimes being a real estate agent is the worst! Sometimes things just go out of control and sometimes there is nothing to do except admit defeat. I was hired to sell a home because the seller had found his “dream” house and had put a contingent offer on it. Together, we worked hard to get his current home sold so he could remove the contingency and move in. We finally got an offer we could live with. My seller sold most of his furniture (a new home deserves new furniture every time!), put as much into storage as possible and moved the rest into his new house…after all, our contract closing date was a week away and we had agreed to possession at close. To our horror, the buyer of our home could not close at the last minute because his buyer ran into a typical financing glitch. It was no one’s fault…just another example of what this economy is doing to our lives. 4 homes did not close that day….4!! They were all “back to back” closings and since the first one failed, they all failed. My sellers were distraught naturally and declared that they had enough. They pulled their home off the market and began the laborious process of moving back in. They told me they were fine, that they had learned a valuable lesson about “possession at closing.”   They were upbeat and even consoling to an agent (me!) that had yet another “first”in her 25+ year career. They are wonderful people and got through the whole mess with dignity, patience and understanding.  I respect them beyond measure for their word and their action. I know there is nothing ahead for this couple but the very best…this all happened for a reason…I do believe that!!!…and they will   be better off for having lost their dream home. Time will tell

I love staying in touch with my past clients, as most realtors do. Yes, the chance for referrals is much better if we remind our clients through any kind of contact that we do appreciate past business. However, it is even more true that after spending on average one month of time with each client in pursuit of this home, that follow up is natural. Afterall, friendships are made with less contact! We have these clients in our cars for hours and we acquire an awful lot of personal information from them in order to be able to help them find that perfect home. Childrens names, interests, passions, dislikes, immediate family members, Moms and Dads concerns and personal health, disturbing incidents in their lives and great moments as well! So much is shared! To me it would be even more unusual to not stay in touch. I send holiday post cards, personal and professional emails, I visit and try to call as often as possible. I can’t tell you how good it feels to renew those relationships and catch up! This truely, is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career…and I hope it continues!

I just left a message for a past client who closed on their second purchase with me a year ago. “Happy Home Anniversary Beth and Bill, I hope you are well and still enjoying your home. We closed a year ago today and I wanted to be sure that you know that I am thinking about you and wishing you the best. Thank you so much for the trust and friendship!”…especially the friendship!

For lack of much activity in this market I have decided that open houses are a must. Not only does my seller look upon this activity as another opportunity to sell his home…and any activity at this point in this economy is good,   but it keeps me   going and puts me in touch with any potential buyer that may be out there!

I have been holding opens every Sunday since the first week in February. To my surprise all five opens have been well attended. In fact, I would say that they have been better attended than any open house  at any point in my 25+ year career! I have experienced a steady stream of traffic of potential buyers. Yes, some had homes to sell, but the vast majority of them were qualified, motivated buyers. Some were working with other agents but most were not! They were mostly at the beginning stages of there looking…but looking they were!

The problem comes with committing. When it comes right down to it buyers will continue to look until they find that “perfect” home, and then the fear of commitment in this economy makes them realize that they better wait. But, they are looking. Sooner or later this will change and a few brave souls will sign that contract…and thereby encouraging others to do the same.

So, Open Sunday will continue with this agent. Watch realtor.com, or remax.com for my opens and come through and say hi! I am glad to meet you and anxious to share my ever improving future with you.

I am rarely political..but today, I need to stand up and say…good job America. Good job in  seeing the virtue and promise of this new President. We have all in the past spoken of the flaws in our political machine. The corruption of the person and their office alike. The waste and spending that goes on in Washington…the selfish, what’s in it for me elected official. How many times have we all  voted for someone we really believed in only to be disappointed by their later actions?

 Today I was asked to rise to the level of  courage, selflessness and dedication of our troups currently serving on foreign soil. It was said that these men and women feel a responsibility to something greater than themselves and choose this course of action at the risk of their own life, and with the fear of hurting those closest to them.   The challenge of equalling that mineset has been issued by a man who is also accepting the challenge himself.

We don’t know what will happen in the coming administration but in general the promise of something better is with most of us. If we all get involved and accept the responsibility of what we can do to help this change or change ourselves and those around us to unite for this struggle; we can and will return to a calmer and more secure place. What can I do?   For one, I am going to stop placing blame and only look for solutions. I am going to be more positive about where we are going and how we get there. I am going to be more attentive to what is going on in Washington and not make judgements but give support. Locally, if I see something I can do to make a difference for someone, I will do it. I will be courageous (as in this post) and make my voice heard and yet be mindful of others opinions if they differ from mine. I will respect those different opinions because I realize that differences are good. They cause us look at the other side and see something perhaps we never realized before. I would love to hear from you on how you think you can join this crusade towards a better America. I would love to hear  your positive thoughts.

God Bless America…and our new President!