Snark

I’m here to serve you (but not if “you” is another agent)

Op Ed

I received an email from an agent last night which I want to share.  But first a quick set up of the scenario (I’m keeping the percentages & relationships the same, but changing the actual numbers.) We put a new listing into MLS last week: The agent in question submitted an offer on behalf of [...]

4 January 2010 Read the full article →

Phoenix Driving

Op Ed

Our good friend Tracey sent one of those chain-type emails, but this one was so dead-pan accurate I couldn’t stop laughing.  I’m sharing it below, copied & pasted directly from email.  Original author is unknown. (but note if you arrived here looking for legitimate information about driving around Greater Phoenix, Arizona, see our posts on [...]

4 November 2009 Read the full article →

I’m On My Soapbox Again

Op Ed

I have a short sale listing. Back in March we got 5 offers, all above list price, and I sent them to the lenders. Lender Number One approved the short sale in May and offered $2,342 to Lender Number Two, a.k.a. Chase Mortgage. Chase has been dithering about the deal since Spring but emailed me [...]

5 October 2009 Read the full article →

Buy Goo-Be-Gone, For Gosh Sakes

Foreclosures

Photoblogging, of sorts. Snapped these while showing a bank-owned home in West Phoenix yesterday. You see light fixtures like this one in just about every home built in the 1990’s in metro Phoenix. I even joke with my clients that the builders must have all got a jaw dropping bargain on these ugly buggers. “They [...]

14 September 2009 Read the full article →

Customer Service Reminder follow up

Op Ed

I wrote a couple weeks ago about how NOT to do customer service (special thanks to Howard & Blum for providing this fine example.) Today I want to follow up with the rest of the story… I was in between appointments one day and had a few minutes to kill, so I poked my head [...]

6 August 2009 Read the full article →

Are REO Deals Breaking Contract Law?

Foreclosures

See my original post about the great. Big. Fun! you can have while shopping for REO foreclosure properties and how the banks can change your contract closing date whenever they feel like it. Today I found a a new wrinkle while I was reviewing the FAQs on an REO listing. This is a true gem: [...]

24 July 2009 Read the full article →

A Customer Service Reminder

Op Ed

Sometimes we get a reminder to show us what customer service is all about.  (or not about, as the case may be…)  Yesterday I had one of those reminders. I have a couple of watches where I wanted to switch the bands from one to the other.  Same size watches, same manufacturer – should be [...]

24 July 2009 Read the full article →

Hot

In The News

Joyfully, I bring you the weather forecast for metro Phoenix for the coming week. Pay attention to Friday’s predicted high of a mere 98 degrees. (click on the pic to embiggen) Ninety-eight degrees! I’m so happy I’m bursting! It’s been HOT here in Phoenix lately. Brain-fryingly hot. Cranky-making hot. We’ve had high temps in the [...]

19 July 2009 Read the full article →

MLS Fail

Op Ed

Seen in the Arizona Regional MLS, describing a short sale house: Built in desk and BBQ island DO NOT CONVEY. Seriously?!  The built in desk does not convey with the sale of the house?! What, you’re going to hack it out? What’s next? Are you taking the toilets too? Sometimes I am embarrassed by fellow [...]

11 July 2009 Read the full article →

Decorations Fail

Op Ed

Hat tip for the title to FailBlog.org, part of the Cheezburger Network. Found this pic in the MLS today: Nothing screams Stale Listing like holiday decorations in your MLS photos on May 29. Heather Barr is a Realtor and a happy workaholic. She eats more than someone her size ought to be able, and is [...]

29 May 2009 Read the full article →

Response to How Not to Buy a House

Buyer Help

How to Buy A House, For Real A Companion Piece to yesterday’s How Not To Buy A House   Step 1. Use a local Realtor’s website to do your property searching. You won’t be distracted by listings in other cities, states or even other countries. Plus you’ll get real-time data updates. No more looking at [...]

7 May 2009 Read the full article →