Here are Inman News’ top comments for the final week of July.
Todd Hollins commented on · How white privilege makes my life easier
This open house is for “buyers” only! Exclaimed the homeowner as my mother and I approached the door. “But of course, that’s why we’re here,” was mom’s reply as she proceeded into the home. The homeowner then followed us from room to room while the listing agent observed quietly. Not once did she offer to intervene or show us the home. Just as our tour was ending, the homeowner abruptly disappeared. As I exited the home, I saw her standing on the front porch with pen in hand. Apparently mom hadn’t filled out the visitor registration form completely. She had failed to provide her license plate number. Luckily for us, the homeowner was there to write it down.
I’m 49 now but at 16, that was one of the many lessons, I was soon to learn about racism, prejudice and white privilege. On that day I learned that white privilege means not being screened, not being followed around and not having your license number jotted down during an open house.
Great article! The discussion needs to be had and not dismissed. What does this have to do with real estate? Plenty! White privilege and racism both affect real estate sales. As a broker for a large office, I see this quite often. I never have to look for it deliberately, because it finds me first just to smack me in the face.
Val & Brian Mayer Remax One · Commented on Agent productivity propels Keller Williams sales growth to all-time high
I think people tend to react to this type of news with divisiveness claiming one brokerage strategy over another or why slicing the numbers one way or another means somebody’s better than somebody else.
I found that there are different strengths and weaknesses to different brokerages that fit people’s personalities and business styles better.
I believe Keller Williams in our market is best suited for newer agents who need a lot of “here’s what to do today” type of instruction. I personally think that’s great and probably keeps agents in the business who might have failed somewhere else.
They’re obviously doing something right as most agents are recruited from other happy agents.
Damon Harris · Commented on The art of #hustle: Why most of us don’t know what it means
Actually if we are calling it “slang”, hustling refers to constantly getting money fast. What you have described is more of a grind or grinding. As a realtor, I know its not a hustle it is more of a day to day grind. Sometimes when I need to make something out of nothing, I may hustle. But to build the business I have built, it took a grind. It took 12-14 hours a day for a bit. Especially when I was new to the business. Grinding builds a your business. Then it gives you places to hustle. When done right, you can catch a movie at noon, wine at 4 and bowl at 7 and still have a productive day.
John S. Edwards · Commented on How white privilege makes my life easier
If an unarmed black man, who was a behavioral therapist trying to get his autistic patient back to his facility, gets shot by the police while lying on the ground with his hands up, and you still don’t think there is a problem, then there is a good chance YOU are part of the problem.
Dawn Elle Richardson · Commented on How white privilege makes my life easier
This carries over into real estate. I have held houses open and the neighbors have come to make sure I am suppose to be in the house. I have had homeowners make comments like not believing my name is actually Dawn. I’ve had agents come to the house during viewings and inspections and than comment they do not normally show up for those things. Yes, we are to comply with Fair Housing and Ethics but not everyone follows the rules in this business.
One of the reasons I do not door knock for business is that it is not safe for women and being a woman of color puts me at greater risk.
Brian Rotenberger · Commented on Team transactions outpacing top producers’
The biggest problem I have with teams is the lack of communication between the members and their accessibilty. In one recent instance, I called the head listing agent (didn’t answer the phone), the co-listing agent (didn’t answer the phone), their assistant (didn’t answer the phone), their transaction coordinator (who had no idea what was going on with this particular file and referred me to the listing agent) and then finally their office administrator just to answer one question. The office administrator then had to call the head listing agent to get an answer to my question. This is how the entire transaction went and is very common among other teams in my area.
The team concept is great in theory, a listing agent, a buyers agent, an assistant and a transaction coordinator all doing specialized jobs, but they all must know what is happening with every listing they have as a team, and be accessible, or it defeats the purpose. The best teams I work with are 2 agent teams who work well together and keep it simple.
Marquise Wood · Commented on 8 tech trends that are shaking up real estate
I think the virtual glasses will be the norm for those that are infants and toddlers. They will not be able to even imagine that we carried rolling cases with client files in them.