Re: ‘Hope for Rookie Realtor‘ (May 17)
Dear Rookie:
I am a rookie myself. I passed my test and got my license in November. I am closing on my second house Tuesday, and I have one other potential client to buy after that. My reason for e-mailing is to say that I can relate to “common courtesy” issues with other Realtors. Not only do they not know the right directions to their own listings but some are rude and disrespectful when you call to show their listing. Getting in touch with some of these people is like trying to pull teeth. I can’t seem to understand how some of these people make any money. I kid you not, I had one client tell me that she had an agent who came to pick her up to go look at houses and asked if he could drive her car. I can not believe the audicity of some of these people. I have even e-mailed other agents asking for advice; needless to say, I haven’t received much help outside my office.
I wish you luck in this business, it’s a doggy-dog world!
K.C. Verdanza
RealtySouth
Dear Rookie:
I am in Dallas, Texas, and even when our market was on fire we did not see buyers willing to waive financing contingencies.
It is typical in our market for earnest money deposit to be roughly 1 percent of the sales price. Using that formula, you would be selling $500,000 to $1 million properties. Is that the market you have been trying to break into?
Lastly, a comment about the buyers and their weekend plans. Unfortunately, there are often agents and/or sellers who don’t respond when they say they will. With today’s technology (cell phones, e-mail & fax), there was really no reason for the buyers to cancel their trip. Most of the time, if you plan ahead you can still do business and follow deadlines even when one or more parties to the transaction are out of town (or even out of the country).
Good luck to you and I hope your offers all work out.
Terre Costa
David Griffin & Company
Got tips, ideas or advice for the Rookie Realtor? Send them to Rookie@inman.com.
