New Spirit of Cooperation Among Agents - But Will It Last?

Remember the "old" days of selling real estate? When competitors didn't talk? When agents put themselves on pedestals? When they bragged about listings and sales? Or thought they had a "niche" no one could touch? Those days are over. The market has changed. Many real estate agents have been knocked down a peg or two, or left the business. In the "old" days, some agents wouldn't deign to show listings under certain price ranges, like under $300,000 or $200,000. Or they just limited themselves to certain towns- they wouldn't drive 25 minutes to show "regular" properties.

Now, no one is "too good". Everyone in this new economy has been affected by the down real estate market, job losses, home devaluations. And, I must say, they are a lot nicer for it. There is a new camaraderie, a humbling. In my last year of selling real estate on the Emerald Coast of Florida, I have made many new friends. We talk, share and discuss the market. We help get each other's listings sold. I don't mean from my office at Rulnick Realty, I mean from other COMPANIES in Destin and throughout the Panhandle. I regularly have conversations with other brokers about short sales, our multiple listing system, market statistics and ethics. I field phone calls from agents with questions about their own short sales- ones I have nothing to do with. In fact, many agents have referred short sale listings to me, or even their own properties for sale.

Yesterday, I closed on a listing referral I received from Mark A. DeSalvo of Newman-Dailey Resort Properties in Destin FL. He emailed me: "Great job! And you got the full asking price. You are the best." Mark's office is one street over from mine, and he sent a short sale listing to me.

Just this week, I sent a referral to Jimmie Greer, of Destin Beach Realty, for someone who was looking for a resort rental in Destin. I also received an email from an agent at Re/Max Paradise Properties in Destin asking for advice on her short sale. I listed a referral from Marno Wilson of JW Watts Properties for a Fort Walton Beach condo. I contacted Jayme Nabors, a commercial broker with NBI Properties, to send him a Niceville Florida business listing referral of one of my own sellers (no fee asked). That was just this week. This story has been repeated dozens of times in the past year.

There really is enough business to go around, as I wrote in How I Helped My Competition - On Purpose. On the Emerald Coast alone, there are over 13,000 listings for sale. I just hope this attitude of kindness and sharing can continue after the market normalizes.

Although we are competitors, as Mark DeSalvo said to me:
"All us agents should be working toward the same goal of making the customer happy. It's a fun business when we have co-operation. It's what makes the world go around."

It's Wendy!
Wendy Rulnick, Broker, CRP, CRS, GRI, ABR Rulnick Realty, Inc.

"She No Longer Works Here, May We Help You?"

I work in a small-town environment, on the Emerald Coast of Florida. Everyone knows everyone. Especially the real estate agents. I've been practicing here for about 14 years. I take out numerous top-of-mind awareness ads. My slogans are "It's Wendy... It's Sold!" and "Everyone Knows... It's Wendy!" Believe me, the other real estate agents know who I am.

About two years ago I opened my own real estate company, Rulnick Realty, in Destin Florida. I left a national franchise where I was associated for 12 years. Today I heard from one of my clients, who is not internet savvy and thought I was still at the other company. She called there looking for me. They told her "She doesn't work here." She asked, "Do you know where she is now?" They said, "No, but can we help you?"

It's Wendy!
Wendy Rulnick, Broker, CRP, CRS, GRI, ABR Rulnick Realty, Inc.

Search Destin FL real estate
Short Sale Pre Foreclosure Help.

Call toll-free 1-877-ITS-WNDY (1-877-487-9639) or local 850-650-7883 ext 204
Email itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

Wendy Rulnick specializes in real estate sales, short sales, traditional sales on Emerald Coast of Florida: Destin Florida real estate, Santa Rosa Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Bluewater Bay, Navarre, Seagrove Beach, Watercolor, Sandestin, Seaside, Dune Allen, Blue Mountain Beach, Freeport, Rosemary Beach, Mary Esther, Shalimar, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field. Wendy Rulnick, Broker and Realtor, has been selling real estate for almost 20 years. She has won numerous awards, including the coveted ADDY for advertising design. An expert marketer of real estate listings, she negotiates successfully to her dients' advantage. She is supported by a team of top buyer specialists. She lists and sells homes, condos and townhomes.

All Rights Reserved. "She No Longer Works Here, May We Help You?" Contact Wendy Rulnick regarding Destin Florida real estate and vicinity. Copyright © 2008 by Wendy Rulnick.This site, Wendy Rulnick or Rulnick Realty, Inc. is not providing legal or tax advice. The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only. It is recommended that sellers considering a short sale should consult an independent legal and tax advisor for more information.

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Setting Up Showings: Do You Use Planning & Courtesy?

Do you plan your showings in advance? Or do you fly out the door with a customer and call the listing agent at home on Sunday morning on your way to a showing with 15 minutes notice? Do you call an agent at 10:00 p.m. Friday night to set up a showing at 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning? Or perhaps you call Saturday night to set up a showing for Tuesday? When you call, do you ask if the agent has a moment to speak with you? Or do you begin your request right after "This is Sue"? Do you say, "I apologize for having to call you at such a late hour or on a Sunday?"

When you get a new buyer, do you school them regarding setting up showings in advance, so they get the opportunity to see all the properties they want? Or do you let your buyer take over the showing schedule for fear you might lose them? Granted, once in awhile, there might be a last minute switch or change of heart by the buyer, but agents will get better results by both planning in advance and agent courtesy. Planning will bring you control over your professional life and stress management in your personal life. Courtesy will bring you better relations with everyone.

It's Wendy!
Wendy Rulnick, Broker, CRP, CRS, GRI, ABR Rulnick Realty, Inc.

Search Destin Florida real estate
Short Sale Pre Foreclosure Help.

Specializing in real estate sales on Emerald Coast of Florida: Destin Florida real estate, Santa Rosa Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Bluewater Bay, Navarre, Seagrove Beach, Watercolor, Sandestin, Seaside, Dune Allen, Blue Mountain Beach, Freeport, Rosemary Beach, Mary Esther, Shalimar, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field. Call toll-free 1-877-ITS-WNDY (1-877-487-9639) or local 850-650-7883 ext 204

Copyright © 2008 By Wendy Rulnick. All Rights Reserved. *Setting Up Showings: Do You Use Planning & Courtesy?* Contact Wendy Rulnick regarding Destin Florida real estate and vicinity.

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And Then I Became That Buyer's Agent

I recently wrote about Short Sales: For Buyer's Agents. Well, I just became that agent! Having practiced real estate for almost nineteen years, I have spent the last many specializing in listings. I work with buyers infrequently, and almost always on a referral basis. That is because I enjoy the listing aspect more. Yes, after I end up working with a buyer, I usually find it rewarding. But it is not my normal modus operandi. Today I had an interesting scenario arise where I became the Short Sale Buyer Agent. A little background....

About three weeks ago I received a phone call from a gentleman who had three properties he needed to sell short. He was a retiree who had made some investments in condos in Destin about three years ago. He thought he could flip them for a profit, but was never able to. Meanwhile, his rent revenue had diminished and he was several months behind in his mortgage payments. I told him I could help him, and referred him to my website www.ShortSaleForeclosureHelp.com. After a day of discussions, he said he felt guilty he was not working with an agent who tried to help him previously. I understood perfectly well, and let it go at that. Today, I noticed his three listings came on the market with that particular agent. One was substantially underpriced. I received a phone call from one of my out-of-state sellers who was shocked at the price, as I have one of his units for sale in the building, at a much higher price. He referred a friend of his to me to write an offer on the new listing.

I called the listing agent to inform her I was writing an offer. I gently (I thought) asked if I could be of any assistance regarding the Short Sale aspect. (Short Sales are 90% of my business, and I often have local agents refer their Short Sale listings to me). She said, "No, I do these ALL the time." Of course, I had seen in my MLS statistics that she had only sold five houses in the last 18 months, none of them being Short Sales. I asked, "Who is the lender?" She said, "I don't disclose that." I asked why, and she said "I am protecting my client, and that's how things are done." I automatically told her it was public record. She then told me she had had enough of the "Drama" and "didn't have time for this". Etc., etc. I, stunned, asked if I had missed something? She again repeated she did not have time for the "Drama". I did find the previous lender authorization her seller had sent me a few weeks prior indicating the bank was Countrywide.
Hmmm. Having to be diplomatic to protect my buyer's interest is going to take some restraint on this one.

UPDATE- DAY 2: The offer I submitted yesterday had a response deadline of 6:00 p.m. today. I just called the listing agent at 5:45 p.m. I asked if her client was going to make the response time. She said "No, we have multiple offers, and I am going to present them all at once." She had not intended on notifying me that the response time would not be met. I then called and told my seller that we may be in an "auction" situation since the listing was underpriced, it probably generated offers above asking. He said he was not going to participate in the game.

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, CRP, CRS, GRI, ABR Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Specializing in SHORT SALES and FORECLOSURES on the Emerald Coast of Florida: Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Navarre, Crestview, Grayton Beach, Sandestin, Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Dune Allen, Blue Mountain Beach, Bluewater Bay, Mary Esther, Shalimar, Freeport and vicinity. 1-877-487-9639

www.ShortSaleForeclosureHelp.com