Real Estate Greed- Know your Agent
Ranked #8,535 in Business & Work, #225,948 overall
Is there any Integrity in Real Estate?
Most people can sell something, but do you want any ole Salesman to be in charge of your Home? Greed was one of the biggest things, besides incompetence that have given Real Estate as a Profession a bad name in my opinion.
There are good and bad Agents, and everyone has their own story. A few of them are included here.
Contents at a Glance
Knowledge is Power: Knowing how to use technology

If you and your Real Estate Agent and Lender all use technology it's a little easier for you not to be taken advantage of. Of course Greed always finds a way, but by doing your homework you at least know the questions to ask. Many of today's clients use the Internet to start their searches.
Google used to be a noun, but it is one of today's most common verbs...."Google them." For example you can Google a name, phone number, part of a sentence, or a phrase. This one thing has done wonders to help people avoid some scams, as well as learning about various things.
Remember Knowledge is Power!
My Real Estate Musings on being a Real Estate Agent
Did you get to where you are today all by yourself? I was sitting here thinking how much I have learned in the past couple years, not only about Real Estate but the technological advances that are so much a part of our lives. How many posters people helped you?I joined the Peace Corps in early 1997, and came home at the end of 2000 with no idea of what I wanted to do. The only thing I knew for sure was it had to be a people business, and one where I wasn't stuck in an office from 9-5, but Real Estate...this sure wasn't anything I had even considered. What did I know about selling homes?
Yesterday I was reading a question from the e-pro digest, an online newsletter for one of my Real Estate Trainings, and someone had asked a question on Tablet PC's. Someone was asking how to sign on a Tablet. Oh...I know this one..and that's when I realized how much I have truly learned. But again, not by myself.
I learned from different people on different Real Estate sites, both Social, and informational. I learned from reading everything and anything I could find, and I learned from a few of the best people at New Century Title , now one of the victims of our current economy. Regardless of the name though, the lessons were good ones, and what I learned I pass on. I also learned from experience.
Learning from others is one thing, but even more important I feel is a desire and willingness to help others. Real Estate Sales and Listings are just another way to help people in my opinion.
Books on Real Estate
Click picture for more info
More and more consumers are educating themselves about Real Estate, And now that the Market has shifted, it's even more important to know what you are going to spend your money on.
Humerous Look at Real Estate
Several years ago it seemed everyone wanted to be a Real Estate Agent. Everyone seemed to have an uncle, brother, mother, aunt, or best friend that had a license. That was part of the problem. Visions of making a lot of money brought people into the profession that weren't watching out for your needs, but their own. And this is against everything a REALTOR is supposed to stand for.
Online Resources You might need or want
There are many things we all want to know when we buy a home. Real Estate Agents are prevented by law from "steering" you from one area to another, so cannot give you certain information. We have to follow the Fair Housing Laws.But what we can do is give you the Resources.
These sites are here for your information only, and I do not represent or guarantee the validity or accuracy of any information on them. Please keep in mind each State has different rules for their Real Estate Agents. I am licensed in CA and gear my information to our laws.
- National Sex Offender Site
- Research your neighborhood.
- Another Site that may be of interest
- another resource where you can search for sex offenders in your neighborhood, and also learn the Sex Offender Laws in your State.
What is being said about Real Estate on Google
- The purchase of AMC Theaters by the Chinese could affect our American heritage,
- The movie moguls - called by some in respect for their accomplishments and in disdain by others for their greed - controlled all aspects of the motion picture business in the early 1900s. They attempted to sign talent to lifetime contracts until it was ...
- Cooperative Banking, the Exciting Wave of the Future
- Their investments have helped renovate 850000 square feet of commercial real estate, generate 5.9 million KW hours of solar energy capacity, and create more than 1500 jobs. Values-based banks and CDFIs are a move in the right direction, ...
- Cooperative banking has arrived
- Their investments have helped renovate 850000 square feet of commercial real estate, generate 5.9 million KW hours of solar energy capacity, and create more than 1500 jobs. Values-based banks and CDFIs are a move in the right direction, ...
- Courthouse notebook | Prosecutor says fraudster's evasive behavior deserves ...
- The work purportedly was for a company Knabb's wife owns called Skadi Nordic, a ski accessory business which operated out of the home's garage. Valaas is a former competitive cross-country skier. Court records show Knabb repeatedly promised to pay the ...
Technology has changed Real Estate
Technology has changed the face of Real Estate in so many ways. Apparently before my time, Agents and Brokers had books of listings that they consulted, and the consumer had to go to them to get this information.
Fast foreword to today where you have so many places to go for information. And the Social Network sites, like B> have allowed people to see who Real Estate Agents are as people. And they help the Agents do a better job at Marketing.
Most of the Big Franchises have computer programs that let them put all the listings from the local Real Estate Boards MLS System for the area they want. These listings do not necessarily belong to the Big Franchises, but you would have to look at the small print underneath the listing and it says "Courtesy of Joe Blow's Brokerage" meaning some other company is in charge of that particular property.
Always make sure your Real Estate Agent can use all the technology tools available. It isn't in your best interests if the Franchise has a great website, but the Agent barely knows any of the new sites available to help you. Ask them if they Twitter, ask them if the use Facebook, and ask them what sites online they will use to Market your property.
Technology has changed the way we do Real Estate, and you want to make sure your Agent is up to speed.
Professionals Learn by Experience
"The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson." Tom Bodett
Real Estate Truth
Did you feel your Real Estate Agent worked in your best interests
Why or Why not

I was pleased with my Real Estate Agent
AddaptAbilities says:
I've never had a real estate agent, but reading this lens (and knowing you) will help me choose a good one when the time comes.
JaguarJulie says:
Hubby was pleased with his real estate agent 'cause heck both of them are close friends for over 25 years! It was difficult to pick which one -- so he's used both of them for different properties.
I wish I had worked with a different Agent because
Pukeko says:
Our agent represented both buyer and seller, seemed a bit of a conflict of interest.
GrowWear says:
...we were in the midst of grieving a loss at the time, and the agent knew our story and used it to take advantage of us. It was hard to see her face on the billboards around here showing her off as a million-seller or some such. The whole incident still rankles, to say the least.
A Real Estate Analogy of Dogs and Real Estate Clients
My Clients are like my Dog

My client is like a dog.......what the heck is she talking about ? My clients are good, honest people......they trust me, and I am a Top Producing Agent, why would you call my Clients' Dogs?
Clients and Dogs all start off the same. We are the ones responsible for taking care of them.....the client is dependent on us for our expertise, our negotiating, and emotional support.
Puppies are like new clients.....they trust us....they depend on us.....
My Clients are like my dog...........this came to mind when I watched my 1 1/2 year old cockapoo grab his toy and want to play. Every day he grabs a toy when he sees me, and wants attention. More times than not I ignore him when I am working......now here is where he taught me a lesson.
For the past few weeks my dog, Mr. Boone, wouldn't come in when I called him at night. He would just stand there and look at me. I would then go out and get him to come in. Once I made the effort to go TO him, he would wag his tail, and come running. He wanted attention.......on his terms.......
New clients don't always know what to expect. They call us, ask a lot of questions, and want updates (my dog grabs a toy instead of the phone). They might want to be there when their house is shown, or maybe they need help filling out all those contracts with all those words......Whatever it is , they want to know we are there for them.
My dog wants me to fill his water bowl, feed him, clean up the messes he makes, and play with him.
They both NEED us, and if we aren't there then they stop trying.......and we have to now make extra efforts to re-connect.
The Client might let the listing expire and go to another Agency....why...because of lack of communication. We may have thought we were meeting their needs, but obviously we weren't.
The Dog, they might stop trying to get your attention and instead develop other negative behaviors (this will get your attention), and they just might run away like your client IF they can find the hole in the fence (like a contract ending).
So you see, Your clients really are like dogs.......they want and need us to help them meet their needs, and give them some attention. This is important both before you sign them, during, and after........
It is the "after" that is important for both clients and dogs.
Real Estate and Technology

Make sure your Real Estate Agent knows how to use Technology, and more than just the MLS or other sites that have listings.
In these tough times
Be careful of an Agent that steers you to a house you can't afford. Some Agents have done that to get a bigger Commission!
Please share your comments or feedback on your experiences
Please share your opinion
I want to know your opinion: what do you want from your Real Estate Agent, what were your experiences? Do you think there are honest Agents out there?
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AddaptAbilities Oct 14, 2010 @ 8:40 pm | delete
- I do think there are honest agents out there, and I know you're one of them. Thanks for doing everything you can to educate your clientele.
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Pukeko
Aug 14, 2009 @ 9:25 pm | delete
- Nice job Kathy,
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JaguarJulie Jun 14, 2009 @ 8:32 am | delete
- Kathy, that is an interesting analogy that real estate agents have dogs as clients. Oh, I get it. ;)
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alteredkat
Mar 7, 2009 @ 11:45 am | delete
- Saw this oh so many times having worked in RE as a secretary for years...it's sad. :o(
Thanks for popping in though to my reuse toothbrushes lens and commenting, I appreciate it!
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GrowWear
Feb 18, 2009 @ 5:17 pm | delete
- I get a sense of your integrity from this lens. Thank you.
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by KathyMcGraw
Watch oiut for Greedy Real Estate Brokers and Agents . There are some warning signs, and things for you to remember when hiring a Real Estate Professional... more »