patrick.net

I have a very dim view of realtors, mostly due to experience with them. I've often thought that, if I wanted to, I could be a different kind of realtor... an honest one... a straightforward one... one that actually had his client's best interests in mind versus my own pocketbook. But then I thought, could I actually be successful this way? Is the profession innately corrupt, with only the dishonest and lazy being able to make the most money? I guess I think "yes".

But, anyway, if I ever wanted to be a realtor, here's how I'd be. Would I make more money/be more successful, though, than the stereotypical lazy, greedy realtor?

I would...

... put a preference towards finding homes for buyers, versus just wanting to sit back on listings, waiting for someone else to bring the buyer.

...assume buyers use the internet for general searching, and thus I'd actually ask them what they really want, and only present them with homes that match that using criteria not usually available on internet searches.

...if asked, tell them my honest thoughts about home buying, which are, only buy to live there. Assume zero to very little appreciation in the future.

...tell buyers to only buy what they know they can afford, and not what the bank tells them they can afford.

...for my listings, take good pictures, write descriptions and spell-check them, and even do minor touch-up work myself to make the home more attractive.

...advise sellers on prices they're likely to get... price it to sell, versus pricing it to get my maximum commission. If the house is not in contract within three weeks, then I'm not doing my job.

Anyway, I could continue rambling. With the above said, would I just be wasting my time doing all that, or do you think it might actually make a difference?

#housing